Human Resources Major — Salary & ROI 2026
Management of employee recruitment, development, compensation, and workplace culture.
Starting Salary
$50K
median
Mid-Career
$78K
salary
ROI Payback
4.5 yrs
avg payback
Unemployment
3.5%
rate
Human Resources Overview
Management of employee recruitment, development, compensation, and workplace culture.
Category
Business
Degree Level
Bachelor's
Graduation Rate
70%
Enrollment Trend
stable
Online Available
Yes
Underemployment
20%
Lifetime Premium
$500K
Female Graduates
65%
Human Resources Degree ROI Calculator
Estimate your actual return on investment based on school type and scholarships.
0 to $40K/year in aid
Est. Total Cost
$15,750
4-year tuition
Net Cost (w/ aid)
$15,750
after scholarships
ROI Payback
1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return
$484,250
Lifetime earnings premium ($500,000) minus net degree cost ($15,750)
Human Resources Salary Progression
Common Human Resources Careers
HR Manager
Recruiter
Compensation Analyst
Top Employers
Skills You'll Learn
Top Schools for Human Resources
#1
Cornell
#2
Michigan State
#3
University of Minnesota
#4
Ohio State
#5
Purdue
Related Majors
Human Resources Degree FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Enrollment and graduation data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES/IPEDS). Tuition estimates based on College Board Annual Survey of Colleges. Last updated March 2026.
Human Resources Programs by City
Tuition, salary outcomes, and cost of living for human resources programs vary by city. See your local numbers:
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