2026 Best Value Human Resources Development Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Human Resources Development](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/human-resource-management/human-resources-development/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong human resources development education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 18 schools to find the best return on investment for human resources development students.
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2026 Best Value Human Resources Development Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in human resources development, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Human Resources Development Schools
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earned the #1 spot for value among human resources development schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,762, with out-of-state students paying around $34,891. Human Resources Development graduates carry a median of $25,422 in student loans. Human Resources Development graduates of Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earn a median of $51,570 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Green Bay came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value human resources development schools. University Of Wisconsin Green Bay is a large public school located in the city of Green Bay. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,700, while out-of-state students pay about $17,288. Students borrow a median of $24,477 to complete the human resources development program here. Human Resources Development graduates of University Of Wisconsin Green Bay earn a median of $42,853 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Green Bay admits about 89% of applicants.
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value human resources development schools. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,992, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Human Resources Development graduates carry a median of $19,844 in student loans. Human Resources Development graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $63,111 early in their careers. Set against $19,844 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 50%.
Northeastern Illinois University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value human resources development schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,383, while out-of-state students pay about $22,726. Students borrow a median of $15,365 to complete the human resources development program here. Early-career human resources development graduates make about $49,131. Set against $15,365 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Oakland University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value human resources development schools. Located in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,167, compared with $24,735 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human resources development graduates is $25,480. Soon after graduation, human resources development degree recipients from Oakland University generally make around $65,022. Set against $25,480 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #6 position for value in human resources development this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Students borrow a median of $20,778 to complete the human resources development program here. Early-career human resources development graduates make about $89,637. That is a strong return on a $20,778 median debt. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh landed the #7 spot for human resources development value this year. Located in the city of Oshkosh, University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,532, while out-of-state students pay about $16,446. Human Resources Development graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans. Human Resources Development graduates of University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh earn a median of $55,263 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,000 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh admits about 86% of applicants.
Eastern Illinois University earned the #8 position for value in human resources development this year. Set in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,377, with out-of-state students paying around $15,859. Typical student debt for human resources development graduates is $24,293. Early-career human resources development graduates make about $43,603. Set against $24,293 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Eastern Illinois University admits about 65% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee placed #9 among the best values for human resources development. Located in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,398 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,398. Typical student debt for human resources development graduates is $26,000. Human Resources Development graduates of University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earn a median of $48,505 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee admits about 91% of applicants.
University Of St Francis landed the #10 spot for human resources development value this year. Located in the suburb of Joliet, University Of St Francis is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $38,110 in tuition and fees. Human Resources Development graduates carry a median of $25,695 in student loans. Early-career human resources development graduates make about $94,853. Set against $25,695 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Western Michigan University landed the #11 spot for human resources development value this year. Set in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,987, while out-of-state students pay about $19,952. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the human resources development program here. Early-career human resources development graduates make about $58,745. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Western Michigan University admits about 85% of applicants.
Roosevelt University earned the #12 position for value in human resources development this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $21,315 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for human resources development graduates is $23,879. Early-career human resources development graduates make about $64,145. That is a strong return on a $23,879 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Miami University Oxford came in at #13 for value in human resources development this year. Located in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $17,519 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $38,965. Typical student debt for human resources development graduates is $24,177. Human Resources Development graduates of Miami University Oxford earn a median of $49,700 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,177 median debt. Miami University Oxford admits about 75% of applicants.
Depaul University landed the #14 spot for human resources development value this year. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,405. Human Resources Development graduates carry a median of $25,310 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human resources development degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $68,993. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
