by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Human Resources Development explores Human Resources Development. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Integrated Training, Organizational Development, And Career Planning And Counseling Skills To The Design, Management, And Evaluation Of Programs To Improve Individual Productivity, Employability, And Job Satisfaction And Organizational Effectiveness. Includes Instruction In Psychology; Organizational Behavior; Principles Of Adult Education; Occupational Counseling; Skill Testing And Evaluation; Program Design; Consulting Practice; Organizational Development; And Applications To Issues Such As Training, Management Development, Customer Service, And Total Quality Management. Continue reading for the important information every human resources development student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering human resources development programs.
In the U.S., human resources development is a widely-pursued major, with 1,604 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Human Resources Development Schools ranking analyzes these 78 schools to determine the best overall colleges for human resources development students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of human resources development programs later in this article.
Coursework for Human Resources Development build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations human resources development graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a human resources development program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a human resources development major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several human resources development degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 25 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 4 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 468 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,082 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 25 |
People currently working in careers related to human resources development tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 78.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 8.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 8.7% |
| Some college courses | 4.3% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in human resources development careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying human resources development opens doors to many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to human resources development.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to human resources development.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Training and Development Specialists | 622,945 | 11.3% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of human resources development graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $56,722 |
| 4 years | $57,321 |
| 5 years | $65,449 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for human resources development graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers human resources development grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Training and Development Specialists | $63,210 |
With 78 different human resources development programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased human resources development school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in human resources development, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General | 17,602 |
| Organizational Behavior Studies | 3,447 |
| Labor and Industrial Relations | 1,540 |
| Human Resources Management and Services, Other | 950 |
| Labor Studies | 180 |
| Executive/Career Coaching | 101 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
