In this college rankings list, we look at online bachelor’s degrees in Human Resources Management. Undergraduate academic programs covered in this article are either offered 100% fully online, or in some hybrid form that may require either or both of some on-campus classes or at least orientation sessions.
Careers in Human Resources Management
The following scrolling list shows some possible careers for graduates of a bachelor’s program in human resources management, as well as some organizations/ industries that have shown a need for people with similar skills.
- benefits manager
- benefits specialist
- compensation analyst
- compensation and benefit analyst
- compensation and benefits manager
- compliance manager
- corporate policy expert
- corporate recruiter
- corporate trainer
- development specialist
- director of human resources
- director of recruitment
- employee assistance coordinator
- employee benefits manager
- employee compensation specialist
- employee relations manager
- employee relations representative
- employee relations specialist
- employment coordinator
- employment representative
- employment specialist
- equal opportunity officer
- equal opportunity representative
- hiring manager
- HR assistant
- HR business systems analyst
- HR director
- HR generalist
- HR manager
- HR specialist
- human resources analyst
- human resources consultant
- human resources coordinator
- human resources information systems manager
- human resources VP
- labor relations manager
- labor relations specialist
- payroll administrator
- personnel coordinator
- personnel director
- personnel recruiter
- safety manager
- talent acquisition co-ordinator
- talent manager
- technical recruiter
- training and development manager
- training and development specialist
If you are interested in a career in human resources management, or closely-related fields, this rankings list of relevant and affordable online bachelor’s degrees may help you find a suitable college/ university. A statistical summary for the 20 ranked schools is below, followed by the NOTES section, and then the actual college rankings.
Statistics Summary
This is a summary of data available for the colleges/ universities mentioned in this college rankings list for Bachelors of Human Resources Management or related degree programs.
| Yearly net price range: | $8,585 – $14,557. |
| In-state tuition range: | $5,175 – $20,000. |
| Out-of-state tuition range: | $5,175 – $20,000. |
| Lowest in-state: | #6 CSU. |
| Lowest out-of-state: | #6 CSU. |
| Graduation rate range: | 8 – 54% (two colleges did not report). |
| Transfer-out rate range: | 6 – 41% (11 colleges did not report). |
| Highest graduation rate: | #10 FIU. |
| Lowest transfer-out rate: | #10 FIU. |
| # students range: | 376 – 57821. |
| # undergrads range: | 291 – 44499. |
| # grads range: | 0 – 26311. |
| Largest # students: | #3 WGU. |
| Largest # undergrads: | #3 WGU. |
| Largest # grads: | #20 CU. |
| Oldest school: | #9 CC (est. 1851). |
| Youngest school: | #11 TUI (est. 1998). |
| # states covered: | 16. |
| States covered: | AL (2), CA, DE, FL, GA, KS, MD, MI (2), MN (2), MO (2), ND, NE, NH, PA, SD, UT. |
Rank-order list of schools covered
The following scrolling list shows the 20 ranked schools in rank order (increasing net price), from #1 to #20, for reader convenience.
| rank | abbrev | NCES name |
| 1 | NAU-AFB | National American University-Ellsworth AFB Extension |
| 2 | CU | Cleary University |
| 3 | WGU | Western Governors University |
| 4 | PC | Peirce College |
| 5 | Park | Park University |
| 6 | CSU | Columbia Southern University |
| 7 | DSU | Dickinson State University |
| 8 | UMUC | University of Maryland-University College |
| 9 | CC | Columbia College |
| 10 | FIU | Florida International University |
| 11 | TUI | Trident University International |
| 12 | BU | Bellevue University |
| 13 | GSW | Georgia Southwestern State University |
| 14 | GU | Grantham University |
| 15 | BC | Baker College |
| 16 | AU | Amridge University |
| 17 | WilmU | Wilmington University |
| 18 | MSU | Metropolitan State University |
| 19 | GSC | Granite State College |
| 20 | CU | Capella University |
Alphabetic list of schools covered in this ranking
The abbreviations used in the table below may not be official and in which case are used here for convenience only, and may be repeated in other summaries and charting.
