Online Human Resources Degree Overview
There are diverse options when it comes to online undergraduate and graduate degree programs in human resources. These degree programs aim to provide students with the business, leadership, administrative, and people skills needed to work with employees at businesses and nonprofit organizations. Students can often choose from a variety of flexible formats to fit their schedules and/or further focus their studies in a specialization area within human resources. Learn about some of the available online degree programs and some common characteristics below.
Best Online Bachelor's Degrees in Human Resources
| School | Tuition* | Acceptance Rate | Graduation Rate | Financial Aid % | Placement Services | Career Services | Accepts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dickinson State University | $7784 | 100% | 41% | 93% | Yes | Yes | AP / NCCRS Credits |
| 2 | Thomas Jefferson University | $41715 | 66% | 70% | 99% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 3 | Immaculata University | $27350 | 81% | 67% | 100% | Yes | Yes | AP / NCCRS Credits |
| 4 | Texas Woman's University | $7926 | 93% | 43% | 93% | Yes | Yes | AP / NCCRS Credits |
| 5 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College | $11962 | 75% | 68% | 96% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 6 | Metropolitan State University | $8114 | 56% | 34% | 86% | No | Yes | AP / ACE / NCCRS Credits |
| 7 | Florida International University | $6565 | 58% | 63% | 90% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 8 | Georgia Southwestern State University | $5500 | 58% | 38% | 95% | Yes | Yes | AP / NCCRS Credits |
| 9 | University of Toledo | $10187 | 96% | 50% | 95% | Yes | Yes | AP / ACE Credits |
| 10 | Portland State University | $7872 | 96% | 48% | 82% | Yes | Yes | AP / NCCRS Credits |
| 11 | University of Nebraska at Omaha | $7980 | 83% | 50% | 85% | Yes | Yes | AP / NCCRS Credits |
| 12 | Temple University | $16970 | 60% | 74% | 90% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 13 | University of Alabama at Birmingham | $8568 | 74% | 63% | 95% | Yes | Yes | AP / ACE / NCCRS Credits |
| 14 | Concordia University-Saint Paul | $22800 | 98% | 51% | 98% | Yes | Yes | AP / ACE Credits |
| 15 | Wichita State University | $8299 | 92% | 50% | 89% | Yes | Yes | AP / ACE Credits |
| 16 | Southwestern College | $31650 | No Available Data (2019-2020) | 42% | 100% | Yes | Yes | AP / ACE Credits |
| 17 | Lamar University | $8494 | 84% | 34% | 82% | Yes | Yes | AP / ACE / NCCRS Credits |
| 18 | Utah Valley University | $5820 | No Available Data (2019-2020) | 32% | 74% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 19 | Indiana State University | $9236 | 90% | 41% | 92% | Yes | Yes | AP / ACE Credits |
| 20 | SUNY College of Technology at Delhi | $8560 | 72% | 48% | 91% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 21 | University of Southern Mississippi | $8896 | 97% | 49% | 93% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 22 | Western Illinois University | $12940 | 57% | 51% | 88% | Yes | Yes | AP / ACE / NCCRS Credits |
| 23 | Saint Leo University | $23750 | 72% | 49% | 100% | Yes | Yes | AP / ACE / NCCRS Credits |
| 24 | Lindenwood University | $18100 | 88% | 50% | 100% | Yes | Yes | AP / ACE / NCCRS Credits |
| 25 | University of Michigan-Flint | $11860 | 66% | 40% | 96% | No | Yes | AP Credits |
| 26 | Maryville University of Saint Louis | $28470 | 83% | 71% | 99% | Yes | Yes | AP / NCCRS Credits |
| 27 | University of Mount Olive | $21194 | 58% | 55% | 99% | Yes | Yes | AP / ACE / NCCRS Credits |
| 28 | Regent University | $18620 | 86% | 57% | 99% | Yes | Yes | AP / NCCRS Credits |
| 29 | University of St Francis | $34000 | 46% | 62% | 100% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 30 | Hawaii Pacific University | $27500 | 75% | 45% | 98% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 31 | University of the Incarnate Word | $32576 | 94% | 51% | 99% | Yes | Yes | AP / ACE Credits |
| 32 | McKendree University | $31640 | 63% | 60% | 100% | Yes | Yes | AP / ACE / NCCRS Credits |
| 33 | Davenport University | $19338 | 82% | 49% | 98% | Yes | Yes | AP / ACE / NCCRS Credits |
| 34 | Regis University | $38180 | 71% | 64% | 99% | Yes | Yes | AP / NCCRS Credits |
