Quick Highlights:
- Fort Hays State University and Columbia Southern University are top programs for an online bachelor’s in human resources.
- With a bachelor’s in human resources, you can pursue careers such as HR manager, recruiter, training and development specialist, employee relations specialist, or compensation and benefits analyst.
- Human resource managers make an average of $140,030 per year.
Human resource managers are responsible for planning, directing, and coordinating the necessary administrative functions of a business or organization. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median yearly salary for human resources managers was $140,030 in 2024.
Human resource management positions are available in most industries, including businesses, manufacturing companies, government, health care, social assistance, professional, scientific, and technical service industries. Candidates interested in the Human Resources field need at least a bachelor’s degree in Human Resources or Business Administration.
Candidates should have a strong skill set in decision making, interpersonal relations, leadership, and organization. Below is our top ten list of online Bachelor of Human Resource Degree Programs based on the following ranking methodology:
* Affordability- tuition is often the deciding factor for individuals seeking to pursue their education. Schools that are more affordable are listed higher up on the list.
* Accreditations- this is an important factor because accreditations require schools to meet certain standards which mean better education standards.
* Course Length, Credit Hours Needed, and Flexibility- most of us are pretty busy and have other obligations to attend to, but that shouldn’t stop you from continuing your education. Degree plan credit hours and other time management information have been included to help you decide which program better suited for your lifestyle.
This article was first published in September 2015 and was updated in May 2025.
To supply you with the best of the best in Bachelor’s in Human Resources degree programs, we considered the following points when compiling this list, such as:
- The school’s ability to provide a quality Bachelor’s degree program in the field of Human Resources,
- Offering various learning degree formats, such as online, on-campus, or hybrid coursework,
- Has an excellent reputation and has earned applicable awards in the field,
- Taught by professionals in the field of Human Resources,
- Offers financial aid opportunities, such as federal loans, scholarships, and grants,
- Displays proper accreditation, pursuant to the field of Human Resources ,
- Prepares graduates for career placement in Human Resources.
Please feel free to visit our dedicated methodology page for a step-by-step breakdown. For questions, comments, badge downloads, or data corrections, please feel free to reach out to us at editor@www.collegerank.net.
Related:
- Top Business Law Major
- Best Business Intelligence Degree Programs
- Top Schools for Business Administration
- Best Entrepreneurship Colleges
Fort Hays State University
Our number one choice is Fort Hays University, an accredited online institution that offers a Bachelor of Business Administration with Human Resources concentration that consists of 120 credit hours. Students are seeking admittance to the college, should submit an application form with official transcripts from previously attended schools.
Students who are 21 years old or older do not need to submit ACT or SAT scores. To help students adjust to online learning, the virtual college provides a demo course during the first semester. This course provides a preview of the university experience, helps students gain an understanding of policies and procedures as well as allow students to familiarize with the school’s resources and services.
Program Overview: Fort Hays State University’s Human Resources program is structured to help students develop the skills and real world training needed to maximize the efficiency and effort of your human resources team. The degree consists of three parts: 27 credit hours of the business core curriculum, 18 hours of management core curriculum and 18 hours of HRM concentration curriculum. Graduates will be prepared to be recruiters, training, and development managers, human resource generalist, human resource manager, compensation, and benefits specialist and senior project manager.
Course Length: 63 credit hours
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Columbia Southern University
Program Overview: The Human Resource Management program provides students with the skills needed to enter human resource department leadership roles, establish and advance organizational policies and guidelines, use tools and techniques to transform work environments. The human resource management degree plan follows the Society for Human Resource Management guidelines and templates.
Course Length: 120 credit hours
Accreditation: Distance Education Accrediting Commission, American Council on Education
Liberty University
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration — Human Resource Management
$390/credit
Program Overview: Students attending the Human Resource Management program with Liberty University will be prepared to meet the needs of today’s workplace by learning a variety of factors that affect an organization’s professional atmosphere. Topics include employee and labor relations, compensation management, workforce planning and employment and human resources development. The program is available online and on campus.
Course Length: 120 total hours
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
Capella University
Program Overview: The Human Resources Management Bachelor program with Capella University provides students with specialized skills and a solid business acumen. Topics covered include compensation and benefits management, recruiting and retention, employee development, and labor relations. For an in-depth study, program concentrations are available. Students may be able to receive course credit from work experience, previous learning and industry certification by taking the prior learning assessment offered by the college.
Course Length: 180 total quarter credits. Each course is 5 or 10 weeks long. Degree completion depends on transfer credit and student pacing.
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission, Accreditation Council for Business Schools & Programs
National University
The Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Human Resource Management at National University teaches students how to help companies manage their employees. This program covers important topics like hiring new workers, training them, keeping them happy at work, and following employment laws. Students will learn skills in communication, problem-solving, and leadership.
By the end of the program, graduates will be ready to work in jobs such as HR manager, recruiter, or training coordinator. This degree can be completed online or on-campus, providing flexibility for students.
Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) and Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
LeTourneau University
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with Human Resources Management concentration
$380-$410/credit hour
Program Overview: The program was developed with input from HR professionals and courses are taught by instructors with industry experience. Courses include staffing, managing innovation and change, compensation and benefits and employment law. Students will be prepared to sit for the National Human Resources Certification Exam which is given every year by the Society for Human Resource Management. The program is fully aligned with Society for Human Resources Management curriculum guides.
