Best Online Bachelor’s in Human Resources Programs 2024

Human resources is a fast-growing field. An online human resources degree can unlock many entry-level positions.

Edited by

Updated September 19, 2024

Why Trust BestColleges

3,700+ Nonprofit, accredited colleges analyzed
6,000+ Users connected with programs every month
300+ College and university partners
40+ Expert reviewers

Learn more about our

Deciding where to get your bachelor’s in human resources (HR) is a big decision. At BestColleges, we use trusted sources and factor in affordability and student outcomes to create a comprehensive, student-focused ranking of the best online degree programs.

The human resources field is growing. Jobs for human resources specialists are projected to grow faster than average over the next decade. These HR professionals brought in a 2023 median pay of $67,650, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Generally, a bachelor’s degree is required to become a human resources professional. Read on to learn more about some of the best human resources schools in 2024.

Featured Online Human Resources Programs

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

Learn More

Visit Site

Learn More

Visit Site

Learn More

Visit Site

Why Rutgers University Ranks No. 1 This Year

Rutgers combined the best of both affordability and good student outcomes to take the top spot in our 2024 best online bachelor’s in human resources.

Rutgers has a high graduation rate, at 85%, and a relatively low net price of $19,052 per year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. That high graduation rate also extends to low-income students — including those who received Pell Grants.

Rutgers offers classes in numerous subject areas within HR management, including talent acquisition, diversity and inclusion, and career management.

In this Article

Top Online Bachelor’s in Human Resources Programs of 2024

Rutgers University

New Brunswick, NJ4 yearCampus + Online

$12,536

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$29,737

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

68%

Acceptance Rate

74%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$18,180

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$30,900

Retention Rate

94%

Students Enrolled

50,804

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$12,536

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$29,737

Rutgers University

New Brunswick, NJ4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$12,536

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$29,737

Acceptance Rate

68%

Online Enrollment

74%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$18,180

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$30,900

Retention Rate

94%

Students Enrolled

50,804

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Florida International University

Miami, FL4 yearCampus + Online

$4,721

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$16,529

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

64%

Acceptance Rate

65%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$8,912

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$21,393

Retention Rate

90%

Students Enrolled

56,664

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$4,721

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$16,529

Florida International University

Miami, FL4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$4,721

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$16,529

Acceptance Rate

64%

Online Enrollment

65%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$8,912

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$21,393

Retention Rate

90%

Students Enrolled

56,664

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

St. Joseph's University, New York

Brooklyn, NY4 yearCampus + Online

$29,976

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$29,976

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

80%

Acceptance Rate

55%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$20,250

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$20,250

Retention Rate

81%

Students Enrolled

4,687

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$29,976

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$29,976

St. Joseph's University, New York

Brooklyn, NY4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$29,976

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$29,976

Acceptance Rate

80%

Online Enrollment

55%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$20,250

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$20,250

Retention Rate

81%

Students Enrolled

4,687

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Thomas Jefferson University

Philadelphia, PA4 yearCampus + Online

$41,900

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$41,900

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

78%

Acceptance Rate

66%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$22,068

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$22,068

Retention Rate

84%

Students Enrolled

8,270

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$41,900

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$41,900

Thomas Jefferson University

Philadelphia, PA4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$41,900

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$41,900

Acceptance Rate

78%

Online Enrollment

66%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$22,068

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$22,068

Retention Rate

84%

Students Enrolled

8,270

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Temple University

Philadelphia, PA4 yearCampus + Online

$16,488

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$29,712

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

72%

Acceptance Rate

68%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$17,388

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$23,922

Retention Rate

86%

Students Enrolled

35,626

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$16,488

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$29,712

Temple University

Philadelphia, PA4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$16,488

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$29,712

Acceptance Rate

72%

Online Enrollment

68%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$17,388

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$23,922

Retention Rate

86%

Students Enrolled

35,626

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Mercer University

Macon, GA4 yearCampus + Online

$29,024

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$29,024

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

75%

Acceptance Rate

34%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$15,244

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$15,244

Retention Rate

86%

Students Enrolled

9,009

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$29,024

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$29,024

Mercer University

Macon, GA4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$29,024

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$29,024

Acceptance Rate

75%

Online Enrollment

34%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$15,244

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$15,244

Retention Rate

86%

Students Enrolled

9,009

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Maryville University of Saint Louis