| NCES Name (abbrev, estdate, rank) | location | $in-state | $out-of-state | $net price |
| Amridge University (AU, 1967, 16) | Montgomery, Alabama | $6,900 | $6,900 | $12,992 |
| Baker College (BC, 1911, 15) | Flint, Michigan | $8,640 | $8,640 | $12,880 |
| Bellevue University (BU, 1966, 12) | Bellevue, Nebraska | $7,050 | $7,050 | $11,786 |
| Capella University (CU, 1993, 20) | Minneapolis, Minnesota | $13,176 | $13,176 | $14,557 |
| Cleary University (CU, 1883, 2) | Howell, Michigan | $20,000 | $20,000 | $8,593 |
| Columbia College (CC, 1851, 9) | Columbia, Missouri | $8,240 | $8,240 | $11,031 |
| Columbia Southern University (CSU, 1993, 6) | Orange Beach, Alabama | $5,175 | $5,175 | $10,054 |
| Dickinson State University (DSU, 1918, 7) | Dickinson, North Dakota | $6,172 | $8,679 | $10,074 |
| Florida International University (FIU, 1965, 10) | Miami, Florida | $6,556 | $18,954 | $11,552 |
| Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW, 1906, 13) | Americus, Georgia | $5,262 | $15,518 | $12,047 |
| Granite State College (GSC, 1972, 19) | Concord, New Hampshire | $7,257 | $8,025 | $13,716 |
| Grantham University (GU, 1951, 14) | Lenexa, Kansas | $6,500 | $6,500 | $12,808 |
| Metropolitan State University (MSU, 1971, 18) | Saint Paul, Minnesota | $7,566 | $14,394 | $13,654 |
| National American University-Ellsworth AFB Extension (NAU-AFB, 1941, 1) | Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota | $6,075 | $6,075 | $8,585 |
| Park University (Park, 1875, 5) | Parkville, Missouri | $11,470 | $11,470 | $9,326 |
| Peirce College (PC, 1865, 4) | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | $14,184 | $14,184 | $9,302 |
| Trident University International (TUI, 1998, 11) | Cypress, California | $9,000 | $9,000 | $11,572 |
| University of Maryland-University College (UMUC, 1947, 8) | Adelphi, Maryland | $7,056 | $12,336 | $10,588 |
| Western Governors University (WGU, 1997, 3) | Salt Lake City, Utah | $6,070 | $6,070 | $8,624 |
| Wilmington University (WilmU, 1968, 17) | New Castle, Delaware | $10,430 | $10,430 | $13,359 |
Interactive Charts
This rankings article of online bachelors degrees in human resources management contains a number of charts, including a tuition summary of all 20 ranked colleges, plus additional charts for each ranked college (stats dashboard). The majority of charts are interactive (with the exception of the “circular comparison chart,” explained separately. Here is a summary on how to use them:
- A modern browser is required for most of the charting features.
- For the bar charts, including the rectangular one directly below and the individual ones in each school summary, the vertical Y axis represents cost in dollars, for net price and in-state and out-of-state tuition per college. The horizontal X axis represents the schools ranked.
- The chart directly below shows in-state tuition (blue bars), out-of-state tuition (orange bars) and net price (connected green dots). Hover your mouse over a tuition bar or net price point and a tooltip will pop up that shows the institution name and the two cost values – net price and tuition. Use your mouse’s scroll wheel to zoom in on a section in the main chart. The sub-chart below the main chart will indicate what section you are viewing. Hover your mouse over either of the three labels, “in,” “out” or “net” underneath the sub-chart to visually highlight just the selected chart.
- The circular chart below the grouped bar chart/ line chart combo is an alternative view of tuition info, as well as additional data points. See below for more details.
- Each school ranked also displays two donut charts. The leftmost donut chart is a breakdown of number of students, with the total displayed in the middle, and the blue arc representing the percentage of students that are undergrads. The rightmost donut chart represents graduation rate of undergrads, with the rate displayed in the middle and also represented by the blue arc. Hover your mouse over any arc to get the student percentage or the graduation rate, depending on the donut chart.
- All the charts are built using C3.js or CircosJS JavaScript code libraries, which in turn both build on the D3.js data visualization library. The CircosJS library builds on the original Circos code. See http://c3js.org and https://github.com/nicgirault/circosJS if you want to explore further.
Interactive Histogram/Line Chart: Tuition vs Net Price
As mentioned above, this chart compares in-state and out-of-state tuition, as well as net price, for all 20 schools ranked in this article on the most affordable online Bachelor’s degrees in Human Resources Management.
