The Cheapest Online Human Resources Degree Programs of 2027

The University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) offers a Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resource Management through the Marilyn Davies College of Business. The program totals 120 credit hours: 42 hours of common core, 48 hours of business core and 30 hours of major requirements, of which 24 are required and 6 are electives. The school says the curriculum is aligned with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and shaped by input from Houston industry leaders, so graduates are eligible for a special SHRM student certification regardless of work experience. It also says this is the only BBA in HRM in the Houston metropolitan area. Career paths listed include HR specialist, HR manager, training and development specialist, and benefits and job analysis specialist. Students can join the UHD SHRM chapter.

UHD graduates 33% of its students and admits 90% of applicants. In-state tuition is $6,126, and out-of-state tuition is $15,978. The program has a Program Score of 61 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want an HR-focused business degree at a public university with a SHRM-aligned curriculum. The 33% graduation rate suggests planning your schedule and support needs early.

Northwest Missouri State University offers an online Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management. The curriculum is aligned with Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) recommendations and covers benefits, recruitment, selection, professional development and compensation, using theory, real-world application projects and internships. Students also study teamwork and leadership. The program is 120 credit hours, accepts up to 81 hours of transfer credit, and is delivered in an accelerated online format with multiple start dates. The school states that few undergraduate programs outside Northwest focus on this field in Missouri and reports 100% job placement for 2020-2021 graduates. Listed careers include human resource manager, employee relations manager, benefits coordinator and training and development coordinator.

Northwest graduates 54% of its students and admits 86% of applicants. In-state tuition is $6,713 and out-of-state tuition is $13,426. The program has a Program Score of 70 out of 100, the basis for its ranking. It fits working professionals and transfer students who want an online route into HR with internship experience built into the curriculum.

Empire State University's 120-credit Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management is officially aligned with the Society for Human Resource Management curriculum guidelines. Courses are offered online, through independent study, or in a blended format. The major lists 70 to 72 credits that include staffing, compensation and benefits, employment and labor law, diversity in the workplace, training and development, international HR management and strategic HR management, alongside business foundations such as accounting, finance, marketing and statistics. A capstone course asks students to synthesize what they have learned. Students can ask their mentor whether credit from Individualized Credit for Prior Learning or Professional Learning Evaluation may count toward required courses.

The federal numbers show a 41% graduation rate, and the school is open admission. In-state tuition is $7,070 and out-of-state tuition is $16,980. The Program Score of 68.4 out of 100 is the basis of the ranking. The format fits working adults who need flexible scheduling and want to turn work experience into credit. The 41% rate is a school-wide figure, so prospective students should weigh it against how many credits they can bring in.

The University of New Hampshire College of Professional Studies offers a Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management. In May 2023 the college aligned the degree with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) HR Curriculum Guidebook and Templates, which define the minimum HR content areas undergraduates should study. The page notes that over 500 programs at roughly 425 institutions hold this recognition. The college describes its HR faculty as scholar-practitioners with industry experience, and it positions the curriculum around HR as a strategic business partner that helps organizations build competitive advantage.

The college is open admission, and federal data show a 30% graduation rate. That figure is low, so students should plan for the self-directed pace that adult and working learners often need. The program earns a Program Score of 54.6 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. Tuition is $7,536 in-state and $9,096 out-of-state, a modest gap that keeps the price reachable for out-of-state learners too. The degree fits working adults and career changers who want a SHRM-aligned bachelor's without a selective admissions process, and who can supply their own discipline to finish.

Western Governors University offers an online Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management built from 39 courses. Skills named on the program page include recruitment and employee management, benefits administration, policy management, HR technology, strategic use of metrics and global HR practices. Students can also earn strategic thinking and innovation, leadership, and human resource management certificates along the way. Because WGU is competency based, students move on as soon as they pass an assessment, and the school reports that 65% of graduates finish within 24 months (WGU internal data). Tuition is charged per six-month term rather than per credit, and every student is eligible to join the online SHRM virtual student chapter. New terms start on the first of every month.

WGU is open admission and reports a 46% federal graduation rate. In-state and out-of-state tuition are both $8,180, reflecting one national online rate. The program's Program Score is 76.8 out of 100, and that score is the basis of its ranking. The format fits self-directed adults, especially those with an associate degree or prior credits to transfer, who can study quickly and want to control cost by finishing more courses within each term.

American Public University System offers a Bachelor of Arts in Human Resource Management for people who want to understand all functions of the field. The catalog says the program covers workforce issues from generalist and specialist perspectives, including how organizations motivate, compensate, recruit, appraise and develop talent, with case studies on the strategic role of HR. It reports accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs. The degree totals 120 semester hours: 30 in general education, 51 in the major, 9 in a concentration, 3 for a final program requirement and 27 in electives. Students choose a General Concentration, Leadership and Development, or Workplace Conflict Management. Learning outcomes include employment law compliance, HR analytics and compensation design.

APUS is an open-admission school with a 57% graduation rate and a very large enrollment of about 50,715 students. In-state and out-of-state students pay the same tuition, $8,400. The program's Program Score is 84 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It suits working adults who need online study and a flexible concentration choice. Students who prefer a campus experience should look elsewhere.

Metropolitan State University offers a Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management through the Department of Management, Entrepreneurship, and Human Resource Management in its College of Business and Management. The department describes HR work as partnering with managers on work design, recruiting, hiring, performance appraisal, training and development, compensation and benefits, employee rights, unions and safety. It notes that HR departments have been growing in size and importance because of expanding regulation, changing technology and projected labor shortages. A minor in Human Resource Management is available for students in other majors who expect to supervise people. The college's programs are reported to be accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, and the college serves students at multiple sites around the Twin Cities.

Metro State graduates 44% of its students and admits 99% of applicants. Tuition is $8,571 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The program earns a Program Score of 69 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It suits students who want an HR major at an urban public university with small average class sizes and flexible delivery, including working adults who need to fit coursework around a job.

The University of Memphis offers its B.B.A. in Human Resource Management online through UofM Global, for learners balancing school with work. The degree covers recruitment and staffing, training and development, compensation and benefits, performance management, employee relations and organizational behavior, along with business ethics, legal compliance and workforce planning. The plan of study combines 41 credit hours of general education, a lower-division business core in accounting, economics, information systems, supply chain management and statistics, an advanced business core, and specialized HR courses. Students apply what they learn through projects and internship opportunities. The school lists roles such as human resource manager, corporate recruiter, HR business partner, and training and development manager.

Memphis reports a 51% graduation rate and admits 72% of applicants. In-state tuition is $8,856 and out-of-state tuition is $13,512. The program holds a Program Score of 75.2 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It fits working adults and career changers who want a flexible, public-university route into HR, and who are ready for the minimum-grade and GPA requirements the business core sets for progression.

Portland State University's Human Resource Management degree is offered through the School of Business as a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science, each at 180 credits with any-term start. The school says students can take all HR courses online, earn the whole degree on campus, or combine the two. The program emphasizes shaping workplace culture, developing leaders and using HR data and analytics to support strategy. It reports a four-decade history with the Portland Human Resource Management Association, offers supervised internships, and requires every student to complete a community-based learning capstone with a project that applies HR concepts. Undergraduates also earn an integrated AI in Business Microcredential within existing coursework.

The program has a Program Score of 74.8 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. The federal graduation rate is 53% and the admit rate is 91%. In-state tuition is $9,114 and out-of-state tuition is $27,132. The degree fits students who want to work with people and workplace data, including working professionals, military veterans and transfer students who need the online option. Residents of Oregon pay far less than nonresidents, so cost is a larger factor for students moving from another state.