Best Online Human Resources Degrees of 2025
Earning an HR degree can help you make a difference in the lives of employees and companies of all sizes. Human resources professionals can work in areas like talent acquisition, retention, and benefits packages. Their skills and expertise can be essential for building a positive company culture.
A bachelor’s in HR can prepare you to become a human resource specialist. HR specialists are in high demand, with jobs projected to grow faster than the average growth rate for all occupations over the next decade. Below, you can find the best online HR degree programs, average program costs, and career options for the next steps.
10 Best Human Resources Bachelor’s Degrees Online
How We Chose These Schools
At TheBestSchools, we use trusted data from the U.S. Department of Education to evaluate schools without bias. Our ranking methodology helps prospective students from various backgrounds find the best fit. We consider key factors like academic quality, online offerings, and affordability, so every type of student can find the best fit for them.
This list has been updated for 2025. Learn more about how our formula works on our ranking methodology page.
Why Get an HR Degree Online?
Many students choose an HR degree because of the profession’s higher-than-average salaries, career advancement opportunities, and the ability to make positive impacts. Benefits of earning your HR degree online include:
- Meaningful Work: You can advocate for employees and resolve workplace conflict while creating functional, healthy work environments.
- Earning Potential: Human resources specialists earned a median of $72,910 in 2024, while HR managers’ median salary was $140,030, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
- Growth Opportunities: The BLS projects the HR specialist and HR manager job fields will grow faster than the national average rate — 8% and 6% from 2023 to 2033, respectively, according to BLS data.
- Study at Home: Online human resources degrees give you the flexibility to earn a degree at home without relocating to a different state.
What You Can Expect in an Online Human Resources Program
A bachelor’s degree in human resources usually requires 120 credits and takes four years of full-time study. Earning a degree online gives you the flexibility to take asynchronous or synchronous courses and fit studying into your schedule.
Some HR programs are generalized in their focus, while others offer concentrations in areas like business administration or organizational leadership.
Courses in Human Resources Programs
Common classes in an online human resources program include:
- Employee Benefits: Students in this class learn about benefits packages, insurance negotiation, remote working policies, and attracting talent.
- Conflict Resolution: This course covers best practices for interpersonal communication, including how to prevent miscommunication and how to mediate conflicts in the workplace.
- Leadership in Human Resources: This class teaches learners to ethically and effectively lead teams by building knowledge about unions, employee rights laws, and strategies for navigating ethical dilemmas.
Choosing an Online Bachelor’s in Human Resources Degree: 4 Key Factors
When choosing an online human resources program, consider factors that can influence your online education experience. Here is an overview of other major considerations:
1. Program Format and Offerings
Programs can be synchronous or asynchronous. Some online schools use a cohort model where you and a group of classmates all take classes together in a predetermined schedule. Other institutions let you choose your own courses each semester.
Look for programs that fit your schedule and learning style. Research schools’ degree concentrations and minors if you want to specialize your knowledge toward specific subfields.
2. Accreditation
Seek schools with institutional accreditation from a recognized accrediting body. Institutional accreditation signifies that a school meets standards of academic excellence and is required for the school to qualify for state or federal financial aid. Employers typically prefer employees with accredited degrees.
Programmatic accreditation is optional, but demonstrates that a specific department or program’s coursework helps prepare students for jobs in the industry. While human resources programs don’t have their own programmatic accrediting body, HR is a business specialization, so you can look for programmatic accreditation from major business accreditors.
The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs and AACSB International are two of the most widely recognized business-specific programmatic accreditors.
3. Program Length
Most bachelor’s degrees take four years to complete, but you can finish your HR degree in as few as three years with an accelerated program. If you want a graduate degree, you can also complete a dual BA-MBA in human resources in 4-5 years. Part-time programs, which can take five years or more, can be helpful if you’re trying to earn your degree while working full time.
4. Cost
According to the National Center of Education Statistics (NCES), the average cost of undergraduate tuition at public institutions in the 2023-24 school year was $6,944 for in-state students. Not factoring in annual tuition increases, this equates to a total of $27,776 for four years of undergraduate study. Private institutions typically have higher tuition costs than public institutions, but often come with larger financial aid packages.
Some colleges even offer reduced or in-state tuition for online students, which can make distance education more affordable. Applying for financial aid through private scholarships and grants, FAFSA, and your school can help lower tuition costs.Many undergraduate human resources degrees run as concentrations within business programs. The table below compares the average tuition costs of online and traditional, in-person business programs.
| Average Tuition for Online Business Programs | Average Tuition for Traditional, In-Person Business Programs |
|---|---|
| $10,473 | $16,941 |
Human Resources Salary and Career Outlook
According to Payscale data from February 2025, HR managers with under a year of experience earn an average salary of about $59,000 annually, while professionals with 10-19 years of experience average about $81,400.
Job title, employer, geographic location, and experience can all influence salary. For example, HR managers in New York earned an annual median wage of $171,440 in 2024, while those in Illinois only averaged $134,320.
| Careers Paths | Median Salary (2024) | Projected Growth (2023-33) |
|---|---|---|
| Human Resources Specialists | $72,910 | 8% |
| Human Resources Managers | $140,030 | 6% |
| Training and Development Specialists | $65,850 | 12% |
| Training and Development Managers | $127,090 | 7% |
| Public Relations Specialists | $69,780 | 6% |
Is Human Resources a Good Career?
Human resources can be a good career if it matches your professional goals and your skills. In this people-centered job, you can make positive impacts on your company’s culture. All HR-related careers offer higher-than-average salaries, with manager-level roles paying median salaries more than twice the national median wage for all workers, which was $49,500 in 2024.
Careers in this field are also in demand: The BLS projects job growth rates ranging between 6% and 12% from 2023 to 2033 for jobs in this field, all faster than the national average growth projection of 4%.
Frequently Asked Questions About Human Resources Programs
Do you need a degree to work in HR?
Yes, most employers require job candidates to hold at least a bachelor’s degree in human resources, business, or a closely related field. A master’s degree in HR can help make you a more competitive applicant and qualify you for more advanced roles. An HR degree with a specialization in data science, business, communications, or finance can prepare you for jobs in niche subfields of the industry.
What can you do with a human resources degree?
With a human resources degree, you can work as an HR specialist or manager. You can also find positions as a training coordinator, wellness manager, recruiter, benefits specialist, or organizational development consultant.
How long does it take to become an HR manager?
Including the required college education, it typically takes nine years to become an HR manager. Generally, you need a bachelor’s in HR plus a minimum of five years of experience. Accelerated degree programs may reduce the length of time you study. Though you don’t need a master’s degree or additional certificates to become an HR manager, these credentials can help you to advance more quickly.
How do you become an HR specialist?
To become a human resource specialist, you need a bachelor’s degree in human resource management or business. Generally, the HR field does not require additional certifications or credentials. While completing your degree, you can pursue internships to build your resume, and after graduation, you can apply for jobs as an HR specialist.