Best Online Master’s in Human Resources 2025
Find top-ranked online master’s in human resources for students wanting to qualify for upper management positions, such as human resources manager, compensation and benefits manager, employee recruitment and staffing specialist, and labor relations specialist.
Key Takeaways
- Meant for professionals seeking advancement or pursuing a doctorate, an online master’s program in human resources takes an in-depth look into business strategies.
- Individuals interested in HR leadership and other specialized roles can earn an online master’s degree taught by HR experts.
- At the master’s level, the HR coursework emphasizes diversity and inclusion, human capital management, business strategies, and benefits and compensation.
Top 10 Online Human Resources Master's Programs in 2025
2025 Ranking Update
Our Influence Ranking Engine™ leverages machine learning to track the real-world influence of colleges and universities over time. Below you’ll see which schools gained or lost ground for the 2025 school year.
In 2025, the top ten schools in our ranking of the best online master’s in human resources saw a fair amount of movement. Stony Brook University gained the most ranking positions as the university integrated data analytics and business acumen into the coursework, reflected in courses like HRM 551: Business Acumen and Data Analytics for Effective HR Leadership. This course emphasizes the use of HR data analytics to inform strategic decision-making and create business cases for HR initiatives.
Another enhancement includes a stronger focus on organizational development and change management, where students learn to act as change agents within organizations. This is highlighted in the course HRM 538: Organizational Development and Change Management, which teaches students how to facilitate organizational change and improve employee engagement.
Additionally, the curriculum has been designed to fully align with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) standards, ensuring that graduates are well-prepared to meet industry benchmarks. This SHRM-aligned curriculum helps students stay current with evolving HR trends and best practices, equipping them with the competencies needed to advance in HR leadership.
Learn more about what you can do with a master’s degree in business administration (MBA).
Featured Programs
Best Online Master’s in Human Resources Degree Programs
- #9 America's 15 Most Technologically Advanced Colleges #14 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2025 #14 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2025 #17 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2025
Tuition + fees
$65K
Acceptance
12%
Graduation
92%
Student body
54K
Median SAT/ACT
1500/33
Career Outlook for Human Resources degree at University of Southern California
Cost of Degree: $68,128Expenses: $22,216Starting Salary: $116,960Salary after 4 years: $129,730Cost Recoup Time: 8 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
MS in Human Resource Management
- Required Credits: 24
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
MS in Human Resources Law and Compliance
- Required Credits: 16
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
- #1 Best Public Colleges in New York 2024 #4 Most Affordable Colleges in New York 2025 #6 Best Colleges in New York 2024 #8 Best Grad Schools in New York 2025
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
49%
Graduation
78%
Student body
33K
Median SAT/ACT
1410/31
Career Outlook for Human Resources degree at Stony Brook University
Cost of Degree: $13,943Expenses: $21,810Starting Salary: $86,548Salary after 4 years: $90,951Cost Recoup Time: 5 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
MS in Human Resource Management
- Required Credits: 30
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
- #2 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024 #3 Best Colleges in Michigan 2025 #3 Best Research Universities in Michigan 2025 #3 Best Grad Schools in Michigan 2024
Tuition + fees
$16K
Acceptance
75%
Graduation
60%
Student body
29K
Median SAT/ACT
1150/24
Career Outlook for Human Resources degree at Wayne State University
Cost of Degree: $20,482Expenses: $17,488Starting Salary: $72,308Salary after 4 years: $75,986Cost Recoup Time: 6 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
MBA in Business Administration
Concentrations
- Accounting systems
- Entrepreneurship and innovation
- Digital/Business Analytics
- Finance
- Financial accounting
- Healthcare Supply Chain Management
- Global supply chain management
