The Best Bachelor's in Human Resources Programs for 2027

University of Pennsylvania's Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences offers an Organizational Studies concentration built for working adults, delivered through Penn LPS Online. The 12-course concentration splits into four courses in Applied Positive Psychology, four in Organizational Studies (Introduction to Team Culture, Virtual Collaboration, Anthropology of Organizations, and Building Influence Across Cultural Boundaries in Organizations), two in Professional Writing, and two advisor-approved electives. Along the way, students can stack three certificates, in Applied Positive Psychology, Team Culture and Collaboration, and Professional Writing, and the program's own materials list human resource manager among the careers it targets.

The 97% graduation rate is the highest of the four programs here, though the 5% admit rate makes it the most selective; together they support a Program Score of 96.4 (per IPEDS data). Tuition is flat at $60,920 a year with no in-state discount, since it is a private program, a $48,660 premium over UCLA's in-state rate and $24,751 above Texas A&M's out-of-state rate. Nationally, human resources managers earn a median $99,080 a year per BLS Occupational Outlook, a fixed benchmark against which that tuition premium has to be weighed.

Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations awards a Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Labor Relations, delivered in person in Ithaca. The 120-credit degree builds on a 40-credit core spanning labor economics, employment law, labor relations, and the psychology and sociology of work, plus required coursework in U.S. labor history, diversity dynamics, and international and comparative labor. Students then complete 40 credits of advanced ILR electives split across three required tracks, quantitative policy, international and comparative labor, and labor history, with up to 12 credits available through approved internships and up to 15 through ILR exchange programs.

Cornell posts a 95% graduation rate and a 9% admit rate, the most selective program in this group by a wide margin. Tuition runs $68,380 flat, since Cornell's ILR school does not distinguish in-state from out-of-state pricing. That combination is why Cornell's Program Score of 96.3 ties for the top spot in this ranking: the program fits students who already have the academic record to clear a 9% admit bar and want the deepest, most structured labor relations curriculum on this list.

Nationally, the BLS reports a $99,080 median wage for human resources managers, the kind of senior role ILR's labor relations and employment law training is built to reach.

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor's Organizational Studies program sits in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, housed on the 8th floor of Weiser Hall, and lets students design their own path through the study of how organizations function. The curriculum centers on a Quantitative Skills requirement and a Senior Research Capstone that puts students into real organizational research, backed by internship placement help, alumni networking events, and study abroad options.

The program posts a 93% graduation rate and a 16% admit rate, and its Program Score of 96.3 ties Cornell for the top spot in this group. The price story diverges sharply by residency: in-state tuition is $18,516 against $62,749 out-of-state, a $44,233 gap. That makes this program a standout value for Michigan residents who clear its 16% admit bar, and a much harder case for nonresidents paying more than triple the resident rate for the same capstone-driven curriculum.

Nationally, the BLS reports a $99,080 median wage for human resources managers, useful context for graduates of a research-driven organizational program moving toward leadership roles.

The University of Washington's Foster School of Business offers Human Resources Management as one of eight majors within its Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, alongside accounting, finance, marketing, and entrepreneurship. The 180-credit degree runs on a common business core that includes ACCTG 215, ACCTG 225, MGMT 200, and QMETH 201, and admission to upper-division standing is competitive: applicants need at least 60 graded credits, a 2.00 cumulative GPA, and completed prerequisites in accounting, economics, math, and English composition before Foster will consider them for the major.

UW posts an 85% graduation rate and a 39% admit rate, the most accessible entry point among the programs in this group, with a Program Score of 96.2. Tuition is $11,869 in-state against $42,105 out-of-state, a $30,236 gap and the lowest resident price of any program here. It fits students who want a named HR major inside a large, broad-based business school rather than a stand-alone labor relations or organizational studies degree.

Ohio State University's Fisher College of Business awards a BS in Human Resources, with Columbus campus admits placed directly into the Fisher major and the HR specialization. Major coursework covers Compensation and Benefits, Human Resources Practices and the Law, Staffing, Strategic Human Resources, and Training and Development, layered on a business core in law, finance, international business, logistics, and marketing. Internships aren't required, but Fisher reports that more than 90% of students registered with its Office of Career Management complete one before graduating, often converting it into a full-time offer.