Saint Louis, MO4 yearCampus + Online

$24,766

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$24,766

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

92%

Acceptance Rate

84%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$14,346

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$14,346

Retention Rate

82%

Students Enrolled

10,596

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$24,766

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$24,766

Maryville University of Saint Louis

Saint Louis, MO4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$24,766

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$24,766

Acceptance Rate

92%

Online Enrollment

84%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$14,346

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$14,346

Retention Rate

82%

Students Enrolled

10,596

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Texas A&M University-Central Texas

Killeen, TX4 yearCampus + Online

$6,593

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$16,385

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

96%

Acceptance Rate

90%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$5,558

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$12,920

Retention Rate

N/A

Students Enrolled

2,219

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$6,593

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$16,385

Texas A&M University-Central Texas

Killeen, TX4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$6,593

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$16,385

Acceptance Rate

96%

Online Enrollment

90%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$5,558

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$12,920

Retention Rate

N/A

Students Enrolled

2,219

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

University of St Francis

Joliet, IL4 yearCampus + Online

$35,000

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$35,000

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

68%

Acceptance Rate

82%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$13,464

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$13,464

Retention Rate

73%

Students Enrolled

3,426

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$35,000

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$35,000

University of St Francis

Joliet, IL4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$35,000

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$35,000

Acceptance Rate

68%

Online Enrollment

82%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$13,464

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$13,464

Retention Rate

73%

Students Enrolled

3,426

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

#10

Western Governors University

Salt Lake City, UT4 yearOnline

$7,162

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,162

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Acceptance Rate

N/A

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$7,500

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$7,500

Retention Rate

63%

Students Enrolled

150,116

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,162

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$7,162

Western Governors University

Salt Lake City, UT4 yearOnline

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,162

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$7,162

Acceptance Rate

N/A

Online Enrollment

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$7,500

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$7,500

Retention Rate

63%

Students Enrolled

150,116

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

More Bachelor’s in Human Resources Programs

Mount Mercy University, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Athens State University all fell just outside of the top 10 for best bachelor’s in human resources programs. These schools still offer great outcomes for students, including strong competition rates and affordable prices, but didn’t meet those criteria to the same degree as the top 10 universities.

Is a Human Resources Degree Worth It?

Getting an online human resources degree can help you prepare for a career in a fast-growing field. Here are some pros and cons to think about as you think about heading into human resources.

Pros

The human resources field is projected to grow faster than average, according to the BLS.
The field has a relatively high median pay of more than $60,000, although starting salaries may be lower.
Human resources degrees offer broad training, and the field of human resources applies across industries.

Cons

The cost of college can be high. Our ranking factors in affordability, including for lower-income students, when ranking schools.
Degrees take time, although online degrees can allow you to work while earning your degree.
Human resources is challenging but rewarding work. Your job may involve difficult conversations.

What to Consider Before Choosing a Human Resources Program

Getting a degree can be a rewarding but timely and expensive endeavor. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you consider a human resources degree:

Cost
College can be expensive. It’s important to weigh your financial options and consider what your return on investment will be before heading into the field.
Time
A bachelor’s degree typically takes four years to complete, though some programs offer an accelerated format.
Transferable credits
If you took college courses in high school or have studied at a community college, some of those credits might save you money as you earn your bachelor’s. Be sure to evaluate a school’s policy on transferable credits you might have.
Format
If you’re already a working professional, a part-time format or online program can allow you to stay in the workforce without having to take time off.

Explore More College Resources

Best Online Doctorate in Human Resources

Earn an online doctorate in human resources to qualify for chief executive HR positions. Advance your career today with a Ph.D. or DBA in HR.

by Meg Whitenton

Updated September 18, 2024

10 Online Business Certificates to Advance Your Career

Earning business certificates can advance your career. Learn more about 10 popular online business certificates and how they can help you meet your goals.