The top online master’s in Human Resources degree programs train individuals to utilize employees to their fullest potential.
A Human Resources program teaches you to effectively manage a workforce. Finding a job in an entry-level human resources position will give you a foot in the door. It’s up to you to explore your options. Enrolling in an online degree program allows you to learn and grow at the same time.
The best Online Master’s Degree in Human Resources is one that allows you to grow and continue to move forward. An online platform makes it possible for you to study and work at the same time. While this may take some juggling, it will help you build time management skills to use throughout your career. It also gives you a chance to begin using your skills as soon as you learn them. Only you will be able to determine which degree program is right for you. The program you choose will have to meet your individual needs.
How We Ranked the Top Online Schools for Master’s Degrees in Human Resources
The Online Schools Guide editors found schools offering online or hybrid Master’s Degrees in Human Resources. We then ranked the programs based on cost, reputation, and future salary.
| School | Degree |
|---|---|
| #1. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | Master’s in Human Resources and Industrial Relations (MHRIR) |
| #2. Stony Brook University | MS in Human Resource Management |
| #3. University of Connecticut | MS in Human Resource Management |
| #4. Western Carolina University | MS in Human Resources |
| #5. Clemson University | Master of Human Resource Development (MHRD) |
| #6. Saint Joseph’s University | MS in Strategic Human Resource Management (MSHRM) |
| #7. Villanova University | MS in Human Resource Development (MSHRD) |
| #8. University of Arkansas | MEd in Human Resource and Workforce Development Education |
| #9. Penn State World Campus | MPS in Human Resources and Employment Relations (HRER) |
| #10. New York University | MS in Human Resource Development (HRD) |
1. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois (UI Online) offers an online Master’s in Human Resources and Industrial Relations (MHRIR). This degree program meets the needs of working learners and is taught by the same on-campus quality faculty.
UI’s graduate-level degree in human resources requires candidates to complete 48 graduate credit units. Classes for these master’s in human resources online degree programs include HR quantitative methods, employee motivation, planning & staffing, compensational systems, and the economics of human resources.
Established in 1867, the University of Illinois (UIUC) twin campuses act as the flagship institution of higher education of the state’s university and a land-grant school. Additionally, this space and sea-grant school serves more than 51,500 students. The University of Illinois is recognized among the nation’s Public Ivies.
2. Stony Brook University
| Degree: MS in Human Resource Management |
Stony Brook University’s School of Professional Development (SUNY at Stony Brook) offers a Master of Science degree program (MS) in Human Resource Management (HRM) that is ranked among the Empire State’s best masters in human resources online degree programs. Stony Brook’s 30-credit graduate-level degrees in human resources online program includes a 45-hour internship. It also includes coursework in employee relations & labor management, employment law & policy, and Employee Professional Career Development & Learning.
Stony Brook University (SBU) was founded in the late 1950s and is a member of the state’s university system. The university’s suburban location on Long Island serves more than 26,550 students. Stony Brook University’s campus holds the distinction of being the largest, by area, of any publicly-run institution of higher learning in the Empire State of New York.
3. University of Connecticut
| Degree: MS in Human Resource Management |
The University of Connecticut’s School of Business (UConn SOB) offers an online Master of Science (MS) in Human Resource Management (HRM) degree program. It is among Connecticut’s best master in human resources online degree programs that can be completed in fewer than two years. UConn’s business school is well-respected and nationally ranked. The HR master’s degree requires the completion of 33 graduate semester credits. In addition, the program requires four innovative and integrative seminars on Saturdays throughout the program in the school’s Hartford Business Learning Center.
The University of Connecticut (CU) was established in 1881 under the Morrill Land Act. UConn is centrally located, with its campus about 1.5 hours from Boston and about .5 hours from Hartford. The University of Connecticut is recognized to be the top higher learning institution in New England, with a student enrollment that exceeds 27,050 undergraduate and graduate students.
4. Western Carolina University
| Degree: MS in Human Resources |
The Education and Allied Professions College at Western Carolina University offers one of the best masters in human resources online degree programs in North Carolina and the country. The WCU Master of Science Degree program in Human Resources (HR) is available for part- or full-time students. WCU’s degrees in human resources online require students to complete 36 graduate semester units in about 24 months. However, Western Carolina offers a three-year curriculum sequence for students with more time constraints. Core classes include principles of HR, human resources research, and organizational acumen for human resource leaders, among others.
WCU is among North Carolina’s oldest schools, having been established in 1889. Western Carolina University is a member of North Carolina’s university system with a student enrollment that nears 12,500 undergraduate and graduate students. WCU began as North Carolina’s first publicly funded teacher’s training institution.
5. Clemson University
Clemson University’s College of Education offers an online Master of Human Resource Development (MHRD) degree program that is among South Carolina’s best master’s in human resources online degree programs.
These 30-credit degrees in human resources online program options offer a comprehensive track or athletic leadership track. Graduates of Clemson University’s human research graduate degree programs find rewarding careers as improvement consultants, instructional technologists, corporate learning specialists, training specialists, instructional designers, chief learning officers, or training facilitators, to name a few.
Clemson University is a land grant school with a gorgeous campus at the Blue Ridge Mountains foothills that covers more than one thousand acres. Clemson University’s seven schools/colleges serve nearly 26,000 undergraduate and graduate students each year. Highlight – In addition to its main campus near Lake Hartwell, Clemson manages an experimental forest used for educational research and recreation.