| 35 | Mount Mercy University | $33862 | 66% | 64% | 100% | Yes | Yes | AP / NCCRS Credits |
| 36 | Avila University | $20500 | 41% | 55% | 100% | No | Yes | AP Credits |
| 37 | Mercer University | $25828 | 74% | 66% | 100% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 38 | Nichols College | $35715 | 80% | 59% | 100% | Yes | Yes | AP / NCCRS Credits |
| 39 | Tiffin University | $26110 | 69% | 39% | 100% | Yes | Yes | AP / ACE Credits |
| 40 | LeTourneau University | $31270 | 45% | 63% | 100% | Yes | Yes | AP / NCCRS Credits |
| 41 | Mount Vernon Nazarene University | $21297 | 73% | 68% | 100% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 42 | Upper Iowa University | $31685 | 51% | 48% | 99% | No | Yes | AP / ACE / NCCRS Credits |
| 43 | DeSales University | $38700 | 79% | 69% | 100% | Yes | Yes | AP / NCCRS Credits |
| 44 | Concordia University-Wisconsin | $30352 | 64% | 64% | 100% | Yes | Yes | AP / NCCRS Credits |
| 45 | William Penn University | $26100 | 58% | 34% | 99% | Yes | Yes | AP / NCCRS Credits |
| 46 | Concordia University Texas | $32860 | 90% | 49% | 100% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 47 | Concordia University-Chicago | $32880 | 75% | 47% | 100% | Yes | Yes | AP / NCCRS Credits |
| 48 | Seton Hill University | $36856 | 76% | 65% | 100% | Yes | Yes | AP / ACE Credits |
| 49 | Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College | $30500 | 67% | 56% | 100% | Yes | Yes | AP / ACE Credits |
| 50 | Saint Peter's University | $38760 | 81% | 59% | 100% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
To get a more in-depth look at our school ranking methodology, please visit our ranking methodology page.
Tuition information is based on published tuition and required fees, per data by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).
Online Associate Degrees in Human Resources
Online degree programs in human resources may be offered as Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees in areas like human resource management, human resources specialist, or human resource administration. These programs can usually be completed in 4 semesters (2 years) and are commonly designed as transfer degrees to help students transfer credit to a 4-year institution and continue their education. Students may complete around 60 credits of coursework, including general education classes, core courses in human resources, and/or electives.
Online Bachelor's Degrees in Human Resources
Students wishing to pursue an online bachelor's in human resources can choose from Bachelor of Arts (BA) degrees or Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business Administration and Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degrees with a concentration in human resources or human resource management. These programs usually require around 120 credits and may offer additional emphasis areas to allow students to further focus their studies. Some programs may also be broken into pre-core and core business courses and/or offer upper-division electives.
Online Master's Degrees in Human Resources
Usually offered as a Master of Science (MS) or Master of Professional Studies (MPS) degree, master's programs in human resource management may help prepare students for professional certification in the field. Many of these programs may range between 33 and 45 credits and may require a final capstone experience. Students may be able to further focus their studies by choosing an available concentration area. Depending on the program, students might be able to choose a flexible, self-paced format to finish their degree on their own schedule.
Online Doctoral Degrees in Human Resources
Students can choose from online Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Human Resource Management degree programs, or other related areas like a PhD in Organizational Leadership with a concentration in human resource development or a PhD in Human Capital Management. Some of these online programs may require some in-person residencies, and students typically have to complete a dissertation. Students may have to complete between 51 and 60 credits of coursework. Coursework is usually highly customizable and may include some core and specialization/concentration courses.