- Human resources
- Information systems management
- International business
- Required Credits: 117
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #2 Best Grad Schools in Kentucky 2025 #2 Most Affordable Colleges in Kentucky 2025 #2 Best Public Colleges in Kentucky 2025 #2 Best Research Universities in Kentucky 2025
Tuition + fees
$13K
Acceptance
82%
Graduation
62%
Student body
26K
Median SAT/ACT
1170/23
Career Outlook for Human Resources degree at University of Louisville
Cost of Degree: $14,418Expenses: $20,878Starting Salary: $67,193Salary after 4 years: $70,611Cost Recoup Time: 6 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
MS in Human Resources and Organization Development
- Required Credits: 33
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #1 Most Affordable Colleges in Arkansas 2024 #1 Best Public Colleges in Arkansas 2024 #1 Best Colleges in Arkansas 2024 #1 Best Grad Schools in Arkansas 2025
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
79%
Graduation
69%
Student body
32K
Median SAT/ACT
1125/24
Career Outlook for Human Resources degree at University of Arkansas
Cost of Degree: $12,160Expenses: $20,260Starting Salary: $72,861Salary after 4 years: $76,567Cost Recoup Time: 5 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
MEd in Human Resource And Workforce Development
- Required Credits: 33
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
- #2 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina 2025 #3 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024 #4 Best Grad Schools in North Carolina 2025 #4 Best Colleges in North Carolina 2025
Tuition + fees
$62K
Acceptance
21%
Graduation
90%
Student body
10K
Career Outlook for Human Resources degree at Wake Forest University
Cost of Degree: $39,350Expenses: $22,798Starting Salary: $104,842Salary after 4 years: $116,290Cost Recoup Time: 6 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
MSL in Master’s of Studies in Law
Concentrations
- Human Resources
- Required Credits: 30
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #2 Best CCCU Colleges and Universities 2024 #17 50 Best Christian Colleges and Universities 2024 #2 Best Christian Colleges in California 2025 #6 Best Private Colleges in California 2025
Tuition + fees
$63K
Acceptance
49%
Graduation
84%
Student body
13K
Median SAT/ACT
1382/30
Career Outlook for Human Resources degree at Pepperdine University
Cost of Degree: $42,020Expenses: $26,770Starting Salary: $102,208Salary after 4 years: $113,368Cost Recoup Time: 7 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
MS in Human Resources
- Required Credits: 39
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
- #6 Top 15 Best Online Colleges for Transfer Students in 2025 #4 Most Affordable Colleges in Florida 2025 #4 Best Public Colleges in Florida 2025 #5 Best Colleges in Florida 2024
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
64%
Graduation
69%
Student body
72K
Median SAT/ACT
1155/23
Career Outlook for Human Resources degree at Florida International University
Cost of Degree: $11,334Expenses: $19,406Starting Salary: $71,893Salary after 4 years: $75,550Cost Recoup Time: 5 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
MS in Human Resource Management
- Required Credits: 38
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #1 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024 #2 Best Public Colleges in South Carolina 2025 #2 Best Grad Schools in South Carolina 2025 #2 Best Colleges in South Carolina 2025
Tuition + fees
$16K
Acceptance
43%
Graduation
85%
Student body
30K
Median SAT/ACT
1315/30
Career Outlook for Human Resources degree at Clemson University
Cost of Degree: $12,646Expenses: $19,784Starting Salary: $81,433Salary after 4 years: $85,575Cost Recoup Time: 5 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
MHRD in Human Resource Development
Concentrations
- Athletic Leadership
- Comprehensive Hrd
- Required Credits: 30
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #8 Top 15 Best Online Colleges for Transfer Students in 2025 #5 Most Affordable Colleges in Texas 2025 #5 Best Public Colleges in Texas 2025 #9 Best Research Universities in Texas 2024
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
79%
Graduation
59%
Student body
49K
Median SAT/ACT
1120/23
Career Outlook for Human Resources degree at University of North Texas
Cost of Degree: $9,062Expenses: $15,823Starting Salary: $68,160Salary after 4 years: $71,628Cost Recoup Time: 5 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
MBA in Business Administration
Concentrations
- Org. Behavior & Human Resource Mgmt.
