Human Resources Management and Services: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 209 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$39,381 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
11.8 yrsModeled economic break-even
−15%Modeled 10-year ROI
$67,012Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$67,012Median reported earnings · year 4
$65,591Average reported earnings · year 5
$27,000Median federal debt
57thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
209Reporting programs
199With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $65,674
- Federal debt
- $18,202
- Reporting programs
- 21
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $51,118
- Federal debt
- $26,536
- Reporting programs
- 35
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $67,012
- Federal debt
- $27,000
- Reporting programs
- 209
Post-baccalaureate Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $79,454
- Federal debt
- $20,250
- Reporting programs
- 3
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $81,091
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 178
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $119,182
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 5
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $66,776
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 22
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $59,962
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 2
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$62,122National median$67,01275th percentile$75,523
199 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Cornell University$112,7132Northwestern University$108,4983Bethel University$101,1954University of Michigan-Ann Arbor$99,5945George Washington University$97,1266Brigham Young University$96,3547Waldorf University$94,8228University of Richmond$92,3899Benedictine University$90,89110University of St Francis$90,495Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Human Resources ManagersSOC 11-3121 · 5 crosswalk linksBusiness Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1011 · 4 crosswalk linksHuman Resources SpecialistsSOC 13-1071 · 4 crosswalk linksCompensation and Benefits ManagersSOC 11-3111 · 3 crosswalk linksLabor Relations SpecialistsSOC 13-1075 · 3 crosswalk linksTraining and Development ManagersSOC 11-3131 · 3 crosswalk linksTraining and Development SpecialistsSOC 13-1151 · 3 crosswalk linksCompliance OfficersSOC 13-1041 · 2 crosswalk linksHuman Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and TimekeepingSOC 43-4161 · 2 crosswalk linksCompensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis SpecialistsSOC 13-1141 · 1 crosswalk linksCounselors, All OtherSOC 21-1019 · 1 crosswalk linksEducational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsSOC 21-1012 · 1 crosswalk links
Where this degree has enough data to compare
State pages are published only when at least five operating colleges report year-4 earnings for this exact field and credential.
PA16 programs$74,859 average earningsOH14 programs$69,441 average earningsMI14 programs$72,051 average earningsTX13 programs$66,507 average earningsIL12 programs$76,076 average earningsMN11 programs$73,822 average earningsCA11 programs$71,658 average earningsNY7 programs$68,963 average earningsIA7 programs$68,302 average earningsAL7 programs$58,056 average earningsWI6 programs$68,048 average earningsNJ6 programs$73,493 average earnings
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cornell UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ithaca, NY | $112,713 | $15,000 | +130% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | Northwestern UniversityBachelor's Degree | Evanston, IL | $108,498 | $38,832 | +114% | Strong payoff |
| 3 | Bethel UniversityBachelor's Degree | Saint Paul, MN | $101,195 | $29,919 | +91% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | University of Michigan-Ann ArborBachelor's Degree | Ann Arbor, MI | $99,594 | $14,225 | +135% | Strong payoff |