Online Certificates in Human Resources
There are undergraduate and professional certificate programs in human resources available in online formats. Some of these programs are self-paced and may allow students to finish in as little as 1 semester. Others may require around 18 credits and allow students to finish in as little as 6 months. Professional certificate programs may require around 100 hours and award HR Certification Institute (HRCI) recertification credits for professional development. Students in these certificate programs generally take several required core courses.
Human Resources Specializations/Concentrations
Concentrations are quite common in the human resources field. Sometimes these concentrations are in a specific area of human resources, while other times these concentrations may be in a related area or specific skill set, such as organizational leadership. Typically, programs that offer concentrations require students to take some courses in those given areas. Those courses are designed to help prepare students for specific careers and/or job duties within human resources. Some available concentrations, tracks, or emphasis areas for these degrees include:
- Public administration
- Cognitive studies
- Emergency Management
- Information technology operations
- Environmental management
- Public and nonprofit management
- Strategic communications
Curriculum/Coursework for a Human Resources Degree
While there are some free online human resources courses available from various institutions, these don't typically lead to a degree. An entire degree in human resources can provide students with a well-rounded business education and specific knowledge of the field. Depending on the set up of the program, undergraduate students may take general education courses and electives along with core business courses and/or major courses in human resources. Graduate programs typically focus on human resource courses and may have additional electives and/or concentration courses to help students focus in on areas of interest. Although the requirements vary by degree level and school, some common courses for online human resource degree programs include:
- Human resource management
- Human resource development
- Ethics
- Labor relations
- Compensation and benefits
- Employment law
- Human resource information systems/technology
- Recruitment and staffing
- Communication
- International human resources management
How Long Does it Take to Get an Online Bachelor's in Human Resources?
Bachelor's degree programs are usually designed to take 4 years to complete. However, online degree programs generally offer more flexibility to these timelines to allow students to work more quickly or more slowly based on their individual needs and schedules. There are some online bachelor's degree programs in human resources that may allow students to work at an accelerated pace and finish their degree in as little as 12 to 17 months (with transfer credits). Students may also be able to finish their degree more quickly if they have transfer credit from an associate's degree or other college-level study. Other students who are working full-time or may need to complete their degree a little more slowly may look for self-paced or part-time programs.
Accreditation for Online Bachelor's in Human Resources Degrees
Regional accreditation is common for schools that offer online degree programs and may be offered from organizations like the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) or the Higher Learning Commission. Regional accreditation bodies are approved by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). This accreditation helps indicate that the institution has met general educational guidelines for quality degree programs. Some schools may have additional levels of accreditation for programs in specific fields. In the case of human resources, some of these programs are also accredited by business-related organizations, such as the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE). Subject-related accreditation helps ensure that programs in the field meet industry-specific guidelines and are best suited to prepare students for future careers.
Although it is not accreditation per say, several online degree programs in human resources also align the curriculum with guidelines set by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). This gives these programs even more subject-specific assurance for a quality degree that will prepare students for the human resource field. Some of these programs may even be specifically designed to prepare students for professional certifications offered by SHRM.
Human Resources Licensure & Certification
Professional certification in the field of human resources is not typically required, but may be preferred and is fairly common; it demonstrates credibility and expertise in the field. Organizations like SHRM, the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, and the HR Certification Institute (HRCI) offer a variety of certifications for professionals. For example, SHRM has the SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) or the SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) designations and HRCI has the Professional in Human Resources (PHR), Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), and more. Typically for certification, human resource professionals need to meet specific education and work experience requirements and then pass an exam.