Ohio State posts an 88% graduation rate and a 61% admit rate, the most accessible admissions of any program in this group, with a Program Score of 95.6. In-state tuition is $12,180 against $38,958 out-of-state, a $26,778 gap. Fisher's own program page cites an average beginning salary of $52,327 for its 2019-20 human resources management graduates, a starting figure well below the BLS's $99,080 national median for human resources managers, a role that typically takes years of experience to reach.

Northwestern University's undergraduate Organization Behavior major runs through the School of Professional Studies as a part-time, transfer-friendly completion degree, built jointly by the Kellogg School of Management, the School of Communication, and Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. The 45-unit curriculum pairs a communication foundation (persuasion theory, team leadership and decision making, organizational communication, business writing) with a core in organization behavior, leadership principles, organizational change, social psychology, and the sociology of organizations, plus an analytical foundation in accounting, finance, and statistics. Classes run online, with occasional sessions on the Evanston or downtown Chicago campus, and the program is explicitly built for students applying transfer credit toward a shorter path to the degree.

Program Score 95.1 places this program at #9 nationally, driven by a 95% graduation rate against an 8% admit rate. Tuition is a flat $67,158 regardless of residency, reflecting Northwestern's private pricing rather than a per-course SPS rate. The major does not award a stand-alone HR credential; its scraped page frames human resources as one of several career paths, alongside management, consulting, and entrepreneurship, so it fits a working adult or transfer student who wants a Kellogg-affiliated organizational theory foundation more than a narrowly HR-titled degree.

University of Miami's Herbert Business School's BBA in Human Resource Management sits inside a standard 120-credit BBA: the university's general education core, the full BBA business core, and a specialization track in HRM taught within the Management department, with faculty including Valeria Alterman, Stephen Cerrone, and Marie Dasborough. The scraped program page describes the major as building administrative, communication, leadership, and teamwork skills for careers in staffing, personnel, or human resources, layered onto the core business curriculum rather than delivered as a stand-alone HR-only degree.

Program Score 94.9 ranks it #10, backed by an 84% graduation rate at a 19% admit rate, among the more selective schools in this group. Tuition is a flat $60,720 a year with no in-state discount, typical of a private university BBA. That combination, business-core rigor plus a real acceptance filter, fits an applicant who wants an HR specialization wrapped inside a full BBA rather than a freestanding HR major, and who can clear a sub-20% admit bar.

Villanova University's Human Resource Management major is a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies concentration offered through the College of Professional Studies, in partnership with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences' Master's in Human Resource Development program. It runs on campus, online, and in hybrid format, and the school states that every course in the major maps to at least one competency in SHRM's Body of Competency and Knowledge, aligned with the SHRM Curriculum Guidebook. Students can also add HRM as a minor or complete a stand-alone four-course, 12-credit HRM certificate that does not require a bachelor's degree, and the major is built to roll directly into Villanova's combined BIS/MS in Human Resource Development with prerequisite courses waived.

Program Score 94.2 ranks it #11, on a 92% graduation rate against a 27% admit rate, the most accessible admit rate among the private schools in this group. Tuition runs a flat $66,838 with no in-state break. The SHRM-aligned coursework and the built-in bridge to a master's degree make this a fit for a student who wants an accelerated bachelor's-to-master's HR track benchmarked against professional HR competencies, not just a general business elective.

Rutgers' bachelor's in Human Resource Management runs through the School of Management and Labor Relations (SMLR) as a multidisciplinary major drawing on business strategy, psychology, economics, and sociology. Core coursework covers Intro to Human Resource Management, Talent Acquisition, Training and Development, Compensation and Rewards, Global HRM, Career Management, HRM and Benefits, and HRM and Finance, with special topics in employee ownership, ethics and HRM, diversity and inclusion, conflict management, and the future of work. Students can extend directly into SMLR's Master's Advantage Plan, an accelerated path into the school's Master's in HRM.

Program Score 94 ranks it #12, on an 84% graduation rate and a 58% admit rate, by far the most accessible school in this group. As a public university, Rutgers prices by residency: $14,222 in-state versus $33,734 out-of-state, a $19,512 annual gap. Over four years that is a $78,048 cost difference between an in-state and out-of-state student earning the identical degree, the single largest cost lever on this list. For a New Jersey resident, it pairs an 84% graduation rate with the lowest tuition of the four programs by a wide margin.