- Required Credits: 36
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
- #2 Most Affordable Colleges in Tennessee 2025 #2 Best Public Colleges in Tennessee 2025 #3 Best Grad Schools in Tennessee 2025 #3 Best Colleges in Tennessee 2025
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
95%
Graduation
48%
Student body
25K
Median SAT/ACT
1080/20
Career Outlook for Human Resources degree at University of Memphis
Cost of Degree: $11,214Expenses: $17,726Starting Salary: $59,727Salary after 4 years: $62,765Cost Recoup Time: 6 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
MS in Professional Studies
Concentrations
- Strategic Leadership
- Human Resources Leadership
- Training and Development
- Required Credits: 33
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #1 Best Online Master’s in Executive MBA #1 Best Online Associate's in General Science 2025 #2 Best Online MBA Programs in New York 2025 #2 Best Online Associate Degrees in New York 2025
Tuition + fees
$55K
Acceptance
67%
Graduation
72%
Student body
19K
Median SAT/ACT
1360/31
Career Outlook for Human Resources degree at Rochester Institute of Technology
Cost of Degree: $57,764Expenses: $18,316Starting Salary: $89,300Salary after 4 years: $99,051Cost Recoup Time: 8 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
MS in Human Resource Development
- Required Credits: 33
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
- #9 Best Research Universities in Pennsylvania 2025 #10 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania 2025 #10 Best Grad Schools in Pennsylvania 2025 #1 Fastest Accelerated Online Bachelor's of Accounting Programs 2025
Tuition + fees
$44K
Acceptance
89%
Graduation
68%
Student body
10K
Median SAT/ACT
1240/29
Career Outlook for Human Resources degree at Thomas Jefferson University
Cost of Degree: $23,814Expenses: $22,874Starting Salary: $130,789Salary after 4 years: $145,070Cost Recoup Time: 4 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
MS in Human Resource Management
Concentrations
- Human Resource Generalist
- Human Resource and Organizational Development
- Required Credits: 54
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
MBA in Business Administration
Concentrations
- Healthcare
- Human Resources
- Operations Management
- Accounting
- Acquisition
- Business Data
- Finance
- Global Management*
- Health Services Administration
- Human Resource Management
- IT Security Management*
- Management
- Marketing
- Professional Studies
- Project Management
- Public Administration
- Sales
- Required Credits: None Reported
- Completion time: 18-36 months
- Format: Online
- #2 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024 #3 Best Colleges in Kansas 2024 #3 Best Grad Schools in Kansas 2024 #3 Best Public Colleges in Kansas 2024
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
95%
Graduation
52%
Student body
18K
Median SAT/ACT
1106/22
Career Outlook for Human Resources degree at Wichita State University
Cost of Degree: $7,678Expenses: $18,490Starting Salary: $62,768Salary after 4 years: $65,961Cost Recoup Time: 5 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
MS in Human Resource Management
- Required Credits: 30
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
MS in Human Resource Management (Bachelor’s to Master’s)
- Required Credits: None Reported
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #7 Best Private Colleges in Illinois 2025 #1 Top 3 Best Online MBA in Real Estate Degree Programs Ranked for 2024 #2 Best Online MBA Programs in Illinois #3 Best Online Master’s in Forensics Degree Programs 2025
Tuition + fees
$33K
Acceptance
88%
Graduation
43%
Student body
5K
Median SAT/ACT
960/21
Career Outlook for Human Resources degree at Roosevelt University
Cost of Degree: $23,094Expenses: $23,135Starting Salary: $62,826Salary after 4 years: $69,686Cost Recoup Time: 8 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
MBA in Master’S Of Business Administration
Concentrations
- Accounting
- Accounting Forensics
- Finance
- Hospitality & Tourism Management
- Human Resource Management
- Information Systems
- International Business
- Management
- Marketing
- Real Estate
- Social Entrepreneurship
- Training And Development
- Required Credits: 33
- Completion time: 1 Year
- Format: Online
- #4 Best Public Colleges New Jersey 2024 #4 Most Affordable Colleges in New Jersey 2025 #7 Best Grad Schools in New Jersey 2025 #7 Best Research Universities in New Jersey 2024
Tuition + fees
$14K
Acceptance
91%
Graduation
65%
Student body
24K
Career Outlook for Human Resources degree at Montclair State University
Cost of Degree: $15,137Expenses: $20,262Starting Salary: $72,446Salary after 4 years: $76,132Cost Recoup Time: 6 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
MBA in Business Administration
Concentrations
- Business Analytics
- Digital Marketing
- Finance