CircosJS Circular Comparison Chart: Multiple Data Points
Compare all 20 ranked colleges simultaneously with this circular “Circos” chart (non-interactive). It might be intimidating at first, but by understanding what each “ring” or “track” represents, it becomes fairly easy and quite useful. You can see which colleges cost the most and least, which are the oldest and youngest, which have the most students, and more. See the “Tips for Use” section below, for more information.
| Tips for use: | |
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NOTES:
- In terms of topic categories searched in the NCES.ed.gov database, we queried only for “Human Resources Management” categories. However, if the final 20 colleges in this rankings article have interdisciplinary programs, they may be mentioned in a school’s ranking.
- For online degree rankings, if a college does not report graduation rate, it is shown as 0% for that institution, for the purposes of charting and statistical summaries.
- A college’s tuition for online programs may differ than that quoted for the on-campus program. This could be due to either or both of technology fees and out-of-state-portion waivers. Check with a college if you’re unsure. We have listed the tuition and net price values recorded in the NCES.ed.gov database.
- As accreditation can change or only be valid regionally, please verify accreditation of any college to which you are planning to apply.
- NCES data is subject to change and some of these “affordable degrees” guides may use more recent data than described in the Methodology.
- For the full list of programs covered to date, please check our School Rankings page.
- Online programs are strongly self-directed and recommended only for students who are self-driven when it comes to studying and researching.
- Some online program selection tips:
- Spend the time to carefully read the degree requirements.
- Browse the course curriculum and make notes of the courses that interest you most.
- Consider creating a spreadsheet to compare summaries of course/ programs across the schools referenced here. If you are looking for a minimum set of courses, make a list of those courses, one per column. Then list ranked schools vertically in the spreadsheet, one per row. Color code or make an annotation for each course offered by a given school.
- Add other columns to record information about tuition, net price, #credits/ courses required, etc., and color code their cells as suitable.
- This visual approach to online program selection can be quite effective compared to staring at bare numbers.
- The methodology for this series on online bachelor’s degrees is essentially the same as for our 15-school college rankings list. For example, see the “Methodology” section of the ranking list article 15 of the Most Affordable Bachelor’s Degrees in Marketing for an explanation of the process we use to rank colleges in each topical bachelor’s list.
Rankings: Affordable Online Bachelor’s Degrees in Human Resources Management
20: Capella University
Capella University is a private, for-profit institution that was established in 1993 and is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Original name: The Graduate School of America.
Capella has one online Human Resources Management program — its Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business with a Human Resource Management (HRM) Specialization. This BS requires 180 quarter credits, with 42 for business core courses and 48 for HRM specialization courses. The program aligns with the curriculum guidelines from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and prepares students to become strategically focused HR managers. Based on its demographic breakdown, Capella is well-suited to the needs of adult students and those working full time or who have other life/ family commitments. This may be because the school has a large number of affordable and/ or flexible learning options. For instance, students can take their general education requirements through Sophia Pathways, a Capella partner that provides a cost-effective, self-paced study alternative. Capella has its own cost-effective, self-paced learning option, called FlexPath, which allows students to speed up or slow down the program, and leverages existing knowledge.
Sample courses: Change Management; Compensation and Benefits Management; Ethics and Enterprise; Employee and Labor Relations; Employee Training and Development; International Human Resource Management Issues; Legal Issues in Human Resource Management; Recruiting, Retention, and Development
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19: Granite State College
Granite State College (GSC) is a public institution that was established in 1972. It is part of the University System of New Hampshire and has multiple campuses and sites throughout the state. GSC’s headquarters are in Concord, New Hampshire, about 65 miles northwest of Boston, Massachusetts. Original name: School of Continuing Studies.
GSC offers two online Human Resource Management programs: one Bachelor’s, one minor. Its Bachelor of Science (BS) in Human Resources Administration (HRA) requires 120 credits, with 56 for the major. This BS prepares students for HR management careers in businesses, government agencies, or non-profits; or in HR firms that provide services to these organizations. In addition to providing the traditional foundation in business and human resources, this program examines how to manage change, conflict, and diversity (incl. from the perspective of a global workforce), and how employee development relates to organizational performance. Students in other majors who want to supplement their course of study can take GSC’s 15-credit Minor in Human Resources. To help with affordability and to accelerate a program of study, GSC provides students with the opportunity to convert prior experience and training into course credits.
Sample courses: Effecting Positive Change in Organizations; Human Resource Administration; Human Resources and the Law; Human Resources and Organizational Development; Managing Diversity; Organizational Behavior; Psychology of Occupational Stress; Work and Society
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18: Metropolitan State University
Metropolitan State University (Metro State or MSU) is a public comprehensive university established in 1971 as Minnesota Metropolitan State College. MSU is part of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System and its main campus is in Saint Paul, Minnesota, about 10 miles east and slightly south of Minneapolis, MN (where it also has a campus).
