Best Associate's in Human Resources Programs: The 2027 Rankings

Chandler-Gilbert Community College's entry on this list is the Associate in Applied Science in Organizational Management, a 61 to 68 credit degree that embeds a Certificate of Completion in Organizational Leadership directly into the curriculum. The coursework builds business communication, decision-making, and resource-allocation skills through classes like Human Relations in Business, Management and Leadership I, and Project Management in Quality Organizations, plus 20 credits of restricted electives students can steer toward a specialization. CGCC's own career data, sourced from Pipeline AZ, lists General and Operations Managers as a related path, with an Arizona average salary of $99,490 and entry-level pay of $37,340; that figure describes a broader management role, not an HR-specific title.

CGCC earns a Program Score of 89.3 on a 30% graduation rate, the lowest of the four programs here, but it is by far the most affordable: in-state tuition is $2,328, less than the cost of a single course at Colorado Christian, while out-of-state students pay $8,929, a $6,601 gap that is the widest on this list. That split makes the degree strongest for Arizona residents rather than out-of-state online students. With 15,085 students enrolled, CGCC is the largest institution on this list, and its elective-heavy structure suits students who want to customize the degree rather than follow a fixed HR-titled curriculum.

West Virginia Junior College's Morgantown campus offers its human resources associate degree alongside a lineup of other career-focused associate and diploma programs, including Business Administration, Medical Office Administration, Nursing, and Information Technology. The school traces its roots to an 1892 campus in Charleston and added WVJC Online in 2011, and it frames its teaching model around qualified instructors and a hands-on approach aimed at getting students career-ready in months rather than years. Students can pursue the degree on the Morgantown campus or fully online.

The numbers back a modest, no-surprises bet: a 71% graduation rate and flat tuition of $13,196 a year, the same whether a student lives in West Virginia or commutes from Fairmont, Waynesburg, or Garrett County, communities WVJC lists among where its students come from. As a private for-profit school, there's no in-state discount to chase. Total campus enrollment sits at 673, among the smallest in this ranking. A Program Score of 89.1, built on outcomes and cost data schools report to the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS), places the program fifth nationally among associate's-level human resources programs. It fits a student who wants a compact, locally taught credential and a flat price over a public college's residency math.

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College's Human Resources associate degree runs 63 credit hours across four semesters built from 8-week terms, with courses spanning Human Resource Management, Legal Issues and Compliance, Employee Recruitment/Retention, Compensation and Benefits, Labor Relations and Negotiations, Training for Organizations, and HR Organizational Metrics, capped by a 2-credit Human Resources Career Experience placement. It's taught days, evenings, and online, full or part time, at NWTC's Green Bay, Marinette, and Sturgeon Bay locations, and credits from three NWTC certificates (Human Resource Compliance, Organizational Safety and Health, and Employee Benefits, Relations, and Development) all apply toward it. Programs in NWTC's College of Business, including this one, carry accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, as the school states on its program page.

NWTC posts a 51% graduation rate and charges Wisconsin residents $4,485 a year against $6,728 for out-of-state students, a $2,243 annual gap. Total college enrollment runs 11,826, the largest of the four schools in this ranking. A Program Score of 87.8 places the program sixth nationally. NWTC's own Graduate Outcome Survey, cited on its program page, reports 78% of graduates employed after finishing (33% specifically in the HR field) and a $52,100 three-year median annual wage, a self-reported figure well below the national HR field median of $88,075 in BLS wage data (OEWS), which reflects the field broadly rather than any one school's graduates. The program suits an in-state student chasing the cheapest tuition in this ranking with a built-in transfer path into a four-year business degree.

Rasmussen University's Associate of Applied Science in Human Resources and Organizational Leadership runs 24 courses over 91 credit hours, with the school stating it can be finished in as few as 18 months. Core courses include Introduction to Human Resource Management, Introduction to Organizational Leadership, and Employment Law, which covers labor relations, employee rights, sexual harassment, and compensation and benefits law. Students can buy $149 self-directed competency assessments to test out of individual courses, and Rasmussen builds the curriculum to ladder directly into its online bachelor's in Human Resources and Organizational Leadership. The program enrolls online nationally, with campus-based support available in Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin.

Rasmussen reports a 53% graduation rate and a flat $10,595 tuition regardless of home state, since it is a private for-profit institution. Enrollment across the university totals 9,416. A Program Score of 87.7 ranks the program seventh nationally in this list. Rasmussen's own program page cites Bureau of Labor Statistics projections of 8% job growth for human resources specialists between 2023 and 2033. The program fits a working adult who wants the fastest path to a credential in this group (18 months) and a guaranteed bridge into a bachelor's degree rather than a traditional two-year associate's pace.