- Human Resource Management
- Marketing
- Project Management
- Required Credits: None Reported
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #5 Best Online HBCU Doctoral Programs 2025 #5 Most Influential HBCUs in the US Ranked for 2024 #8 Best HBCU Online Master's Programs #3 Most Affordable Colleges in Tennessee 2025
Tuition + fees
$8K
Graduation
32%
Student body
9K
Career Outlook for Human Resources degree at Tennessee State University
Cost of Degree: $11,092Expenses: $17,300Starting Salary: $55,026Salary after 4 years: $57,825Cost Recoup Time: 6 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
MS in Professional Studies
Concentrations
- Strategic Leadership
- Human Resources Leadership
- Training and Development
- Required Credits: 33
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #4 Best Private Colleges in Florida 2025 #9 Best Research Universities in Florida 2025 #10 Best Grad Schools in Florida 2024 #1 Best Online Master’s in Forensics Degree Programs 2025
Tuition + fees
$36K
Acceptance
76%
Graduation
62%
Student body
24K
Median SAT/ACT
1175/23
Career Outlook for Human Resources degree at Nova Southeastern University
Cost of Degree: $24,140Expenses: $22,596Starting Salary: $73,231Salary after 4 years: $81,228Cost Recoup Time: 7 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
MBA in Business Administration
Concentrations
- Human Resource Management
- Required Credits: 37-46
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #8 Most Affordable Colleges in Michigan 2025 #9 Best Public Colleges in Michigan 2024 #10 Best Research Universities in Michigan 2025 #10 Best Grad Schools in Michigan 2024
Tuition + fees
$14K
Acceptance
79%
Graduation
62%
Student body
18K
Median SAT/ACT
1100/24
Career Outlook for Human Resources degree at Central Michigan University
Cost of Degree: $16,293Expenses: $16,868Starting Salary: $63,874Salary after 4 years: $67,124Cost Recoup Time: 6 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
MS in Administration
Concentrations
- Human Resource Administration
- Required Credits: 36
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #4 Best Small Colleges in Connecticut 2025 #4 Best Research Universities in Connecticut 2024 #5 Best Grad Schools in Connecticut 2024 #6 Best Private Colleges in Connecticut 2024
Tuition + fees
$36K
Acceptance
82%
Graduation
47%
Student body
5K
Career Outlook for Human Resources degree at University of Bridgeport
Cost of Degree: $21,786Expenses: $23,722Starting Salary: $62,036Salary after 4 years: $68,810Cost Recoup Time: 8 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
MBA in Business Administration
Concentrations
- Analytics Intelligence
- Human Resources
- Management
- Required Credits: None Reported
- Completion time: 1 year
- Format: Online
- #10 Best Small Colleges in California 2025 #1 Best Online Associate Degrees in California 2025 #2 Best Online Master’s in Forensics Degree Programs 2025 #4 Best Online Bachelor’s of Data Science and Analytics Degree Programs for 2024
Tuition + fees
$11K
Student body
4K
Career Outlook for Human Resources degree at Golden Gate University
Cost of Degree: $17,070Starting Salary: $108,398Salary after 4 years: $120,234Online Degrees
MS in Human Resource Management
- Required Credits: 27
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
MBA in Business Administration
Concentrations
- Human Resource Management
- Required Credits: 54
- Completion time: 3-4 years
- Format: Online
- #11 Top 20 Best Military Friendly Online Colleges Ranked for 2025 #1 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in New Hampshire 2025 #2 Best Private Colleges in New Hampshire 2025 #2 Most Affordable Colleges in New Hampshire 2024
Tuition + fees
$15K
Acceptance
96%
Graduation
41%
Student body
224K
Career Outlook for Human Resources degree at Southern New Hampshire University
Cost of Degree: $20,469Expenses: $24,000Starting Salary: $66,119Salary after 4 years: $73,339Cost Recoup Time: 7 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
MBA in Business Administration
Concentrations
- Accounting
- Business Intelligence
- Entrepreneurship
- Finance
- Human Resources
- International Business
- Leadership
- Marketing
- Operations And Supply Chain Management
- Project Management
- Public Administration
- Sport Management
- Required Credits: 36
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
MS in Human Resource Management
- Required Credits: 36
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #1 Best Online Bachelor's in Cybersecurity in California 2025 #1 Best Online Bachelor's in Strategic Communications Degree Programs #3 Fastest Accelerated Online Doctorate of Cybersecurity #3 Best Online Bachelor's in Math Degree Programs Ranked for 2025
Tuition + fees
$13K
Graduation
22%
Student body
29K
Career Outlook for Human Resources degree at National University
