There is a great need for highly trained and talented human resource specialists. According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics, human resource managers are projected to be in high demand. An extra 14,800 jobs are predicted to be created by 2030. Businesses and organisations require human resource specialists to:
- locate and hire talent
- help with strategic planning initiatives
- synchronise organisational functions
Human resource professionals with a master's degree have the expertise and skills to assume leadership and managerial roles.
Do you want to earn a top master's in human resources? This list of the top 20 most exemplary HR master's programs was developed to highlight some of the most effective programs in the United States.
On College Navigator, we began our search for human resources graduate programs. The National Center for Educational Statistics provides this online tool. We looked into which top schools for master's degrees in human resources provided the best human resources graduate programs in a typical on-campus setting.
We restricted our search to include only programs with content that adheres to the Society for Human Resource Management's criteria. Then we compared:
- ratios of students to professors
- graduate tuition rates on average
- rates of graduating
We selected the institution with the lowest average graduate tuition rate when there were ties. We developed the scoring methodology below to finish our human resource master's program rankings and choose our top colleges for master's in human resources.
RANKING OF THE TOP 10 BEST MASTER'S IN HUMAN RESOURCES IN BRIEF
- Purdue University
- Texas A&M University
- New York University
- The University of Texas at Arlington
- Florida International University
- Azusa Pacific University
- Loyola University
- Villanova University
- Columbus State University
- Concordia University
Roosevelt University – Chicago, Illinois
The Walter E. Heller College of Business at Roosevelt University provides a customisable Master of Science in human resource management that will help you achieve your goals, regardless of whether you want to change jobs or increase your human resources career potential.
Faculty members that are entirely committed to the academic achievement of their students teach the courses.
Meaningful connections between students and instructors are encouraged by small class sizes. There are alternatives for full- and part-time programs.
Typically, courses are only provided on the weekends or in the evenings. In the Midwest, Roosevelt University has the third-most diversified student body. Diverse opinions and original insights are beneficial to students. A well-rounded experience results from this.
DePaul University – Chicago, Illinois
Talented human resource professionals may shape the future of the workplace. The top-notch Master of Science in human resource program at DePaul University can provide you with the abilities and information required to oversee fundamental human resources operations for the workforce of today's organisations.
Students will develop professional skills in a variety of fields, such as:
- Benefits and Compensation
- Talent Management
- Recruitment Workforce Training Programs
Students pursuing a master's degree in human resources have the opportunity to study and work in the financial sector of Chicago, where companies like Aon and Motorola are hiring. Each enrollment quarter begins with the acceptance of new students.
Houston Baptist University – Houston, Texas
The College of Business at Houston Baptist University offers the most acceptable value Master of Science in human resource management, taught from a strategic business viewpoint. Students will learn the basic procedures of commercial organisations and use HRM theories to enhance organisational performance, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the HRM function. The fundamental conditions are:
- Benefits and Compensation
- Educating and Developing
- Ethics and transformational
The program received recertification from the SHRM in December 2020 and entirely complies with the SRHM HR Curriculum Guidebook.
The Pennsylvania State University – University Park, Pennsylvania
A reasonably priced Master of Science in human resources and employment relations is available from Penn State's School of Labor and Employment Relations. Students have the option of selecting from alternatives in either:
- people resources
- Occupational relations
It is a practitioner-based MS in human resources program. Students participate in practical projects and exercises that help them develop their helpful and professional abilities.
Students can select either a capstone or thesis route to finish depending on their personal and professional objectives. For the autumn semester, new students are accepted.
Bridgewater College – Bridgewater, Virginia
The Department of Economics and Business Administration at Bridgewater College provides a cost-effective Master of Science degree program in human resource management.
Students will acquire the abilities necessary to work as creative, strategic HR partners. Academically sound SHRM courses address essential topics like:
- Organisational excellence in analytics
Students can focus their human resources knowledge on a field like healthcare or manufacturing by taking a capstone course. Faculty members who have worked in HR and are familiar with the area teach classes.
Bridgewater has a strong relationship with the neighbourhood SHRM chapter, giving students access to beneficial networking opportunities.
University of Minnesota – Minneapolis, Minnesota
The Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota offers a cost-effective master's program in human resource industrial relations.
There are possibilities for both full-time and part-time programs. The current curriculum equips students with the knowledge and abilities to deal with the issues that face businesses of all sizes today. Courses available include:
- Foundations of High-Impact Staffing,
- Training and Development
- Based on Organizational Behavior
- HRIR's use of data and metrics
A professional group that offers networking and continuing education opportunities to students in the Graduate Society of Human Resources Leaders. 100% of students took up summer internships in 2020, and 98% of graduates took up job offers within six months after graduation in 2021.