Amridge University's Associate of Arts in Human Resource Leadership is a 64-semester-hour online program built around a required foundational course, Management Intervention, taken at the start, then 16 hours of core business and HR coursework (Introduction to Business, Microcomputer Applications, and two electives chosen from options like Business Math, Principles of Organizational Behavior, Management Information Systems in Business, or Introductory Sociology), plus 20 hours of general education and 24 hours of open electives. Amridge is a SACSCOC-accredited, Christian-affiliated nonprofit that delivers the degree fully online, and a graduate finishes having completed roughly half the coursework needed for Amridge's HR bachelor's degree.

Every student counted in this program's outcomes has finished it: a 100% graduation rate, the highest of the four schools here. Tuition runs $9,480 a year, the same for every student regardless of home state, built from a flat $335-per-semester-hour full-time rate ($365 part time) plus a $495 comprehensive fee each term; at the full-time rate, the full 64-hour degree works out to roughly $21,440 in tuition alone, before fees and the roughly $150-per-course textbook estimate Amridge lists. Enrollment across the university is small, 639 total, the smallest of the four schools in this ranking. A Program Score of 87.6 ranks the program eighth nationally. It fits a self-directed adult learner, often one already working, who wants a small Christian university, a completion-focused model, and a direct on-ramp toward SHRM-aligned HR career paths, one of the professional organizations Amridge lists for its graduates.

Southeast Tech's Human Resource Management program is a two-year associate degree based in the George S. Mickelson Center in Sioux Falls, with students choosing in-person, online, or hybrid delivery under the school's NC-SARA authorization for distance learners. The curriculum runs through Human Resource Compliance, Compensation and Benefits, and Talent Acquisition and Training, plus supporting business courses in Business Law and Business Communications. Graduates enter as human resource representatives or assistants, with a stated path up to generalist or supervisory roles, and the college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

The program carries a Program Score of 87.4, good for #9 nationally among associate's HR programs, on a 59% graduation rate and 2,659 total enrollment. Tuition is flat at $3,720 a year, billed at $282 per credit hour, whether a student lives in South Dakota or not, so a full two-year degree runs about $7,440, under 8.5% of the field's $88,075 national median salary tracked by the BLS. Southeast Tech's own Graduate Outcomes Report cites 100% job placement for the program, a self-reported figure worth confirming with admissions but consistent with the low-cost, small-class model the school describes.

Western Iowa Tech's Human Resources Management program is a 64-credit Associate of Applied Science, offered out of Sioux City or fully online, with credits built to transfer. Coursework targets entry-level HR functions directly: interviewing applicants, administering pre-employment tests, running new-hire orientation, processing transfers, promotions, and terminations, writing job descriptions, calculating payroll, and maintaining accident reports. Students must hold a "C" or better in every core course before starting an internship, service learning placement, or on-the-job training, and that same "C" threshold is required to graduate.

Western Iowa Tech Community College posts a Program Score of 87.3, ranking #10 nationally, with a 50% graduation rate against 5,482 total students enrolled campus-wide, the largest student body of the four schools here. Tuition runs $4,296 in-state and $4,440 out-of-state, a gap of just $144 a year, the narrowest residency penalty in this group. A full two-year in-state degree totals roughly $8,592, under 10% of the field's $88,075 national median salary tracked by the BLS. That combination, a genuinely small out-of-state penalty paired with a hands-on, payroll-and-compliance curriculum, fits students who want transferable credits without being tied to Iowa residency.

Gateway's Human Resources associate degree is a 61-credit program built around an accelerated six-week online course format: students take two classes a semester but focus on one at a time. The curriculum covers employment law, occupational safety and health, equal employment opportunity, wages, health care, family leave, and retirement plans, and the degree closes with a capstone project plus an internship for real-world experience. Gateway's program page lists career outcomes in HR Generalist, HR Assistant, Talent Recruiter and Retention, and Benefits Assistant roles, and cites its own $71,302 salary outlook for graduates, separate from national BLS figures.

The program holds a Program Score of 86.7, ranking #11 nationally, with a 51% graduation rate across a 10,100-student institution, the largest overall enrollment of the four schools here. Tuition is $4,485 in-state versus $6,728 out-of-state, a $2,243 annual gap, the widest in-state/out-of-state spread in this group. Gateway's own estimate puts total program cost at $10,753 in tuition and fees plus $760 in books. The accelerated, one-class-at-a-time format suits working adults who can commit to intensive six-week terms, provided they qualify for Wisconsin's in-state rate.

Rhodes State's Human Resources associate degree is available fully online through Zoom or in a traditional daytime on-campus format, full-time or part-time, and covers recruitment, selection, placement, benefits, compensation, safety, training, development, labor relations, conflict resolution, and team building. The program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) and includes one or more embedded certificates awarded as students progress through the degree. The school states the curriculum prepares students to sit for the Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification exam, and students can double major with Business Administration or use a 3+1 pathway to finish a bachelor's degree at Franklin University.