Cost of Degree: $15,912Starting Salary: $77,710Salary after 4 years: $86,195Online Degrees
MA in Human Resource Management
- Required Credits: 45
- Completion time: 2.5-3.5 years
- Format: Online
- #6 Best Online MBA Programs in Illinois #14 Best Online Master's Programs in Illinois 2024 #22 Best Online Master’s in Finance 2025
Tuition + fees
$43K
Acceptance
61%
Graduation
63%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1130/25
Career Outlook for Human Resources degree at North Central College
Cost of Degree: $15,822Expenses: $15,568Starting Salary: $68,885Salary after 4 years: $76,407Cost Recoup Time: 5 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
MHRM in Human Resources
- Required Credits: 36
- Completion time: 1 year
- Format: Online
- #4 Best Online Bachelor's in Cybersecurity Degree Programs in New York #4 Best Online Bachelor's of Finance Degree Programs for 2024 #6 Fastest Accelerated Online Bachelor's of Cybersecurity #8 Best Online MBA Programs in New York 2025
Tuition + fees
$21K
Acceptance
86%
Graduation
47%
Student body
11K
Median SAT/ACT
1125/23
Career Outlook for Human Resources degree at Mercy College
Cost of Degree: $18,960Expenses: $20,332Starting Salary: $58,743Salary after 4 years: $65,157Cost Recoup Time: 7 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
MBA in Business Administration
Concentrations
- Human Resource Management
- Required Credits: 36
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
MS in Human Resource Management
- Required Credits: 36
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
Career Outlook for Students with Human Resources Degree
Go to Degree Finder toolHuman Resources Management/Personnel Administration
Degree Level: Master's
- Location: The U.S. (Private Schools)
- Avg. Cost of Degree*: $12,250
- Avg. Expenses*: $18,349
- Avg. Starting Salary*: $72,800
- Avg. Salary after 4 Years*: $76,504
- Avg. Cost Recoup Time**: 5 years
- Job Growth: 7.10%
- Number of Jobs: 2,407,500
- * denotes ‘annually’
- ** denotes ‘at 15% of annual salary’
Career Salaries
Career | Job Growth | Avg. Salary |
---|---|---|
Compensation and Benefits Managers | 2.09% | $136,380 |
Human Resources Managers | 6.51% | $136,350 |
Law Teachers, Postsecondary | 2.11% | $127,360 |
Training and Development Managers | 7.41% | $125,040 |
Business Teachers, Postsecondary | 6.67% | $97,130 |
Top Industries
Industry | Avg. Salary |
---|---|
Compensation and Benefits Managers | $136,380 |
Human Resources Managers | $136,350 |
Law Teachers, Postsecondary | $127,360 |
Every organization requires several departments and teams that are integral to its operations. And one of the most crucial is Human Resources.
The HR department caters to the needs of every company employee, and is responsible for salaries, recruitment, training, performance management, and work policies and ethics. Through HR, organizational culture is developed, reinforced, and modified.
Whether you’re currently working in the HR sector and want to climb the corporate ladder or explore other fields of management, pursuing an online master’s in human resources degree is a valuable qualification and addition to your resume. After all, all industries and employment sectors require HR managers.
A bachelor’s degree is sufficient to break into the field, but an online master’s degree can improve your chances for better pay and higher positions in HR organizational structures.
HR managers are also qualified to take on leadership roles in the field. Even when you’re busy working and do not have enough time to attend physical classes, the best alternative is to pursue an online master’s degree.
Dozens of excellent colleges offer master’s degree programs in human resources online. The online format of these programs allows students to maintain a good work-life balance.
A master’s degree in HR online is of the same high quality as a traditional degree. Finding the right university or college that matches your academic and professional goals is key.
Choosing an Online Master’s in Human Resources
The structure of an online master’s degree program in human resources should be considered when evaluating potential programs. Various program options are available, including part-time, full-time, entirely online, and hybrid programs that combine both on-campus and online learning. This ranking will be exclusively for online master’s degrees in human resources.
Before enrolling in an online program, ensure it will fit your other obligations and schedules. Choose between synchronous and asynchronous formats.
If there’s a specific course topic that you want to specialize in, choose concentrations for your master’s degree in human resources. Also, consider the program that offers real-world and hands-on experiences such as on-field experiences, internship programs, apprenticeships, and other related programs in human resources.