Eastern Michigan University – Ypsilanti, Michigan
A thorough course of study for full-time and part-time students, Eastern Michigan University's Master of Science in Human Resources and Organizational Development is reasonably priced.
Classes are offered online, in the evenings, or a combination of the two to accommodate working students. The 30-credit curriculum provides a range of optional courses, including the following:
- Building Teams for Continuous Improvement and Benefits Administration
- Human Resource Management International
Students complete a practicum or a thesis depending on their academic and professional objectives.
In addition, students are kept up to date on industry developments through EMU's award-winning student organisation, the Society for Human Resource Management, which promotes networking and career prospects.
A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.75 from an approved institution is required of applicants. Candidates must submit a resume for consideration.
University of Rhode Island – Kingston, Rhode Island
A specialist HR master's degree emphasising labour relations and human resources is offered at the University of Rhode Island.
Students who work in fields like labour unions and government organisations would benefit significantly from this 30-credit, interdisciplinary curriculum. To accommodate working professionals, classes are provided at the Kingston and Providence campus sites in the evenings and weekends. Core courses consist of:
- Human Resources and Labor Relations
- Employment, Work, and Society
- Law of Labor and Employment
There are alternatives for full- and part-time programs. New students are admitted for the autumn and spring semesters on a rolling admissions basis. Two years is all it takes for full-time students to finish their degrees.
University of Kentucky – Lexington, Kentucky
Graduates are equipped for fascinating professional positions such as HR operations manager and analyst. To accommodate working professionals, classes are provided at the Kingston and Providence campus sites in the evenings and weekends. Core courses consist of:
- Human Resources and Labor Relations
- Employment, Work, and Society
- Law of Labor and Employment
There are alternatives for full- and part-time programs. New students are admitted for the autumn and spring semesters on a rolling admissions basis. Two years is all it takes for full-time students to finish their degrees.
University of Tennessee – Knoxville, Tennessee
The flexible, reasonably priced MS in human resources management program at the University of Tennessee-Haslam Knoxville's College of Business features nighttime classes.
Regardless of an undergraduate degree or amount of expertise, the program is a fantastic alternative for those hoping to advance into management positions. The program can be finished by students either full- or part-time. Focus areas consist of:
- Personal Growth in Leadership
- Knowledge of Business for Managers
- Strategic Management of Human Resources
Applications must include a CV, personal statement, and letters of recommendation. The program starts with first-year students in the autumn.
Concordia University – St. Paul, Minnesota
A reasonably priced master's in human resource management is offered by Concordia University - St. Paul's College of Business and Technology.
The curriculum focuses on the function of human resources as a critical business partner. Students will strengthen their soft skills in leadership, creativity, and strategic thinking, among other areas. Core courses consist of:
- strategic management of human resources
- Leadership in Human Resources and Ethics
- Selection, Recruitment, and Retention
Each course builds on the one before it and must be taken in the specified order. Each student completes the Human Resources Action Research at Work capstone course. Students use this course's program-acquired knowledge and abilities to produce a high-impact deliverable that can boost organisational effectiveness.
Columbus State University – Columbus, Georgia
High-quality organisational leadership master's degree from Columbus State University with a human resources management concentration. Critical components of HR management will be studied in-depth by students, including:
- Resource allocation
- hiring and educating
- Benefits and Compensation
- Discipline and performance management procedures
The human resource curriculum aligns with the SHRM's templates and guidebook. It's a small class. Students can interact with teachers and their peers, thanks to this.
The achievement of their pupils is the primary concern of the faculty, who act as professional mentors. Graduates are ready to take the Professional in Human Resources (PHR) and Senior Professional in Human Resources tests for industry certification (SPHR).
Villanova University – Villanova, Pennsylvania
Villanova University offers one of the oldest graduate HR programs in the country. Their top graduate program in human resource development through an evidence-based curriculum creates HR leaders.
Students can mix their studies with other responsibilities because of the flexible eight-week schedule. There are several concentrations available, such as:
- Diversity and Inclusion Strategy
- Business Partner in HR
- Research and Organizational Development in People Analytics
Students can use course credits toward recertification, and HR Leadership Courses are both SHRM and HRCI accredited. So in just two years, full-time students can get their degrees.