Rhodes State carries a Program Score of 84.8, ranking #12 nationally, with a 47% graduation rate and 4,124 total enrollment, the lowest completion rate of the four schools here. Tuition is $4,560 in-state and exactly double, $9,120, out-of-state, the steepest residency premium in this group; a two-year in-state degree totals about $9,120, roughly 10.4% of the field's $88,075 national median salary tracked by the BLS. The embedded-certificate structure and Franklin University transfer path make this the strongest fit for Ohio residents stacking credentials toward a bachelor's degree, less so for out-of-state students facing the doubled tuition.

Stautzenberger College's School of Business offers an Associate of Applied Science in Human Resource Administration, a 123 quarter credit hour program delivered 100% online. The curriculum covers HR administration in business and nonprofit settings, employment law and compliance, employee benefits and compensation, training and development, diversity management and ethics, and risk management and HR strategy. The school says the coursework aligns with the Associate Professional in Human Resources (aPHR) certification exam, though the exam itself is separate. No prior HR experience is required. Students typically take two classes every five weeks and should plan for 12 to 15 hours of weekly study, with live virtual office hours and career services for resume and interview help. Listed roles include HR assistant, benefits coordinator and payroll and onboarding specialist.

The school is open admission, with a high school diploma or equivalent required. Federally reported figures show a 55% graduation rate. In-state and out-of-state tuition are both $16,249. The program earns a Program Score of 82.8 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits working adults and career starters who want an entry-level HR credential on a flexible online schedule and may later apply credits toward the college's Business Administration A.A.S.

Northcentral Technical College's Human Resources associate degree is 61 credits and gives a broad grounding in the profession within the context of business, finance and management. The college lists employment law, training and development, compensation and benefits, labor relations and safety programs among the topics. Courses include Talent Acquisition, Employee Relations, Total Rewards, Human Resource Analytics, Payroll Accounting, Talent Development and a Human Resource Capstone. Graduates are expected to facilitate employee relations, examine total rewards programs, develop training programs and create a workforce plan. Listed careers include staffing coordinator, labor relations specialist, payroll and benefits coordinator and human resources generalist. The program is available 100% online and at six campus locations, and the college says it integrates AI as a professional support tool.

NTC is open admission, and federal data show a 45% graduation rate. In-state tuition is $4,485, against $6,728 for out-of-state students. The program's Program Score is 82.8 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want an HR support or coordinator role and a fully online route, with credit for prior learning available for those who have relevant experience. Students aiming for generalist or management positions should expect to continue toward a bachelor's degree.

San Joaquin Valley College offers an associate degree in Human Resources Administration, delivered online. The school says students can earn the associate degree in as few as 14 months, and a shorter certificate in as few as 7 months. Courses on the program page include Payroll Management and Compensation, which covers payroll calculations, laws affecting personnel records and human resource information systems, and Ethics in Human Resources, which applies ethical theory to business situations and employer and employee rights. The school lists jobs such as human resources specialist, administrative services manager, bookkeeping and auditing clerk, and executive administrative assistant as possible destinations. SJVC reports institutional accreditation from the WASC Senior College and University Commission.

Federal data show a 36% graduation rate, and the college is open admission, so there is no admit rate to clear. The program holds a Program Score of 81.6 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits working adults and career changers who want a short, fully online route into HR support roles, and who plan to finish quickly. Students weighing a certificate against the associate degree should note the school's own point that the degree may qualify them for more jobs.

Rasmussen University-Florida offers an Associate of Applied Science in Human Resources and Organizational Leadership, delivered online. The program page lists 24 courses and 91 credit hours, with a finish time of as few as 18 months. Coursework covers leadership, human resources, management, marketing, business ethics, training and development, with courses such as Introduction to Organizational Leadership and Employment Law. Students can use $149 self-directed assessments to prove existing knowledge and skip a course. The curriculum is laddered so credits transfer into the school's online bachelor's degree in the same field. Coursework may also make students eligible to sit for the CAPM or PMP project management exams. Entrance requires a high school diploma or equivalent, and no standardized test scores are needed.

Rasmussen is open admission, with a 42% graduation rate. Tuition is $14,024 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The program has a Program Score of 80.1 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It fits working adults and career changers who want a short, online route into HR support or team leadership, with a clear path to a bachelor's later.

Saint Paul College offers an associate degree in human resources management that covers recruitment, employee relations, training and development, and strategic planning. The school says the curriculum was designed with industry experts. HR classes are delivered fully online and run 8 to 9 weeks, which lets students focus on fewer classes at one time. Classes have 30 or fewer students and involve direct support from faculty, and the schedule is structured for busy working adults. The page cites Bureau of Labor Statistics data projecting 6% growth in demand for HR specialists over the next 10 years. It lists ongoing employment in employment services, government, manufacturing, healthcare and social assistance, and professional, scientific and technical services.