Pay Outlook of an Online Master’s in Human Resources Graduate
The demand for human resources managers will rise in the coming decade. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for HR specialists is expected to grow by 8 percent between 2021 and 2031.
Earning an online master’s in human resources can advance your career, allowing you to move into positions with more responsibility and higher pay, such as a management position.
In fact, an online HR master’s degree and work experience may open up senior-level positions, despite high competition.
A master’s degree in human resources is one of the most popular degrees for professionals who are considering a career change.
Frequently Asked Questions About Human Resources Degrees
An MBA in Human Resources is a good choice if you want to obtain a strong foundation in business knowledge in your master’s degree. If you already have a background in business, then an MS in Human Resources will allow you to spend your time only on human resources, which will allow you to go deeper into the field and focus on a specialization.
Back to TopProfessionals looking to gain advanced skills and improve earning potential can complete a master’s degree in human resources online or on campus.
Back to TopMost programs require a minimum of 30 credits, which, for full-time students, can be completed in as little as one year.
Back to TopStudents will study topics like employee and labor relations, performance management, and legal issues. Students will likely take courses on diversity and inclusion, negotiation strategies, and employment law.
Back to TopThose who graduate with a master’s in human resources qualify for upper management positions, such as human resources manager, compensation and benefits manager, employee recruitment and staffing specialist, and labor relations specialist.
Back to TopOnline Degree Frequently Asked Questions
If this is your first time taking an online course, the experience may require some adjustment. While you’ll generally learn the same content and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, the medium will likely require you to manage much of this experience independently. You’ll be accountable for your own time management, your ability to harness the technology at your fingertips, and your ability to focus on the lectures, lessons, and assignments at hand. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take it upon yourself to build relationships with your instructors and classmates. With online college, your goal is to find a balance between independence and engagement.
No. The only part of online education that’s easier is actually getting there. Taking the commute out of the equation means getting to class should be a lot more manageable. But that’s where it ends. In general, your online courses will incorporate the very same materials, concepts, and testing methods as would a traditional classroom.
And in many cases, you’ll even have the same instructors as your on-campus counterparts. In fact, if you are adjusting to the experience of independent learning or working with remote learning technology for the first time, online college may even be a little more challenging for you. For a few insights on how to manage this new experience, check out our 10 Tips for Adjusting to School Online.
Accreditation is especially important when it comes to online college. This is because the online education landscape is a mix of highly-reputable institutions and less-than-reputable for-profit schools. Accreditation gives you the power to differentiate between the two. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency which indicates that a college or university is meeting standards of quality, credibility, and currency. School-wide accreditation falls into two major categories: regional and national accreditation. Regional accreditors generally hold jurisdiction only over schools in the states comprising their region, whereas national accreditors hold jurisdiction over schools in all states. Regional accreditation is widely regarded as a more rigorous standard of quality and credibility than national accreditation.
Attending a college or university which is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. When seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that students opt for regionally accredited schools. Regional accreditation ensures eligibility for federal loans and grants, ensures your college credits can be transferred between schools, and ensures that your degree credits can be accepted if you wish to earn an advanced degree.
As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited, you should have little difficulty transferring most of your credits or credentials to another regionally accredited undergraduate school. Every school carries its own standards and procedures for granting a transfer. In many cases, you will be required to navigate a bureaucracy in which some of your credits will be transferred and others will be jettisoned. However, provided that you have attended an online school with the proper regional accreditation, you should have plenty of options for transfer.
In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript or resume differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.
While some employers may express concern about making the adjustment from online education to in-person workplace collaboration, many other employers will view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st Century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.
If you are a student who thrives on the dynamic energy of in-person discussion, who requires the physical surroundings of a classroom to feel engaged, or who considers the social aspects of education to be of equal importance to the actual content of your courses, online education will require some adjustment.
While there is much that can be supplanted or simulated through the online medium, some students may find that there is nothing which can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual classroom setting. As you make the adjustment to online education, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face is overcoming this difference in order to the get the most out of your classes. Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.
The advantages of online classes are many. First and foremost, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work. In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities-educational experiences that you can complete on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials. And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.
Resources for Prospective Grad Students
Whether you’re just getting started on your college search, you’re looking for survival tips on your way to a bachelor’s degree, or you’re preparing for the transition into grad school, we’ve got guides, how to’s and tons of other valuable resources to keep you moving forward in your educational journey.