Metro State offers two online Human Resource Management programs: one Bachelors, one minor. The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Human Resource Management (HRM) requires at least 120 credits, with 22 for foundation courses, 24 for the HRM core, 20 for HRM required courses, and 4 for HRM electives. This program focuses on the HR manager as a strategic manager, whose efforts align with both an organization’s goals and the individual needs of its departments and personnel. To help ensure students can become this type of HR manager, Metro’s HRM program provides both a broad base of knowledge, and specialist skills. For students in other majors who want to supplement their field of study with knowledge of how to recruit and manage teams and get the most out of their people, Metro has the 20-credit Minor in Human Resource Management. To help with affordability, Metro has a variety of financial aid options available, including an innovative 3:1 matched savings program for state residents that adds a $3 bonus for every $1 saved.
Sample courses: Compensation Management; Employee Benefits Management; Employee/ Labor Relations; International Human Resource Management; Labor Economics; Managing Employee Health and Safety; Personnel and Industrial Psychology; Training Design and Instruction
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17: Wilmington University
Wilmington University (WilmU) is a private, non-profit research university established in 1968 as Wilmington College. Its main campus is located in New Castle, Delaware, about six miles southwest of Wilmington, DE, and about 35 miles southwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
WilmU offers three online Human Resources Management programs: one Bachelors, one certificate, one minor. The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Human Resource Management (HRM) requires 120 credits, with 33 for the business core, 33 for the HRM core, and 9 for business/ HRM electives (incl. co-op options). The program is aligned with SHRM’s curriculum guidelines and prepares students for entry-level positions in HR management. Students who want to have a particular focus on the needs and concerns of nonprofit organizations can use their electives to add a 15-credit Nonprofit Management Concentration to the BS. Students in other majors who want to study HRM, can take WilmU’s 18-credit Minor in Human Resource Management. For those looking to transition into HR management from other careers, WilmU has a Certificate in Human Resource Management that requires 15 credits (not including any required prerequisites). Students who complete this certificate can apply those credits toward the BS in HRM.
Sample courses: Compensation Administration; Human Capital Management; Human Resource Management; International Human Resource Management; Internship in Human Resource Management; Legal Aspects of Human Resource Management; Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining; Staffing Organizations
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16: Amridge University
Amridge University is a private, not-for-profit university that was established in 1967, but has roots that go back to 1942. It is located in Montgomery, Alabama, about 100 miles southeast of Birmingham, AL, and around 150 miles southwest of Atlanta, Georgia. Original name: Alabama Christian School of Religion. Religious affiliation: Churches of Christ.
Amridge has one online Human Resources Management program — its Bachelor of Science (BS) in Human Resource Leadership. This BS requires 128 semester hours, with 48 for required courses and 4 for a capstone. The program provides students with not only the tangible skills needed to manage and develop personnel within an organization, but the strategic and analytical mindset and know-how to become HR leaders that are able to research and determine how staffing and compensation policies affect organizational performance. The curriculum is also broad enough to enable students to pursue careers or advanced studies in various other fields, including church management, counseling, law, organizational management, ministerial leadership, public relations, or sales. In regards to affordability, over 90% of Amridge students qualify for financial aid. The university also has tuition discounts and scholarships for students in a variety of categories (e.g., corporate partners, first-time students, ministers, and military personnel).
Sample courses: Employment Law for Organizations; Fundamentals of Effective Leadership; Human Labor Relations (capstone); Human Resources Management: Analysis and Procedures; Motivation and Performance; Leadership Principles and Ethics; Organizational Theory and Behavior
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15: Baker College
Baker College is a private, non-profit college established in 1911, but has roots that go back to 1888 with Muskegon College (which was brought into the same management group with Baker in 1965). Baker College’s main/ flagship campus is in Flint, Michigan, some 65 miles northwest of Detroit, MI. Original name: Baker Business University.
Baker offers one online Human Resources Management program — its Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Human Resource Management (HRM). This BBA requires 185 quarter hours, with 24 for a required minor, 48 for business courses, and 41 for the HRM major. As with all Baker programs, the BBA in HRM benefits from an employer/ industry advisory board to ensure the curriculum fits with what businesses and organizations are looking for. This means students will gain the foundation they’ll need to become successful HR managers and perform a variety of key tasks (incl. employee compensation, evaluation, recruitment, selection, and training and development). Baker’s 24-hour Minor in Human Resource Management should be available for online study, as well, but it may be limited to just students in other online BBA majors (please check with the college for details).
