Human Resources Degree in Lincoln, NE — Salary & ROI 2026
Human Resources degree analysis for Lincoln, NE. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$43K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$66K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.2 yrs
in Lincoln
Cost of Living
85
index (100 = avg)
Human Resources in Lincoln, NE Overview
Lincoln, Nebraska (pop. 291,082) has 9 colleges offering Human Resources programs. The local cost of living index of 85 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $867/month. Human Resources enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Recruiting and Employee Relations. The adjusted starting salary in Lincoln is approximately $42,500, growing to $66,300 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
9
Public Tuition
$9,242/yr
Private Tuition
$36,730/yr
Room & Board
$10,611/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,317/yr
Unemployment
5.9%
Graduation Rate
57%
Human Resources Salary in Lincoln (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lincoln's cost of living index of 85 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Human Resources salary: $50,000 starting, $78,000 mid-career, $100,000 senior level.Lincoln adjustment factor: 0.85x based on the local cost of living index.
Human Resources ROI Calculator for Lincoln
Estimate your return on investment for a Human Resources degree using local Lincoln tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,242 | Private avg: $36,730
Lincoln avg aid: $13,317/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$79,412
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$12,750
vs HS diploma in Lincoln
ROI Payback Period
6.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lincoln
$345,588
Lifetime earnings premium ($425,000) minus total education cost ($79,412)
Student Loan Payoff for Human Resources in Lincoln
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lincoln for Human Resources
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
public
$9,242/yr
$36,968 total
Nebraska Wesleyan University
private
$36,730/yr
$146,920 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Southeast Community College
$3,540/yr
Top Employers for Human Resources in Lincoln
Lincoln offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Human Resources graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Lincoln Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Human Resources Job Titles
Human Resources in Nearby Nebraska Cities
Other Business Majors in Lincoln
Business Analytics
$66K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$60K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Economics
$55K starting · 4 yr ROI
Information Systems
$43K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$43K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$43K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$53K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$43K starting · 4 yr ROI
Human Resources Degree in Lincoln — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Human Resources ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Lincoln.