Human Resources Management and Services: degree ROI, salary & best colleges
Human Resources Management and Services graduates earn a median $68,069 four years after finishing — $19,709/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. At a typical $16,906/yr net price ($67,624 over four years), that pays back in about 3.4 years. Federal data pools 369 bachelor's programs graduating roughly 10,647 students a year. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026 · our math.)
Human Resources Management and Services ranks #75 of 202 bachelor's fields by earnings — pays more than 63% of majors.
| # | College | State | Grad earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cornell University | NY | $112,713 |
| 2 | Northwestern University | IL | $108,498 |
| 3 | Bethel University | MN | $101,195 |
| 4 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | MI | $99,594 |
| 5 | George Washington University | DC | $97,126 |
| 6 | Brigham Young University | UT | $96,354 |
| 7 | Waldorf University | IA | $94,822 |
| 8 | University of Richmond | VA | $92,389 |
| 9 | Benedictine University | IL | $90,891 |
| 10 | University of St Francis | IL | $90,495 |
| 11 | Idaho State University | ID | $89,887 |
| 12 | Pitzer College | CA | $89,636 |
College Scorecard field-of-study (2026), program-level median earnings for this CIP · our ranking.
How we compute this. Earnings are the national median for graduates of this field measured 1 and 4 years after completion (Scorecard field-of-study, bachelor's). Premium = 4-year earnings − the $48,360 high-school baseline. Payback = a representative 4-year net cost (median college net price × 4) ÷ premium. Field medians blend every school — a specific program can pay far more or less. Full method on the methodology page; the field ranking is on ROI by major.