Human Resources Career Information
Students looking to start a career in human resource management and become an HR professional may first need to determine what level of education they wish to pursue. For example, the requirements for a human resources assistant may be different than a human resources manager. However, a degree in human resources at any level can often lead to a variety of careers. Some possible career options for graduates of human resource programs include:
- Human resources specialist
- Training and development manager
- Labor relations specialist
- Payroll and timekeeping clerk
- Compensation and benefits manager
- Consultant
- University faculty
- Public relations specialist
How to Become a Human Resources Manager
Students wanting to become a human resource manager usually need to earn a bachelor's or master's degree in the field. While some jobs may only require a bachelor's degree and so many years of related work experience, others may prefer to hire professionals with master's degrees. To gain work experience, many human resources managers start their careers as human resources specialists or labor relations specialists. These managers may also decide to pursue professional certification to demonstrate their expertise.
Human resources managers are responsible for overseeing the various administrative duties involved in hiring and training new employees to an organization. They typically manage staff members as they consult on human resource issues, mediate conflicts, supervise benefit and training programs, and more. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that human resources managers made a median annual salary of $116,720, as of 2019. The job outlook for these professionals from 2019 to 2029 was 6%.
How to Become a Human Resources Specialist
Human resources specialists are typically required to have a bachelor's degree. Usually, this degree is in human resources, but may be in other areas, like business. While work experience is not usually required for these positions, it can be beneficial. As human resources specialists work in the field and gain knowledge and experience, they may pursue professional certification in human resources to further advance their careers.
Human resources specialists are usually the ones responsible for the actual interviewing and placement of potential employees. This may also require them to help train employees and ensure that they receive all the information they need about compensation and benefits, as well as handling employee relations issues. As of 2019, the BLS stated that these specialists made a median annual salary of $61,920 and had a job outlook of 7% from 2019 to 2029.
Financial Aid and Scholarship Information for Human Resources Degrees
Many students may need to find ways to help pay for their postsecondary education through loans, grants, and/or scholarships. Usually, students need to first fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to see what types of federal loans and/or grants they may qualify for. After that, students may choose to apply to a wide range of scholarships that they may qualify for based on grades, activities/interests, and/or the school they plan to attend.
Some organizations and institutions even offer scholarships specifically for students wishing to study human resources. For example, the SHRM Foundation provides students with a database of numerous grants, awards, and scholarships for which students can compete. Some schools may also provide their own scholarships, such as the Dr. Richard Baumgartner Memorial Scholarship at East Central University that offers an undergraduate award and a graduate award.
How to Choose a Human Resource School and Program
With a wide range of online human resource programs available, students may first want to search for programs that fit within their personal preferences and/or needs. For instance, students may want to look for programs with flexible schedules; those that allow them to finish a degree faster or slower than the traditional time. Cost may be a huge factor as well; students can typically find the net price for a school by using the National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator tool
There are also considerations that are specific to human resource programs. Students may want to ensure that their school of choice has a program that offers the specific concentration and/or electives in an area of personal interest within the field. Accredited programs and/or those that align with SHRM standards may be preferred by those wishing to ensure they are best prepared for a career in the field. Finally, students may want to search for programs that are designed to help prepare them for professional certification in human resources to advance their careers. All of this information can often be found on program pages.
Professional Organizations in Human Resources
Professional organizations in human resources aim to provide professionals in the field with a wide range of resources. Some of these programs may offer professional certifications and other professional development opportunities. Human resources professionals may also benefit from networking events, career information, and other news that these organizations provide. Below are a few examples of professional organizations in the field.
- Society for Human Resource Management- SHRM not only provides professional certifications and scholarships for those in human resources, but professionals can obtain membership and join various communities the organization offers, like chapters and an executive network. The organization also offers news through a magazine and blog, legal tools, continuing education opportunities, conferences and global events, and more.
- HR Certification Institute- The HRCI offers several different professional certifications and also helps interested parties become a certification provider. In addition to certifications, the organization offers a newsletter to keep professionals in the field updated and various learning tools.
- International Association for Human Resource Information Management- The IHRIM provides membership, events, and education opportunities, like webinars, for human resource professionals who specialize in information management. The organization also offers the Human Resource Information Professional (HRIP) Certification exam to help advance careers.
