2026 Best Value Human Resources Development Schools in the Southeast Region
[Human Resources Development](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/human-resource-management/human-resources-development/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 18 schools to find the best return on investment for human resources development students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Human Resources Development Schools in the Southeast Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the human resources development degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Human Resources Development Schools
Our analysis ranked Northern Kentucky University the best value for a degree in human resources development in the Southeast Region. Located in the suburb of Highland Heights, Northern Kentucky University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,088 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,912. Typical student debt for human resources development graduates is $29,634. Early-career human resources development graduates make about $52,565. That is a strong return on a $29,634 median debt. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes American Public University System one of the best values for human resources development. Located in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $8,400 in tuition and fees. Human Resources Development graduates carry a median of $23,438 in student loans. Early-career human resources development graduates make about $57,404. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in human resources development will find it at University Of Southern Mississippi, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Hattiesburg, University Of Southern Mississippi is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,998 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,998 for out-of-state students. Human Resources Development graduates carry a median of $22,865 in student loans. Human Resources Development graduates of University Of Southern Mississippi earn a median of $44,709 early in their careers. Set against $22,865 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Students looking for strong value in human resources development will find it at Columbia Southern University, which ranked #4. Columbia Southern University is a very large private for-profit school located in the town of Orange Beach. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,224. Students borrow a median of $27,811 to complete the human resources development program here. Early-career human resources development graduates make about $53,843. Set against $27,811 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Arkansas earned it the #5 place for human resources development. Located in the city of Fayetteville, University Of Arkansas is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,104, while out-of-state students pay about $29,966. Students borrow a median of $36,947 to complete the human resources development program here. Human Resources Development graduates of University Of Arkansas earn a median of $40,007 early in their careers. Set against $36,947 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Arkansas admits about 74% of applicants.
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value human resources development schools. Set in the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,954 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,631. Typical student debt for human resources development graduates is $21,348. Early-career human resources development graduates make about $66,564. That is a strong return on a $21,348 median debt. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College admits about 73% of applicants.
Clemson University landed the #7 spot for human resources development value this year. Set in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,554, compared with $40,866 for out-of-state students. Human Resources Development graduates carry a median of $23,783 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human resources development degree recipients from Clemson University generally make around $67,293. Set against $23,783 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
Mercer University came in at #8 for value in human resources development this year. Mercer University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Macon. In-state tuition and fees average $31,565. Human Resources Development graduates carry a median of $33,888 in student loans. Early-career human resources development graduates make about $47,538. Set against $33,888 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Mercer University admits about 69% of applicants.
Tusculum College earned the #9 position for value in human resources development this year. Set in the town of Greeneville, Tusculum College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $29,250. Students borrow a median of $25,278 to complete the human resources development program here. Early-career human resources development graduates make about $49,954. Set against $25,278 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Barry University came in at #10 for value in human resources development this year. Barry University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Miami. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,350. Typical student debt for human resources development graduates is $31,180. Early-career human resources development graduates make about $64,906. Set against $31,180 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Limestone College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value human resources development schools. Located in the town of Gaffney, Limestone College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,800. Human Resources Development graduates carry a median of $43,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human resources development degree recipients from Limestone College generally make around $47,086. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Queens University Of Charlotte ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value human resources development schools. Located in the city of Charlotte, Queens University Of Charlotte is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $45,846 in tuition and fees. Human Resources Development graduates carry a median of $27,245 in student loans. Human Resources Development graduates of Queens University Of Charlotte earn a median of $59,654 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, 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 7 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.