Trinity University's human resource management major combines employment and labor policy with the management of people in organizations, and is built on a liberal arts foundation. The page says it is fully aligned with the Society for Human Resource Management Body of Knowledge and prepares students for the SHRM Certified Professional exam. The school reports that the Neidorff School of Business holds AACSB accreditation. Courses include Human Resource Management, Talent Acquisition, which covers the legal and technical side of recruitment and selection, and an Internship in Human Resource Management with a private, public or nonprofit employer. The page describes faculty as certified HR and legal experts.

The Program Score is 92.6 out of 100, the basis of this program's ranking. Trinity reports an 84% graduation rate and a 26% admit rate. Tuition is $53,352 for in-state and out-of-state students alike, because Trinity is a private nonprofit. The major fits students who want a credential-oriented HR degree with an internship course in a small, selective liberal arts setting where faculty know students personally.

Baylor University's Human Resource Management major was founded more than 35 years ago and is intentionally small. The degree plan includes 18 hours of major courses: human resource management, talent acquisition and employee relations, compensation management, and strategic HR and analytics, plus two electives such as employment law, training and development, or negotiating and conflict resolution. The page describes networking events with HR professionals, class consulting projects with real companies, corporate visits, guest speakers and a one-on-one mentoring program. The curriculum aligns with Society for Human Resource Management standards, and students can join the Bears' Association of HR. Baylor reports a near-100% placement rate and starting salaries of $55,000 to $70,000.

Federal data show an 80% graduation rate at Baylor and an admit rate of 51%. Tuition is $58,100 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The Program Score of 92.5 out of 100 is the basis of this program's ranking. The major fits students who want a close-knit cohort, direct contact with working HR professionals and a clear route into recruiting, compensation or employee relations. At that price, applicants should look closely at aid before committing.

The University of Delaware's Human Relations Administration major sits in the College of Education and Human Development and prepares students for human resources careers at profit and not-for-profit organizations. Coursework includes Human Resource Management, Labor Relations, Diversity and Inclusion, Business Communication and Leadership. Students complete two internships at local agencies and a professional development seminar, and they are encouraged to add an HR-related minor. The page says the major differs from HR programs rooted in economics and accounting by focusing on leadership, relationships and interpersonal counseling. Career options listed include recruiter, benefits coordinator, training manager and compensation specialist. The sample curriculum also draws on life span development, communication and interpersonal behavior.

Delaware graduates 81% of its students and admits 71% of applicants. In-state tuition is $14,600 against $39,190 for out-of-state students. The program earns a Program Score of 91.6 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It fits students who see HR as a people-centered field, want supervised field experience before graduating, and may continue into graduate study in human resources, business administration, public administration or counseling.

Miami University-Oxford covers human resources through its Human Capital Management and Leadership major, a Bachelor of Science in Business on the Oxford campus. The curriculum spans organizational behavior, leadership, human resource management and development, change management, employee engagement, human capital consulting and strategic management. Key courses include Human Resource Management, Diversity and Cross-Cultural Management, Leadership and Learning, Human Capital Consulting and Executive Decision Making and Strategy. The school says its coursework is recognized by the Society for Human Resource Management. By its 2024 data, 100% of students have client-project experience and students average 1.37 internships.

Federal data show an 80% graduation rate and a 75% admit rate. Tuition at this public university is $14,420 in-state and $35,866 out-of-state. The program earns a Program Score of 91.1 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want to move into HR management, compensation, people analytics or consulting roles and who learn best through projects done for real client organizations. Graduates are listed in roles such as human resources manager, compensation and benefits manager and management analyst, so the path is clearly career-oriented.

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College's Bachelor of Science in Leadership and Human Resource Development is offered by the School of Leadership and Human Resource Development. It draws on psychology, sociology, management and education to teach students to foster learning, development and change in individuals, organizations and communities. The page lists leadership skills, organizational behavior, strategic planning, ethics and social responsibility, and professional development, along with experiential learning through internships and projects. Approved electives span psychology, communication studies, sociology and management. The school reports that its curriculum is academically aligned with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), and the page describes employee training, performance management and career planning as core human resource development work.