6. Saint Joseph’s University
Through the Haub Business School, Saint Joseph’s University offers an online Master of Science in Strategic Human Resource Management (MSHRM) degree program from an AACSB accredited school. Saint Joseph’s 30-credit unit master’s in human resources online degree program can be completed in only one year as a full-time student or in less than 2.5 years studying part-time. Students enrolled in Saint Joseph’s University’s degrees in human resources online program complete classes in eight-week sessions and attend synchronous (or live) classes once a week in the evenings.
Saint Joseph’s University is a Jesuit institution of higher education that was founded in 1851. The school’s urban campus and online platform serve more than 8,050 undergraduate and graduate students. Highlight – Saint Joseph’s University’s student-run radio station (WSJR, now known as Radio 1851) was the first college to broadcast on the AM dial in 1922.
7. Villanova University
Villanova University (VU) offers an online Master of Science degree in Human Resource Development (MSHRD) degree program with a curriculum that is certified by HRCI and SHRM. This master in human resources online degree program is a long-standing human resource program having been developed more than four decades ago.
Villanova University’s degrees in human resources online program requires degree candidates to complete a total of 36 graduate semester credits, which include nine elective credits and a culminating capstone project. Capstone options include the SHRM Certification Exam, the school’s written exam, or a relevant project or internship. The Human Resources program started in 1980. It is one of the longest-running graduate human resource programs in the country. No GRE is required for this program, and all classes in the program are SHRM & HRCI certified.
Villanova University is a private research school that was established in the early 1840s by the Order of Saint Augustine. The school’s campus covers more than 200 suburban acres and serves nearly 11,000 students annually. Additionally, VU is the only university in the nation affiliated with the Augustinian Church.
8. University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas offers an online Master of Education (MEd) degree in Human Resource and Workforce Development Education that is recognized to be Arkansas’s best master in human resources online degree program, according to US News.
U of A’s online program offers a self-paced option, with appropriate verification prior to enrollment to complete the required 33 graduate degree credits, which includes a culminating capstone project. Students can complete this graduate HR degree in as few as two years but have up to six years to finish.
The University of Arkansas (U of A) was established as an industrial school under the Morrill Land Grant Act in 1871. Located in Fayetteville Arkansas, U of A, as the state’s flagship school, serves more than 27,450 undergraduate and graduate students.. The University of Arkansas holds the distinction of being home to the first established and founding chapter of Chi Omega sorority.
9. Penn State World Campus
The School of Labor & Employment Relations at Penn State World Campus offers an online Master’s of Professional Studies degree (MPS) in Human Resources and Employment Relations (HRER). This program is among the best master’s in human resources online degree programs available in the country.
Degree candidates must complete 33 graduate semester units to meet this graduate HR degree requirements. Graduates from Penn State’s degrees in human resources online program offer rewarding career options in the fields of benefits/compensation, staffing, or training, among others.
Penn State World Campus is recognized as the formal distance learning platform of renowned Pennsylvania State University which was founded during the late 1990s. This online school serves nearly 15,000 under and post-graduate students each year. The Penn State World Campus online business degrees are ranked among the top in various educational categories.
10. New York University
New York University’s Professional Studies School (NYU) offers a Master of Science degree in Human Resource Development degree program (MSHRD) that is ranked as one of New York’s best degrees in human resources online.
Students enrolled in NYU’s master in human resources online degree program have the option of selecting from one of these related concentrations – organizational effectiveness, learning & development, human capital management, or global talent management. All concentrations require the completion of a capstone project, plus an optional internship.
Established by legislative action at the state level in 1831, New York University is now a multi-campus, space-grant school that serves more than 51,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students across the globe. The Arch in Washington School in iconic Greenwich Village in downtown NYC is the unofficial symbol of New York University.
What Can I Do With an Online Master’s in Human Resources?
There are several things you can do with a Master’s in Human Resources degree. Making the decision to enroll in an Online Master’s Degree in Human Resources program, will give you a good idea as to what direction you will be able to take your career. Not everyone who has a Human Resources degree works with employees to help them move ahead within their position. Some work behind the scene to provide employees with the benefits packages they need to care for their families.
If you enroll in an Online Master’s Degree in Human Resources program, you will gain the skills you need to create training programs that are beneficial to both the company as well as its employees. With proper training, an employee can move into new positions that will offer them a chance to advance their career or strive to improve their ability to perform their duties.
How Much Does a Master’s in HR Cost?
The cost of an Online Master’s Degree in Human Resources degree will vary depending on the college or university you choose to attend. Choosing an online degree may be more affordable simply because the school will use fewer resources to teach the classes.
You also have the option to use scholarships and grants to bring down the cost of your Master’s degree program. Many colleges and universities offer scholarships for students who have an eligible GPA.
Help from Employers for Working Professionals
If you are already employed, you may want to look into an employer reimbursement program. With this type of program, you will need to pay for your courses upfront. Once you have completed the coursework and passed the class, you can turn your receipts in to your employer and they will reimburse you for those expenses.
This is a popular way for students to gain the skills they need to advance within their own company. Most companies are willing to invest in their employees and help them gain the advantage they need to succeed in their careers.
Your Career in Human Resources
An online Master’s in Human Resources degree will give you a chance to take on new challenges and explore opportunities no matter what direction you take with your career.
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