Saint Paul College is open admission, so no admit rate applies. The graduation rate is 40%. In-state tuition is $5,486, and out-of-state tuition is the same $5,486. The program has a Program Score of 79.1 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits working adults who need an online format with short terms, and students who want broad HR skills across the whole department rather than one narrow specialty.

Columbus State Community College's Business Management - Human Resources Management program teaches HR skills in a hands-on setting that connects academic theory to real-world applications. The page stresses the legal side of the field: students get a foundation in the many legal issues that affect HR and learn to apply it across HR functions. The 62-credit curriculum includes Human Resource Policy and Procedure, Employee Training and Development, Employee and Labor Relations, Compensation, Benefits and Staffing Under the Law, and finishes with an HR Management Practicum and Seminar or a Business Strategy course. It also requires Project Management Principles and Business Ethics. Related careers on the page include human resources specialists, training and development specialists and human resources managers.

The program is open admission. Federal data shows a 28% graduation rate at Columbus State, and in-state tuition is $5,488 against $11,224 for out-of-state students. The program's Program Score is 79.1 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want an HR-specific associate degree with real coverage of employment law, compensation and benefits, whether they plan to enter the workforce or build toward a bachelor's degree later.

Tarrant County College District offers an Associate of Applied Science in Human Resources Management, a 60-semester-credit-hour degree. The district says the program is recognized for SHRM Academic Alignment and that TCC is a SHRM Recertification Provider. Coursework includes mediation, HRIS and employment practices, preparing students for roles such as HR specialist. A student can complete the degree entirely online, and it is offered across several campuses as well as TCC Connect. Two stackable certificates are also available, Human Resources Specialist I at 24 credit hours and Human Resources Specialist II at 42 credit hours. The page notes the degree can be a base for transfer to a bachelor's program.

Federal data show a 34% graduation rate, and the college has open admission. In-state tuition is $3,537 and out-of-state tuition is $8,370. The program earns a Program Score of 79 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits working adults who need a flexible online schedule, students who want a low-cost start in HR, and anyone planning to transfer later for a bachelor's degree.

Bryan University offers an Associate Degree in Human Resources Management delivered 100% online. The page lists 60 total credits, courses of eight weeks each, and a schedule of two courses at a time. The curriculum covers leadership and management, human resources management, performance management, employee training and development, employee relations, compensation, payroll and benefits, business analytics, ethics and business law. Students prepare for the HR Certification Institute's aPHR credential, and one exam attempt is included in tuition. Coursework uses assignments based on real-world cases that simulate job tasks. The page names entry-level roles such as human resources assistant, generalist, assistant recruiter, benefits assistant and payroll clerk, and notes a dedicated career services advisor and stackable programs.

Federal data show a 41% graduation rate, and Bryan is open admission. In-state and out-of-state tuition are both $12,194 at this private for-profit school. The program holds a Program Score of 78.9 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits working adults who want a short, fully online route into HR support roles and a certification attempt built into the price.

Minnesota State Community and Technical College, known as M State, offers Human Resources as an online Associate of Science and an online Associate of Applied Science, each 60 credits. An 18-credit certificate is also available, and its credits transfer fully into either associate degree. The page says graduates are prepared for entry-level and mid-level positions as human resources specialists, and the AS and AAS paths allow transfer to a university for an advanced degree. Students learn employment regulations and record-keeping, interviewing, negotiation, presentation and training, and how to build ethical policies for talent acquisition, termination, performance evaluation, compensation and benefit administration. Sample classes include Human Resource Management and Employee/Labor Relations.

The program carries a Program Score of 78.2 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. M State is an open admission college, and 47% of students graduate. In-state tuition is $5,424, the same as the out-of-state figure. The school reports that more than half of its students have a tuition-free experience through grants, scholarships and sponsorships. The program fits working adults who need online study, people already in HR who want a certificate first, and students planning to transfer into a four-year degree.

Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) delivers its human resources associate degree fully online. The program is 60 credits over two years, with classes starting in January and August, and the page flags it as a high-enrollment-demand program. Students learn to create an organizational workforce plan, develop training programs, examine total rewards programs, apply employment law, facilitate employee relations, model leadership and apply risk and safety programs. The page highlights hands-on classes in HR law, Employee Relations and Recruitment and Selection, and an internship that lets students gain work experience. Career titles listed include HR generalist, human resource coordinator, HR assistant and human resources manager. CVTC reports an average starting salary of $47,000 for recent graduates and 467 job openings in its district for the field.

CVTC has a Program Score of 78.2 out of 100, which is the basis of this ranking. The college is open admission and graduates 50% of its students. In-state tuition is $4,485 and out-of-state tuition is $6,728. The online format suits working adults and students outside the Eau Claire area who want an affordable credential for entry-level HR work and a path into coordinator and generalist roles.