Sample courses: Compensating Human Resources; Human Resources and Employment Law; International Human Resource Management; Performance Management of Human Resources; Staffing and Performance Management; Staffing Human Resources; Strategic Human Resource Management; Training and Developing Human Resources; Work Experience
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14: Grantham University
Grantham University is a private, for-profit online university that was established in 1951. Grantham is headquartered in Lenexa, Kansas, some 20 miles southwest of Kansas City, KS, and about 180 miles northeast of Wichita, KS. Original name: Grantham Radio License School.
Grantham has two online Human Resource Management programs: one Bachelor’s, one certificate. Its Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Human Resource Management (HRM) requires 124 credits, with about 27 for HRM courses and 21 for business administration courses. (Most students are able to complete the degree in four years or less.) The curriculum for this program aligns with the guidelines from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and prepares students for careers as HR management professionals within organizations, or as HR management consultants hired by organizations. For students who want to transition into an HR career or advance an existing HR career, Grantham has its 16-credit Certificate in Human Resources, which also aligns with SHRM’s curriculum guidelines. Courses at Grantham are eight (8) weeks long and there are multiple starting points throughout the year. The university began with a focus on educating veterans and continues to have a number of military focused benefits and programs.
Sample courses: Compensation; Developing Human Resources; Employment Law; Human Resource Management; Labor Relations; Leadership in Organizations; Organizational Behavior; Performance Management; Training and Development
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13: Georgia Southwestern State University
Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) is a public university that was established in 1906. GSW is part of the University System of Georgia (USG) and is located in Americus, Georgia, some 140 miles south and slightly east of Atlanta, GA, and about 130 miles north and slightly east of Tallahassee, Florida. Original name: Third Agricultural and Mechanical School.
GSW offers two online Human Resource Management programs: one Bachelor’s, one minor. The Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Human Resource Management (HRM) requires a minimum of 120 semester hours, with 24 for the business core and 27 for the HRM major. This online BBA is a degree completion program that requires students to have already completed an Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS) in Business. (Some of GSW’s partner colleges allow for an AA or AS to be completed online.) The HRM program provides students with a business foundation and an expertise in “employment relationships,” allowing them to pursue both general and specialty HR management positions in businesses, government agencies, or non-profits. Students in other majors who want to study HRM can take GSW’s 18-hour Minor in Human Resource Management. Online tuition rates at GSW are the same for all students, regardless of state of residence.
Sample courses: Advanced Human Resource Management; Compensation Management; Current Issues in HR; Human Resource Law; Intro to HR Management; Labor Management Relations; Organizational Theory and Behavior
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12: Bellevue University
Bellevue University is a private, non-profit university that was established in 1966 as Bellevue College. Its main campus is in Bellevue, Nebraska, some 10 miles southeast of Omaha, NE, and about 140 miles southwest of Des Moines, Iowa.
Bellevue offers one online Human Resource Management program — its Bachelor of Science (BS) in Management of Human Resources (HR). This BS requires 127 credits, with 40 for the major. It is a cohort-based program and degree completion that requires students to have completed an Associate’s degree or 60 credits/ semester credit hours of courses. The program is built on the curriculum utilized for the Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification and aligns with SHRM’s (Society for Human Resource Management’s) guidelines. Students gain a foundation of knowledge that prepares them for HR management careers in the public or private sector. To help with affordability and accelerate/ fast track one’s studies, Bellevue offers students the opportunity to convert existing knowledge and experiences (incl. military training and service) into course credit. Tuition-wise, all online students pay the same rate, regardless of place of residence. Active-duty military, however, are eligible for a discounted rate.
Sample courses: Benefits Administration; Business Operations and HR Strategy; Compensation Administration; Employee and Labor Relations; Fundamentals of Human Resource Management; Human Resource Management Capstone Project; Recruitment, Selection and Placement of Human Resources; Training and Development of Human Resources
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11: Trident University International
Trident University International (TUI) is a private, for-profit, online university that was established in 1998 as a branch of Touro College. It has no campus, but its headquarters are in Cypress, California, about 25 miles southeast of Los Angeles, CA. Original name: Touro University International.