| 5 | George Washington UniversityBachelor's Degree | Washington, DC | $97,126 | $20,793 | +60% | Positive payoff |
| 6 | Brigham Young UniversityBachelor's Degree | Provo, UT | $96,354 | Not available | +112% | Strong payoff |
| 7 | Waldorf UniversityBachelor's Degree | Forest City, IA | $94,822 | $32,111 | +93% | Positive payoff |
| 8 | University of RichmondBachelor's Degree | University of Richmond, VA | $92,389 | $19,500 | +55% | Positive payoff |
| 9 | Benedictine UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lisle, IL | $90,891 | $31,872 | +70% | Positive payoff |
| 10 | University of St FrancisBachelor's Degree | Joliet, IL | $90,495 | Not available | +96% | Positive payoff |
| 11 | Idaho State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Pocatello, ID | $89,887 | $31,660 | +96% | Positive payoff |
| 12 | Pitzer CollegeBachelor's Degree | Claremont, CA | $89,636 | Not available | +41% | Positive payoff |
| 13 | Baylor UniversityBachelor's Degree | Waco, TX | $89,102 | $20,475 | +28% | Positive payoff |
| 14 | Immaculata UniversityBachelor's Degree | Immaculata, PA | $88,835 | $24,312 | +58% | Positive payoff |
| 15 | Regis UniversityBachelor's Degree | Denver, CO | $87,109 | Not available | +66% | Positive payoff |
| 16 | Loyola University ChicagoBachelor's Degree | Chicago, IL | $86,190 | Not available | +27% | Positive payoff |
| 17 | Michigan State UniversityBachelor's Degree | East Lansing, MI | $85,886 | $23,475 | +58% | Positive payoff |
| 18 | Saint Joseph's University - PhiladelphiaBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $83,692 | $23,970 | +30% | Positive payoff |
| 19 | Saint Mary's University of MinnesotaBachelor's Degree | Winona, MN | $83,079 | Not available | +68% | Positive payoff |
| 20 | Ohio State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Columbus, OH | $82,371 | $19,500 | +50% | Positive payoff |
| 21 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-BarreBachelor's Degree | Dallas, PA | $81,755 | $27,000 | +50% | Positive payoff |
| 22 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State BeaverBachelor's Degree | Monaca, PA | $81,755 | $27,000 | +47% | Positive payoff |
| 23 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State BerksBachelor's Degree | Reading, PA | $81,755 | $27,000 | +32% | Positive payoff |
| 24 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State HarrisburgBachelor's Degree | Middletown, PA | $81,755 | $27,000 | +34% | Positive payoff |
| 25 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State HazletonBachelor's Degree | Hazleton, PA | $81,755 | $27,000 | +47% | Positive payoff |
| 26 | Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | University Park, PA | $81,755 | $27,000 | +18% | Positive payoff |
| 27 | Pennsylvania State University-World CampusBachelor's Degree | University Park, PA | $81,755 | $27,000 | +42% | Positive payoff |
| 28 | Concordia University-Saint PaulBachelor's Degree | Saint Paul, MN | $79,708 | $28,666 | +37% | Positive payoff |
| 29 | Concordia University Ann ArborBachelor's Degree | Ann Arbor, MI | $79,286 | $37,050 | +10% | Positive payoff |
| 30 | Concordia University-WisconsinBachelor's Degree | Mequon, WI | $79,286 | $37,050 | +6% | Positive payoff |
| 31 | Johnson & Wales University-ProvidenceBachelor's Degree | Providence, RI | $79,056 | $31,513 | +12% | Positive payoff |
| 32 | Johnson & Wales University-OnlineBachelor's Degree | Providence, RI | $79,056 | $31,513 | +30% | Positive payoff |
| 33 | Purdue University GlobalBachelor's Degree | West Lafayette, IN | $78,683 | $44,834 | +60% | Positive payoff |
| 34 | Thomas Edison State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Trenton, NJ | $78,576 | $25,625 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 35 | University of St ThomasBachelor's Degree | Saint Paul, MN | $78,381 | $23,750 | +13% | Positive payoff |