Course Length: 128 total credit hours
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education
University of Maryland University College
Program Overview:The Human Resource Management bachelor degree is perfect for individuals with experience in HR, but do not hold a degree and those interested in transitioning into an HR career. Students gain a thorough understanding of human resource functions which include resource planning, recruitment, selection, placement, orientation of employees, training, career development, labor relations, performance appraisals, reward programs, development of personnel policies and procedures. The college recommends that students begin their studies with three courses. At least nine credits must be earned in upper-level classes.
Course Length: 120 total credit hours
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education, International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education, European Foundation for Management Development–Technology-Enhanced Learning, Project Management Institute Global Accreditation Center for Project Management Education Programs
Judson University
Bachelor degree in Business Administration Human Resources Concentration
$1,265/credit
Program Overview: The Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) with a Human Resources concentration at Judson University helps students learn how to manage people in a company. The program covers important areas like hiring new employees, training them, managing benefits, and making sure the company follows employment laws.
Students will gain skills in leadership, communication, and problem-solving. By the end of the program, graduates will be ready to work in roles such as HR manager, recruiter, or employee relations specialist. This degree can be completed on campus or online, giving students flexibility to study in a way that works best for them.
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Additionally, Judson University’s business programs are accredited by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE)
Athens University
Program Overview: The purpose of the Human Resource Management program is to prepare students for a variety of employment opportunities in the human resource management sector and to provide a foundation for future studies. The curriculum consists of business courses, specialized management courses, and psychology related courses.
Students attending the Human Resource Management program have access to the Society for Human Resource Management publication. It is a leading voice of the HR profession and provides immense information and provides opportunities to meet HR practitioners for networking.
Course Length: 124 total credit hours
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
Western Governor’s University
The online Bachelor of Arts in Human Resource Management at Western Governors University teaches students how to manage people in a business. The program covers important topics like hiring new employees, training them, handling employee benefits, and making sure the company follows workplace laws.
Students will develop skills in communication, leadership, and problem-solving. This program is flexible, allowing students to study at their own pace and complete courses online. Graduates will be ready for jobs like HR manager, recruiter, or training coordinator.
Accreditation: ACBSP
Frequently Asked Questions
A human resources degree is worth it from the perspective of preparing for a lucrative career. With the skills you learn in your program, you can qualify for HR jobs in many different settings, including public and private organizations. Furthermore, a bachelor’s degree in this field prepares you for advanced studies in a master’s degree program if that’s a route you wish to take.
If not, you will have transferable skills that can be used immediately in a workplace setting. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in the HR sector are predicted to continue growing for the foreseeable future as well.
The cost of a human resources degree varies widely, but you can expect to spend more than $36,000 per year as a full-time, in-state undergraduate student, according to the Education Data Initiative. The exact amount you pay for your degree is dependent on factors such as:
• Your residency status (in-state or out-of-state)
• The length of the program
• The number of college credits you earn in high school
• The amount of financial aid you receive
Another factor that affects cost is how you complete the program. Online programs tend to cost less compared to on-campus programs.
An HR degree isn’t considered any more difficult than other business-related programs. The topics you study are complex, but with an interest in human resources, appropriate study habits, and utilization of assistive resources your school provides, there should be few – if any – obstacles you can’t overcome to complete the degree in a timely fashion.
Additionally, HR degrees usually don’t have many math, science, or writing requirements, which makes them all the easier.
Human resources management is the most popular option for preparing to enter the human resources field. However, there are other options. Undergraduate programs in business administration or management are also common. While a bachelor’s degree is a good start, the best path forward is getting a master’s degree. Doing so opens many more doors for you, including jobs in higher levels of management that have more responsibilities and better compensation.
You’ll need four years of full-time studies to complete an undergraduate degree in human resources. Most programs require around 120 credits to graduate, meaning you’ll need to take 12-15 credits each semester to meet the four-year deadline. However, many students take additional courses each semester and graduate in less time. Conversely, studying part-time usually requires at least five years to complete a typical human resources bachelor’s degree.
A common position for someone with a human resources bachelor’s degree is a Payroll Specialist. These workers manage all aspects of payroll, from collecting and processing timesheets to ensuring timely payment to employees to conducting periodic payroll audits. There are many other positions you might qualify for, though, including the following:
• Human Resources Assistant
• Human Resources Specialist
• Recruiter
• Training and Development Specialist
• Benefits Manager
Payroll Specialists earn around $54,690 per year, based on median salary information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The pay for human resources-related positions varies widely, though. Human Resources Specialists earn a median annual salary of $72,910. Training and Development Specialists make slightly less at $65,850. However, the pay ranges for these and other HR positions vary from the mid-$30,000s to well over $100,000 per year. Factors affecting your potential salary include your education level, your experience in HR, and the company you work for, among others.
According to Indeed, the highest-paying bachelor’s level HR job is Compensation Manager. The national average salary for this position is more than $140,360 per year. Other HR careers with good wages include Labor Relations Specialist ($93,500), Human Resources Manager ($140,030), and Benefits Manager ($140,360).