TUI has three online Human Resources Management programs. The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Human Resource Management (HRM) requires at least 120 semester hours, with 52 for the program core. This BS provides students with a foundation of business and HRM knowledge that allows them to not only manage and grow an organization’s human capital, but contribute to its “strategic direction and operational vision.” For ambitious and high-achieving students who want to accelerate and advance their career paths, TUI has the upcoming 164-hour 3/2 HRM Program where both the BS and MS (Master of Science) in Human Resource Management can be earned in 5 years. For students who plan to become business or organizational managers, but want to know how to “get, keep, and grow talent,” TUI has its 120-hour BS in Business Administration – HRM Concentration. TUI’s learning model is built on case-based learning rather than testing. TUI is particularly popular among military personnel and veterans, who receive reduced tuition rates, as well as various other benefits and assistance.
Sample courses: Advanced Topics in Human Resource Management; Capstone in Human Resource Management; Global HRM; HR Information Systems; Human Resource Management and Law; Organizational Behavior and Teamwork; Principles of Human Resource Management; Staffing Organizations; Training and Development
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10: Florida International University
Florida International University (FIU) is a public research university that was established in 1965 (opened in 1972) and is located in Miami, Florida. It is part of the State University System of Florida and is one of the 10 largest public universities in the U.S.
FIU offers one online Human Resources Management program — its Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) with a Human Resource Management (HRM) Major. The BBA in HRM requires 120 credits with 60 for upper division program courses: 27 for the business core, 21 for the HRM Major, and 12 for business/ management electives. This program is aligned with the Society for Human Resource Management’s (SHRM’s) curriculum guide and gives students a foundation that allows for continued growth in their HRM careers. To help ensure online students have the same opportunities to succeed as on-campus students, each one is assigned a success coach and has access to key support services (incl. academic coaching, advising, career management, and tutoring). In terms of affordability, out of state, online students pay about half the tuition cost that out-of-state, on-campus students do. FIU helps all students access a number of financial aid options (in the last reported period, 75% of all undergrads received some form of financial aid).
Sample courses: Compensation and Benefits; Human Resource Information Systems; Human Resource Management; International Human Resources Management; Managing Diversity; Training and Development; Recruitment and Staffing; Union-Management Relations
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9: Columbia College
Columbia College (CC) is a private, nonprofit college established in 1851 as Christian Female College. Its main campus is in Columbia, Missouri, about 125 miles west and somewhat north of St Louis, MO, and around 125 miles east and slightly south of Kansas City, MO. Columbia College has an affiliation with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), but admits students of all faiths.
CC has three online Human Resource Management programs. The two degree offerings are the Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business Administration – Human Resource Management (HRM) Major. Both degrees require at least 120 semester hours, with 51 for core requirements and 18 for the HRM Major. The two share a very similar curriculum, although the BS requires 21 hours of business electives, while the BA has 6 hours of foreign language requirements and 18 hours of additional open electives. Either one will provide students with the skills and knowledge HR managers need to have, including knowing how to adhere to labor laws, administer benefit programs, conduct performance appraisals, design training programs, interview potential employees, negotiate with unions, and perform salary audits. CC’s 18-hour Certificate in Human Resource Management, meanwhile, suits both traditional degree-seeking students looking to start their careers, and non-traditional students looking to advance their existing careers.
Sample courses: Compensation and Benefit Systems; Cross-Cultural Management; Human Resource Development; Human Resource Management; Industrial/ Organizational Psychology; Labor Relations; Organizational Theory; Workforce Planning and Development
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8: University of Maryland-University College
The University of Maryland-University College (UMUC) is a public university established in 1947 as the College of Special and Continuation Studies. UMUC is part of the University System of Maryland and has multiple locations, including its headquarters in Adelphi, Maryland, which is about 10 miles northeast of Washington, DC, and some 30 miles southwest of Baltimore, MD.
UMUC has three online Human Resources Management programs: one Bachelors, one minor, and one certificate. The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Human Resource Management (HRM) requires 120 credits, with at least 15 for a required minor and 36 for the major. UMUC says it designs the program’s curriculum around input/ guidelines from both SHRM and the federal government to align it with the market’s needs and ensure students can eventually sit for one (or more) of three key, HRCI-administered certification exams: the Professional in Human Resources (PHR); Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR); or Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR). Students in other majors who want to study HRM can take UMUC’s 15-credit Minor in Human Resource Management. Those looking to advance or change their existing careers can take UMUC’s 18-credit Certificate in Human Resource Management, which also helps students prepare for the PHR and SPHR exams.