| 36 | Southern Nazarene UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bethany, OK | $78,093 | $25,750 | +23% | Positive payoff |
| 37 | University of IowaBachelor's Degree | Iowa City, IA | $77,659 | $23,149 | +21% | Positive payoff |
| 38 | University of North Carolina at Chapel HillBachelor's Degree | Chapel Hill, NC | $76,811 | $15,000 | +40% | Positive payoff |
| 39 | Texas A&M University-College StationBachelor's Degree | College Station, TX | $76,593 | $19,970 | +19% | Positive payoff |
| 40 | Lewis UniversityBachelor's Degree | Romeoville, IL | $76,485 | $27,000 | +27% | Positive payoff |
| 41 | Saint Louis UniversityBachelor's Degree | Saint Louis, MO | $76,354 | $27,000 | +13% | Positive payoff |
| 42 | University of Michigan-DearbornBachelor's Degree | Dearborn, MI | $76,343 | $22,831 | +44% | Positive payoff |
| 43 | Bluffton UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bluffton, OH | $76,243 | $35,001 | +20% | Positive payoff |
| 44 | Bryant UniversityBachelor's Degree | Smithfield, RI | $76,241 | $26,000 | -9% | Negative payoff |
| 45 | University of ArizonaBachelor's Degree | Tucson, AZ | $76,013 | $19,500 | +26% | Positive payoff |
| 46 | Capella UniversityBachelor's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $76,004 | $36,121 | +23% | Positive payoff |
| 47 | Rutgers University-CamdenBachelor's Degree | Camden, NJ | $75,850 | $25,750 | +21% | Positive payoff |
| 48 | Rutgers University-New BrunswickBachelor's Degree | New Brunswick, NJ | $75,850 | $25,750 | +11% | Positive payoff |
| 49 | Ball State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Muncie, IN | $75,822 | $20,500 | +29% | Positive payoff |
| 50 | Grand Valley State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Allendale, MI | $75,800 | $25,452 | +26% | Positive payoff |
| 51 | Roberts Wesleyan UniversityBachelor's Degree | Rochester, NY | $75,523 | $25,000 | +12% | Positive payoff |
| 52 | University of the PacificBachelor's Degree | Stockton, CA | $75,444 | $28,125 | +8% | Positive payoff |
| 53 | Santa Clara UniversityBachelor's Degree | Santa Clara, CA | $75,430 | Not available | -20% | Negative payoff |
| 54 | San Francisco State UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Francisco, CA | $75,207 | Not available | +32% | Positive payoff |
| 55 | University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesBachelor's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $74,358 | $19,388 | +19% | Positive payoff |
| 56 | Fresno Pacific UniversityBachelor's Degree | Fresno, CA | $74,265 | $27,155 | +25% | Positive payoff |
| 57 | California State University, Long BeachBachelor's Degree | Long Beach, CA | $73,857 | $12,733 | +30% | Positive payoff |
| 58 | Colorado State University GlobalBachelor's Degree | Denver, CO | $73,403 | $33,343 | +15% | Positive payoff |
| 59 | Central Michigan UniversityBachelor's Degree | Mount Pleasant, MI | $73,340 | $27,670 | +13% | Positive payoff |
| 60 | Temple UniversityBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $73,127 | $27,000 | -4% | Negative payoff |
| 61 | Rowan UniversityBachelor's Degree | Glassboro, NJ | $73,035 | $22,850 | +4% | Positive payoff |
| 62 | Rollins CollegeBachelor's Degree | Winter Park, FL | $72,876 | Not available | -13% | Negative payoff |
| 63 | Weber State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ogden, UT | $72,862 | $20,500 | +26% | Positive payoff |
| 64 | Texas A&M University-VictoriaBachelor's Degree | Victoria, TX | $72,678 | $25,687 | +30% | Positive payoff |
| 65 | University of Massachusetts GlobalBachelor's Degree | Aliso Viejo, CA | $72,669 | $22,979 | -11% | Negative payoff |
| 66 | John Carroll UniversityBachelor's Degree | University Heights, OH | $72,144 | $20,000 | -8% | Negative payoff |
| 67 | University of the Incarnate WordBachelor's Degree | San Antonio, TX | $72,061 | $36,007 | -0% | Negative payoff |
| 68 | Concordia University-ChicagoBachelor's Degree | River Forest, IL | $72,050 | $34,419 | +7% | Positive payoff |