Loyola University – Chicago, Illinois
A top-value master's in human resources is offered by the Quinlan School of Business at Loyola University Chicago, giving students the analytical, collaborative, and communication abilities necessary for success.
The curriculum complies with SHRM standards. As a result, the students are ready to take the SHRM certification examinations. The extensive and adaptable program was created to equip students for various HR positions. Moral leadership and values-based are emphasised in courses.
Twelve classes are required to obtain the degree for students with at least three years of HR experience. To get practical experience and strengthen their skills, students without prior work experience are also required to do an internship. There are alternatives for full- and part-time programs.
Azusa Pacific University – Azusa, California
The Christ-centered Master of Business Management degree at Azusa Pacific University is a flexible course of study that fosters the growth of moral HR leaders.
Students can enrol in the Azusa human resource management specialisation courses or at one of their four regional campuses. Eight-week terms provide courses with six start dates a year.
Employers like Pepsi and Target provide students opportunities for experiential learning that they may use to enhance their resumes. Micro certificates are available in several fields, including:
- Project Management
- Ethical Leadership
- Cross-Cultural Management
Microcredentials may enhance a degree and improve a résumé. In addition, students may feel secure in their studies because the program has earned accreditation from the Society for Human Resource Management.
Florida International University – Miami, Florida
A low-cost master's degree in human resource management is available from Florida International University, preparing students to lead people successfully in multinational corporations.
Students can continue working full-time jobs by enrolling in weekend classes. Both full-time and part-time students have one year and two years to complete their degrees, respectively.
Industry professionals created and instructed the program. They are aware of the qualifications necessary for success in human resources positions.
The program strongly emphasises real-world applications through hands-on activities and case studies that interest students. Florida International University graduates are qualified for specialised careers in the following fields, and senior human resources roles are Compensation, benefits, and training for the workforce.
The University of Texas at Arlington – Arlington, Texas
For professionals just starting out or in the middle of their careers, the College of Business at the University of Texas at Arlington provides a high-quality master's in human resource management.
The 36-credit program uses a curriculum grounded on research and practice and is thus easily transferable to the workplace. Courses that are needed include:
- Systems for Compensation and Rewards
- Educating and Developing
- Analytics and Metrics for Human Resources
There are alternatives for full- and part-time programs. Students who don't have jobs in the sector can do internships with a nearby company. Evenings are when courses are provided. The fall, spring, and summer quarters all accept new students.
New York University – New York, New York
The School of Professional Studies at New York University offers a top-notch master's degree in human resource management and development. There are four possible concentration zones, including:
- Human Resource Management
- International Talent Management
- Effectiveness of the Organization
- Executive coaching, development, and learning
Eight core courses and one elective make up each specialisation area. To get further professional experience, students might opt to conduct an internship. Two capstone alternatives are a thesis or a particular project in applied human resource strategies.
Texas A&M University – College Station, Texas
A high-value master's in human resource management with an emphasis on leadership development and strategic thinking is offered by the Mays Business School at Texas A&M University.
Along with specific HRM courses, students gain knowledge of essential business disciplines, including accounting, marketing, and operations. Courses available include:
- Organizational Development and Change
- Enterprise Behavior
- Organisation of personnel
During the summer, each student completes a necessary professional internship to hone their abilities and acquire experience.
In addition, students in HRM can participate in leadership opportunities and network with other human resources specialists through their school's SHRM chapter. In just 16 months, full-time students can get their degrees.
Purdue University – West Lafayette, Indiana
The Krannert School of Management at Purdue University is our top pick for a master's degree in human resource management on campus. This in-depth HR program aims to create business-savvy, human resources-focused executives. Offerings for core courses include:
- Introducing World Leaders
- Human Resource Systems
- Human Capital Consulting
Students may readily transfer what they learn in the classroom to the workplace with the aid of real-world projects and chances for experiential learning.
Through the Human Capital Consulting Initiative, students can participate in extra opportunities such as case competitions and consulting projects to obtain further experience and training. In just 18 months, full-time students can get their degrees.
Future careers in human resources
Businesses are constantly seeking strategies to perform better than their rivals and accomplish their goals. You will be equipped to assist firms in improving their performance once you have earned your HR degree. You may use your abilities in a variety of industries and occupations, including:
- HR manager
- Recruitment manager
- Talent director
- Organisational development professional
- Diversity and inclusion manager
- Corporate communication specialist
- Training and development officer
- Careers adviser
Try to get a job or an internship during your gap year or university breaks to increase your employability. This will support demonstrating your dedication and ability to potential employers.