Sample courses: Contemporary Issues in Human Resource Management Practice; Employment Law for Business; Employee Training and Development; Global Human Resource Management; Human Resource Management: Issues and Problems; Labor Relations; Organizational Communication; The Total Rewards Approach to Compensation Management
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7: Dickinson State University
Dickinson State University (DSU) is a public university that was established in 1918 as Dickinson State Normal School. DSU is part of the North Dakota University System and is located in Dickinson, North Dakota, about 100 miles west of Bismarck, ND, and about 315 miles northeast of Billings, Montana.
DSU offers two online, Human Resources Management programs: one Bachelor’s, one certificate. The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Human Resource Management (HRM) requires 128 semester hours, with 69 for the major: 34 for the business core, 18 for the HRM core, and 17 for business electives. The degree provides students with the breadth of knowledge needed — including in accounting, business analysis, communication, economics, finance, information systems, law, management, marketing, recruiting, and workforce training and development — to become good human resources managers and continually adapt to the profession’s changing needs. Students who want to supplement their career paths with HRM knowledge (or transition into an HRM career) can take DSU’s 16-hour Human Resource Management Certificate (which requires certain prerequisites in order to enroll). Online courses at DSU follow the school’s regular semester schedule and are mainly asynchronous.
Sample courses: Business Law; Compensation Management; Human Resource Development; Human Resource Management; Labor Relations; Management and Leadership; Organizational Behavior; Staffing and Workforce Diversity
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6: Columbia Southern University
Columbia Southern University (CSU) is a private, for-profit university that was established in 1993. It has two locations in and around Orange Beach, Alabama; the larger one is about 45 miles southeast of Mobile, AL, and about 35 miles west and somewhat south of Pensacola, FL. CSU also has affiliated colleges in Iowa and Vietnam.
CSU has three online Human Resource Management programs: two Bachelors, one certificate. The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Human Resource Management (HRM) requires 120 semester-hours, with 36 for the major. The degree prepares students to take leadership roles in human capital management, which can include working with a company’s department heads to give each of them the people and work environment they need to achieve divisional and organizational goals. For students who want to focus more on business management, but also understand how to foster productivity and efficiency in their personnel, CSU has its BS in Business Administration – HRM Concentration. It requires 120 hours, with 36 for the major and 12 for the concentration. (Both Bachelor’s degrees align with the Society for Human Resource Management’s/ SHRM’s curriculum.) Finally, for students who want to capitalize on HRM knowledge within their own career paths, CSU has the 12-hour Human Resource Management Certificate.
Sample courses: Collective Bargaining; Compensation and Benefits; Employment Law; Human Relations and Development; Human Resource Management; Intercultural Management; International Human Resource Management; Staffing Organizations; Training and Development
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5: Park University
Park University is a private, non-profit university established in 1875. Its main campus is located in Parkville, Missouri — a suburb of Kansas City, MO, which is about 10 miles to the southeast.
Park has three online Human Resource Management programs: one Bachelors, two minors. Its main program is the Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business Administration with a Concentration in Human Resource Management (HRM). This BS requires at least 120 semester/ credit hours, with 36 for the business core and 24 for the HRM concentration. The program aligns with the Society for Human Resource Management’s (SHRM’s) curriculum guidelines. In regards to the degree’s online availability, all the major courses can be taken online, although some major electives, if chosen, may need to be taken on campus. As to the remainder of the degree, many liberal education courses and electives are available online, but some may need to be taken on campus. Finally, Park has two Business Administration/ Human Resource Management Minors that can be taken fully online (depending on which electives are chosen). The 18-hour HRM Minor is for business majors and the 21-hour HRM Minor is for non-business majors.
Sample courses: Compensation Management; Corporate Training and Development; Employment Law; Introduction to Human Resource Management; Leadership and Team Building; Organizational Development and Change; Planning and Staffing; Senior Seminar in Human Resource Development
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4: Peirce College
Peirce College is a private, not-for-profit college established in 1865 as Union Business College, one of the few post-secondary schools of the time to also offer career education to women. Its main campus is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Peirce offers one online Human Resources Management program — its Bachelor of Science (BS) in Human Resource Management (HRM). This BS requires at least 121 credits, with a minimum of 78 for program courses, including 30 for HRM specific ones. The program meets with SHRM curriculum guidelines, allowing students to pursue a variety of SHRM certifications, as well as sit for the HRCI administered PHR certification exam. Career-wise, students gain the skills needed to contribute to an organization’s overall culture and success through the growth and management of its human capital. Starting in Fall 2016, all of the college’s courses will convert to the Peirce Fit format. This unique, flexible learning feature allows students to switch between online and on-campus classes from week to week (even within the same week), as needed. Of course, students can still choose to study completely online, completely on-campus, or blend the two options from semester to semester, as well.
