Bachelor’s degree in human resources

A bachelor’s degree in human resources provides students with the tools they need to help organizations manage and improve that most valuable of assets – the people who make businesses, agencies, and nonprofits hum.

As part of a human resources degree program, students learn about the many facets of a modern HR operation, including recruiting, hiring, onboarding, training, evaluation, and retention.

The best bachelor’s in human resources also provide valuable insights into many issues at the heart of business today, including diversity, equity, and inclusion, team dynamics, leadership development, coaching, and personnel policies.

What is human resource management?

Human resource management, also referred to as HR or HRM, is the set of processes and practices related to recruiting, hiring, onboarding, and supporting the employees of large and small organizations.

» Read: Should I get a BA or BS?

Is human resources a good major?

From candidates and managers to hiring staff and supervisors, HR professionals work first and foremost with people. If that kind of work interests you, this can be an excellent major. Economic considerations are another important way to choose a major. See below for the economic breakdown of a human resource degree.

Human resources degree salary

The below is a short-term earnings comparison between the entire bachelor’s degree market and the bachelor’s in HRM. It is a snapshot of earnings 3 years after graduation.

The below is a longer-term estimate of degree performance. It is based on census survey data detailing people’s major, age, and salary.

While the impact of an HR bachelor’s degree may be slightly below average from a starting salary perspective, there is ample job security. Given the rapid changes in how work is done, the challenges of attracting and retaining talent, and the need for competitive job packages, an HR career can ensure steady and stable career opportunities.

How to choose a human resources program

Ask yourself the following questions when picking the best HR program for you:

1. Do I want to study online or in person?

With over 30% of HR bachelor’s programs available fully online, this is an excellent major to consider for online study.

2. Can I commit to full-time study?

If your answer is no, be sure to check whether your preferred school offers part-time study. This may be more common in online or hybrid programs, which also tend to be more flexible in other ways.

3. How much money can I invest in my education?

Tuition is lower at public schools, but private colleges may be more likely to offer grants and scholarships.

4. Do I want to study at a local school or an out-of-state college?

Whichever you ultimately decide on, you can check out our state rankings to find the programs that offer the best long-term economic payback.

Find below our ratings of the comparative earnings, costs, and payback rates of different human resource degree programs. Please review our methodology for more information on what metrics we look at, and how to determine comparative value between institutions.

What to expect from an undergraduate HR program

Most bachelor’s degrees in human resources require a 4-year commitment, though online programs can be completed in much less time, especially if a student is transferring credits from an associate degree.

Along with core coursework in electives like accounting, economics, marketing, mathematics, statistics, writing, social science, psychology, business communication, finance, and records management, HR-specific courses you can expect include:

• compensation management
• employee benefits management
• employee development and training
• human resources information technology
• human resources management: a strategic framework
• human resources policies
• industrial psychology
• international human resources
• managing a diverse workforce
• managing employee health and safety
• organizational behavior
• personnel management
• reward systems and performance management
• staffing organizations
• training and development

Colleges offer both bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degrees in human resources. In most cases there is very little difference in coursework.

Online human resource degree

Online human resources degrees are increasingly available. Some of the top schools in the nation, including those primarily known for offering in-person programs, now offer online HR degrees.

Paying for your degree – cost, financial aid, scholarships

As is typical with higher education degrees, earning a bachelor’s degree at a private college or university costs more.

The earnings differences between students from all 3 types of institutions is minimal, with degree holders from private institutions earning slightly more than for-profit and public graduates.

As with all degree programs, the most important step to securing financial aid involves completing the FAFSA, available on the Federal Student Aid website. There are scholarships designed especially for students pursuing a career in human resources. Follow the link below to learn more.

Human resources career options

Wondering what you can you do with a human resource management degree? At smaller companies, HR employees do a bit of everything, from managing hiring processes to hosting onboarding and orientation sessions. In larger organizations, employees usually specialize in a single domain of HR, such as recruitment, onboarding, or compensation . Learn how to get into HR and the roles you can pursue on our Careers in HR page.

Final thoughts

Want to meet lots of interesting people and help organizations solve complex issues? A career in HR, starting with a bachelor’s degree, is a smart path to take. A bachelor’s level human resource degree helps position you at the forefront of critical decisions around who is hired, how they are treated, and how to keep them employed and thriving. If you’ve already earned a bachelor’s degree and are looking for advanced education and career options, then a master’s degree in human resources may interest you.