| 69 | Western Michigan UniversityBachelor's Degree | Kalamazoo, MI | $71,870 | $27,000 | +11% | Positive payoff |
| 70 | Ohio University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Athens, OH | $71,579 | $25,000 | -0% | Negative payoff |
| 71 | North Central CollegeBachelor's Degree | Naperville, IL | $71,555 | $24,314 | +1% | Positive payoff |
| 72 | Walsh UniversityBachelor's Degree | North Canton, OH | $71,266 | $29,812 | +0% | Positive payoff |
| 73 | Xavier UniversityBachelor's Degree | Cincinnati, OH | $71,259 | Not available | -16% | Negative payoff |
| 74 | Utah Valley UniversityBachelor's Degree | Orem, UT | $70,818 | $13,736 | +26% | Positive payoff |
| 75 | Baldwin Wallace UniversityBachelor's Degree | Berea, OH | $70,779 | Not available | -11% | Negative payoff |
| 76 | Oakland UniversityBachelor's Degree | Rochester Hills, MI | $70,347 | $25,480 | +17% | Positive payoff |
| 77 | Metropolitan State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Saint Paul, MN | $70,299 | $34,516 | +2% | Positive payoff |
| 78 | Geneva CollegeBachelor's Degree | Beaver Falls, PA | $70,177 | $30,000 | -11% | Negative payoff |
| 79 | Western Illinois UniversityBachelor's Degree | Macomb, IL | $70,157 | $26,000 | +9% | Positive payoff |
| 80 | Rider UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lawrenceville, NJ | $70,122 | $27,000 | -10% | Negative payoff |
| 81 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusBachelor's Degree | Pittsburgh, PA | $69,674 | Not available | -18% | Negative payoff |
| 82 | Colorado Christian UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lakewood, CO | $69,617 | $43,274 | -17% | Negative payoff |
| 83 | Youngstown State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Youngstown, OH | $69,341 | $23,018 | +5% | Positive payoff |
| 84 | University of Central OklahomaBachelor's Degree | Edmond, OK | $69,235 | $17,900 | -4% | Negative payoff |
| 85 | University of HoustonBachelor's Degree | Houston, TX | $69,010 | $22,000 | +1% | Positive payoff |
| 86 | Emporia State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Emporia, KS | $68,568 | $21,257 | -4% | Negative payoff |
| 87 | Portland State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Portland, OR | $68,274 | $25,460 | +7% | Positive payoff |
| 88 | The University of Texas at San AntonioBachelor's Degree | San Antonio, TX | $68,185 | $22,722 | +4% | Positive payoff |
| 89 | Mercer UniversityBachelor's Degree | Macon, GA | $68,052 | $33,888 | -16% | Negative payoff |
| 90 | University of Akron Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Akron, OH | $67,903 | $20,750 | -3% | Negative payoff |
| 91 | Davenport UniversityBachelor's Degree | Grand Rapids, MI | $67,854 | $31,112 | -9% | Negative payoff |
| 92 | University of Wisconsin-OshkoshBachelor's Degree | Oshkosh, WI | $67,766 | $20,000 | -4% | Negative payoff |
| 93 | Florida International UniversityBachelor's Degree | Miami, FL | $67,696 | $23,125 | +5% | Positive payoff |
| 94 | Seton Hall UniversityBachelor's Degree | South Orange, NJ | $67,525 | $23,032 | -26% | Negative payoff |
| 95 | Purdue University NorthwestBachelor's Degree | Hammond, IN | $67,466 | $26,486 | +10% | Positive payoff |
| 96 | Indiana State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Terre Haute, IN | $67,452 | $25,000 | +0% | Positive payoff |
| 97 | University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeBachelor's Degree | Milwaukee, WI | $67,192 | $26,000 | -8% | Negative payoff |
| 98 | National American University-Rapid CityBachelor's Degree | Rapid City, SD | $67,025 | Not available | -28% | Negative payoff |
| 99 | University of Maryland Global CampusBachelor's Degree | Adelphi, MD | $67,012 | $26,552 | -18% | Negative payoff |
| 100 | Ottawa University-OttawaBachelor's Degree | Ottawa, KS | $66,759 | $30,736 | -25% | Negative payoff |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.