Sample courses: Global HR and Diversity; Human Capital Management; HR Information Systems; HRM Capstone; Labor and Employee Relations; Managing Employment Law; Organizational Development; Total Rewards; Training Development and Design
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3: Western Governors University
Western Governors University (WGU) offers the third lowest cost online Human Resources Management degree on our list. This private, not-for-profit university — which was established in 1997 and is based in Salt Lake City, Utah — gets its name from the fact that it was founded by 19 governors of Western U.S. states. All programs available through WGU can be taken online.
WGU has one online Human Resource Management program — the Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business – Human Resource Management (HRM). This BS requires 120 competency units (equivalent to credit hours), with about 22 for HR specific courses. Overall, the program is based on 12 areas of study, which include accounting, business, communication, leadership, and management. It is also aligned with the HR Certification Institute’s (HRCI)’s HR Body of Knowledge and allows students to eventually sit for the HRCI-administered Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification exam and/ or the Society for Human Resource Management’s (SHRM’s) Assurance of Learning assessment. The degree is suitable for both traditional and non-traditional students, including those already working in human resources but who want or need a degree to further their careers. As with all programs at WGU, HRM is competency based, which increases affordability, allows for accelerated progress, and suits the needs and learning styles of working adults.
Sample courses: Business – HR Management Capstone Project; Business – HR Management Portfolio Requirement; Cases in Advanced Human Resource Management; Compensation and Benefits; Employment Law; Training and Development; Workforce Planning: Recruitment and Selection
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2: Cleary University
The second most inexpensive online Human Resource Management degree on our list is offered by Cleary University, a private, non-profit business university established in 1883. Cleary’s main campus is in Howell, Michigan, about 5 miles northeast of Ann Arbor, MI; and around 40 miles roughly west of Detroit, MI. Original name: The Cleary School of Penmanship.
Cleary offers one online Human Resource Management program — its Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Human Resource Management (HRM). This BBA is a degree completion program that can be finished in four semesters. It requires 120 credits for graduation, with 60 for the completion, including 15 for upper level HRM courses, 13 for core courses, and 9 for the BBA project sequence. To qualify for admission, students must have first completed an appropriate Associate’s degree, or at least 60 transferrable semester credits (covering key prerequisite courses), and maintained a minimum 2.5 GPA. The BBA in HRM provides students with the foundation needed to pursue general or specialty HR management roles in a variety of organizations, from small businesses and corporations, to government agencies and non-profits. Cleary also has an 18-credit Human Resource Management Certificate that may be available fully online (please check with the school for details).
Sample courses: Compensation and Performance Management Systems; Human Resource Management; Human Resources Law; Organizational Staffing Principles and Practices; Training and Development for Human Resource Professionals
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1: National American University-Ellsworth AFB Extension
Coming in at No.1 on our list of the most affordable online Bachelor’s degrees in Human Resources Management is a program offered by National American University-Ellsworth AFB Extension (NAU-Ellsworth, est. 1974). NAU-Ellsworth is a campus of National American University, a private, for-profit university established in 1941 in Rapid City, South Dakota. This campus is located in Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota, some 10 miles northeast of Rapid City, and about 395 miles northeast of Denver, Colorado. Several other NAU campuses also offer economical online HR Management programs (please check with NAU or its website to determine what offerings are available in your state of residence).
NAU-Ellsworth has one online Human Resource Management program — its Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business Administration with an Emphasis in Human Resource (HR) Management. This BS requires 180 credits, with 64.5 for the business admin core and 27 for the HR Management Emphasis. The program provides students with a broad understanding of an HR manager’s roles, including in the key areas of employee assessment and evaluation, benefits and compensation, recruitment and retention, and training and development. The program’s strong foundation in business and management will not only provide students with key complementary knowledge and skill sets, but help them better understand how HR fits with an organization’s strategies and can affect its overall success. Some of the key, student-focused features at NAU include earned credit potential, an inverted curriculum, and year-round classes with multiple start dates.
Sample courses: Compensation and Benefits; Employee and Labor Relations; Employee Evaluation and Compensation; Employment Law; Human Resource Management Action Research Project; Human Resource Management Internship; Strategic Human Resource Management; Training and Development
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