Federal data show a 69% graduation rate and a 73% admit rate at LSU. In-state tuition is $8,038 and out-of-state tuition is also $8,038. The program has a Program Score of 90.9 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want to lead teams, train and develop talent or work in public service, and who prefer a people-centered degree with a recognized HR alignment over a more quantitative business major.

Rutgers University-New Brunswick offers this bachelor's degree as the B.S. in Labor and Employment Relations through its School of Management and Labor Relations. The program is built for flexibility: students with at least one year of college can complete the degree through a combination of online, daytime, weekend, evening and off-campus courses. Rutgers accepts up to 60 credits from a county college and up to 90 credits from a combination of two- and four-year institutions, and an AA or AS from a New Jersey county college can fulfill all general education requirements. Students who have about two years of credits can complete the degree entirely online, provided general education is finished first. The school also lists a five-year plan that lets participants earn a master's degree, and re-enrollment is made easy for students who interrupt their studies.

Federal data show an 84% graduation rate and a 58% admit rate at Rutgers. In-state tuition is $14,222, compared with $33,734 for out-of-state students. The program earns a Program Score of 90.1 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits transfer students, working adults and people moving into human resources and labor relations roles who need classes outside the standard weekday schedule.

The University of Texas at Dallas offers a Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management through the Jindal School of Management. The school teaches HR as a business discipline, tying people decisions to strategy, performance, risk and culture, with a curriculum that adds analytics, AI, HR technology, total rewards, employee relations and organizational change. The page says faculty average 25 years of commercial experience. The program reports alignment with professional HR curriculum guidelines, so graduates are eligible to sit for the SHRM Certified Professional exam or the HRCI aPHR exam, and an elective prepares students for certification. The school reports a $68K average starting salary based on exit surveys, and its student SHRM chapter has won the Texas competition several times.

The Program Score is 89.4 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. UT Dallas graduates 76% of its students and admits 65% of applicants. In-state tuition is $10,639 and out-of-state tuition is $36,139. The program fits students who want a path into talent acquisition, employee relations or HR analytics and who value a certification-aligned curriculum and an active student professional chapter. Its location in the Dallas business community gives students access to local employers, alumni and professional associations.

Pennsylvania State University offers a B.S. in Labor and Human Resources, available at University Park and through World Campus. The major studies work and the employment relationship within a liberal arts education, drawing on industrial relations, economics, history, law, sociology and psychology. The degree requires a minimum of 120 credits, including 58 to 59 credits for the major, and every major course needs a C or better. Prescribed courses include Exploring Work and Employment, Employment Relationship: Law and Policy, Labor and Employment Relations Fundamentals, Human Resources Fundamentals, Research Methods and Ethics in the Workplace. Entry to the major requires at least a 2.00 cumulative grade-point average and third-semester classification. The page notes courses that have taken students to workplaces in Silicon Valley, Ireland, China and Sweden, and an in-house career counselor.

Federal data shows an 86% graduation rate and a 61% admit rate at Penn State's main campus. Tuition is $20,066 in-state and $41,212 out-of-state. The Program Score of 89.4 out of 100 is the basis of its ranking. The major fits students aiming at HR, labor relations, mediation or law school who want a broad liberal arts foundation behind their business training.

The University of Minnesota-Twin Cities lists Human Resources and Industrial Relations as a B.S.B. program in the Curtis L. Carlson School of Management, under the Bachelor of Science in Business. The catalog describes human resource management as critical to how an organization functions and says majors learn how organizations use it to build a competitive workforce and help employees achieve fulfilling work lives. Topics include attracting, recruiting, selecting, rewarding and retaining talent, along with employee feedback, coaching and development. Students also learn to design and evaluate training and development programs, determine fair and equitable pay structures, improve engagement and culture, and meet legal standards.

The program has a Program Score of 89.3 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. Federal data show an 85% graduation rate and an 80% admit rate. In-state tuition is $15,148 and out-of-state tuition is $36,296. The fit is a student who wants a people-focused business major within a larger school of management and who expects to work in recruiting, compensation, training or employee relations. The catalog entry was last updated for fall 2026.