Best Online Human Resources Degrees

Engage the best online human resources degrees for 2022 and take a step towards advancing your career in HR.

CollegeChoice.net is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

Turn Your Dreams Into Reality

Take our quiz and we'll do the homework for you! Compare your school matches and apply to your top choice today.

Companies and organizations hire human resources specialists to attract and retain talented workers. Responsibilities of these professionals typically include discussing recruiting needs with managers, reviewing applications, and completing paperwork. Human resources professionals need honed communication skills to work individually with people from different backgrounds.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), human resources specialists earn a median salary of $61,920 per year. The BLS also projects employment for human resources specialists to grow 7% from 2019-2029, a rate faster than the average for all occupations. This suggests that graduates with an online human resources degree will enter a strong job market.

Online human resources programs typically confer bachelor's degrees and prepare learners for entry-level positions in the field. Some colleges and universities do not require applicants to submit ACT or SAT scores. Typical application materials include high school transcripts or GED scores, and transfer credit policies vary by school.

mini icon

Accredited Online College Programs

Explore our featured online programs and find the right match for you today.

What kind of degree do I need to be a human resources manager?

These managers typically need a bachelor's degree in human resources. Bachelor's programs in the field help learners develop human resources expertise and transferable skills. However, some human resources professionals hold degrees in accounting or business.

How much do you make with a bachelors in human resources?

Human resources specialists earn a median salary of $61,920 per year, according to the BLS. Individual salaries vary based on factors including experience level, geographic location, and professional certifications.

What can you do with a bachelor's in human resources?

An online human resources degree qualifies graduates for most entry-level positions in the field. Graduates often work at employment, government, and professional agencies.

What does a career in HR look like?

Human resources professionals work to hire and retain talented employees. Some professionals in the field specialize in recruiting.

Students earning an online human resources degree develop specialized and transferable skills. Learners gain in-demand communication skills through general education coursework in areas such as English and history. Major classes introduce degree-seekers to topics including public speaking, small-group communication, and career management fundamentals. Learners select upper-division electives to gain specialized knowledge in the field.

Students often work with an academic advisor to choose a specialization. Online human resources programs commonly offer specialization options including project management, emergency management, and healthcare management. Specialization requirements prepare learners to enter specific career paths.

Why Get a Human Resources Degree?

Earning a bachelor's degree in human resources can lead to many personal and professional benefits. The list below highlights a few common reasons for pursuing an online human resources degree.

Salary Potential
According to the BLS, human resources managers earn a median salary of $116,720 per year. Human resources professionals with a strongachelor's degree and work experience often qualify for advanced roles with increased earning potential.
Positive Impact
Human resources professionals hire and retain the strongest workers to ensure the overall success of their organization. These professionals make decisions that safeguard the long-term future of their employer.
Different Career Paths
The human resources field encompasses numerous positions, including glostrongal human resources manager. These professionals direct human resources efforts for multinational corporations.
Dynamic Work Environment
Human resources specialists and managers fulfill a variety of responsistrongilities, such as training new employees, addressing organizational prostronglems, and motivating teams.
Geographic Flexistrongility
Nearly all employers need human resources experts. Graduates often enjoy professional opportunities in various industries, strongoth in the United States and in other countries.

What Are the Requirements for a Human Resources Degree?

Applicants to online human resources programs must typically submit high school transcripts or GED scores. Applicants may also need to provide a resume and a statement of purpose. Some schools extend conditional or provisional admission to applicants who do not meet all admission requirements. Learners who receive provisional admission usually earn full admission after completing lower-division courses with a satisfactory GPA.

Most online human resources degree programs culminate with a capstone course, which allows students to synthesize knowledge and skills gained throughout the program. Learners typically apply management, ethics, and leadership best practices while completing their capstone project. Students generally present results in an extended essay or a speech to faculty members.

There are professional organizations for all major professions and industries. Members often receive access to benefits such as discounts on goods and services, professional publications, and job boards. Organizations such as those below admit students pursuing a human resources bachelor's degree. Student members often pay reduced membership fees.

Human resources specialists can join ATD to network with peers from more than 120 countries. The association delivers industry publications, offers two certifications, and maintains a private job bank. Degree-seekers select from three membership tiers, each of which requires an annual fee.

IHRIM helps members learn how to use new human resources technologies, such as software suites. The association provides professional development opportunities, a private job board, and peer-reviewed research. Members can also access certification training courses, and full-time degree-seekers pay the lowest membership rate.

SHRM represents more than 300,000 human resource professionals and students. Student members can access scholarship opportunities, the Career Compass Podcast, and the annual conference. SHRM also maintains a global resources page with job-hunting tips. Student members can upgrade to a professional membership at a discounted rate.

Scholarships for Human Resources Students

Scholarships can help learners fund their online human resources degree. Students can research scholarship opportunities for listrongeral arts majors and human resources majors. Degree-seekers may also qualify for awards strongased on their location or strongackground. Individuals should note all scholarship application requirements and deadlines strongefore applying.

HSF Scholarship


Who Can Apply: This award from the Hispanic Scholarship Fund supports college-strongound Hispanic high school seniors and current undergraduate students throughout the United States. Applicants must meet minimum GPA requirements and must stronge studying full time. Applicants also sustrongmit FAFSA results.

Amount: $500-$5,000

SHRM Academic Scholarships


Who Can Apply: The Society for Human Resource Management delivers annual scholarships to degree-seekers studying human resources. Applicants sustrongmit a current resume, official transcripts, and one recommendation letter. Candidates need a minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA and memstrongership with the society.

Amount: $2,500

Wells Fargo Scholarship for Undergraduates


Who Can Apply: Wells Fargo offers this scholarship to Native American students with a minimum 2.7 undergraduate GPA. The scholarship committee accepts applications from degree-seekers majoring in any sustrongject. Candidates must sustrongmit official college transcripts and proof of memstrongership with a federally recognized tristronge.

Amount: $5,000

Best Online Bachelor's in Human Resources Degrees



See our rankings methodology page.

  1. Florida International University
    Location

    Miami, FL

    Tuition

    $9180

    A public university located in Miami, FIU Online offers a bachelor of business administration in human resource management.

    The 120-credit program includes general education and business pre-core courses before beginning upper-division business courses. Notable business core courses include the legal environment of business, financial management, and strategic management. Human resource requirements include recruitment and staffing, human resources information systems, and union-management relations. Students can also choose from electives like happiness at work or employment law.

    Applicants may begin during any of three start dates per year and must submit official SAT or ACT scores to apply. Students must possess a minimum GPA of 2.5 to qualify for admission. FIU is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

  2. Colorado State University
    Location

    Aurora, CO

    Based in Aurora, CSU Global offers an online bachelor of science in human resource management. Career outcomes include roles as administrative assistants, HR managers, and HR generalists.

    The 120-credit program includes general education; core requirements; electives; and the chance to specialize in areas such as project management, digital marketing, or public and nonprofit management. Core courses include applying leadership principles, business policy and strategy, and organizational development. Students apply knowledge during a capstone experience and a practicum held toward the end of the program.

    Students may apply for experiential learning credits and credits by exam. Students need to submit SAT (980 or higher) or ACT (18 or higher) scores with a minimum high school GPA of 2.8 to qualify for admission. CSU is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The school also boasts programmatic accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.

  3. Anderson University
    Location

    Anderson, SC

    Based in Anderson, South Carolina, AU offers an online bachelor of organizational leadership with a concentration in human resource administration. Students explore leadership and organizational roles through the lens of Christian faith. Courses meet in an eight-week format, making it easier to focus on just one or two courses at a time.

    The 120-credit program includes both general education coursework and major-specific courses. Organizational leadership courses include principles of quality management, critical thinking in organizations, and industrial and organizational psychology. Human resource core courses include management of information systems, training and development, and compensation. Students also complete electives in a variety of topics to complete the graduation requirements.

    Applicants must submit SAT or ACT scores, but the school considers applicants on a holistic basis. The school does not specify a minimum GPA or standardized test score for admission. AU is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

  4. Rutgers University
    Location

    New Brunswick, NJ

    Tuition

    $16295

    Rutgers offers an online bachelor of business administration with a concentration in strategic human resource management as a degree completion choice. Students complete coursework solely online and may also pursue a dual degree in business analytics.

    Students begin with prerequisites such as microeconomic principles, introduction to quantitative skills for business, and applied business statistics. Business core courses, such as ethics and social responsibility, provide students with a solid foundation. Students take four courses in human resources to complete the degree: strategic human resource management, career planning and management, employee and labor relations, and compensation and benefits.

    Students need a minimum of 18 transfer credits to begin this program. Credits earned must be a C grade or better. The school prefers some relevant work experience. Rutgers University is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and boasts departmental accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.

  5. Thomas Jefferson University
    Location

    Philadelphia, PA

    Based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Jefferson offers an online bachelor of science in human resource management. Students take courses in eight-week sessions and complete the program in just 2-3 years.

    The 120-credit curriculum includes professional core courses such as elements of organization, principles of management, and finding and evaluating statistical data. Human resource core courses include human resource management, training and development, compensation and benefits, and applied research and practice in human resource management. Students take a capstone course at the end of the program to demonstrate skills mastery. Students must also complete general education core courses and take required electives to complete degree requirements.

    Jefferson accepts students on a rolling basis. The school does not specify a minimum GPA requirement and does not require SAT or ACT scores for admission. Jefferson is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Recommended Reading

Helping you prepare and gain the most out of your educational experience.