2026 Best Value Labor & Industrial Relations Schools
[Labor & Industrial Relations](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/human-resource-management/labor-and-industrial-relations/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong labor & industrial relations education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 38 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for labor & industrial relations students.
What’s on this page:
Finding the Best Value Labor & Industrial Relations School for You
Where you study labor & industrial relations affects both what you pay and what you earn. That is why we built our Best Value Labor & Industrial Relations Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
Learn more about our methodology
Customizing Your List
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Labor & Industrial Relations Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Read more about College Factual’s methodology
2026 Best Value Labor & Industrial Relations Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the labor & industrial relations degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Labor & Industrial Relations Schools
University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras tops our 2026 list of the best value labor & industrial relations schools in the United States. Located in the city of San Juan, University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,324. Labor & Industrial Relations graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Labor & Industrial Relations graduates of University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras earn a median of $24,881 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in labor & industrial relations will find it at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Labor & Industrial Relations graduates carry a median of $20,778 in student loans. Labor & Industrial Relations graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $89,637 early in their careers. Set against $20,778 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Suny Empire State College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value labor & industrial relations schools. Suny Empire State College is a large public school located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs. Students from in state pay about $7,648 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,558. Labor & Industrial Relations graduates carry a median of $23,693 in student loans. Early-career labor & industrial relations graduates make about $58,140. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Metro earned it the #4 place for labor & industrial relations. Set in the city of San Juan, Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Metro is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $5,780 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for labor & industrial relations graduates is $13,190. Early-career labor & industrial relations graduates make about $30,505. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Wayne State University one of the best values for labor & industrial relations. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,159, while out-of-state students pay about $34,650. Labor & Industrial Relations graduates carry a median of $24,213 in student loans. Labor & Industrial Relations graduates of Wayne State University earn a median of $48,324 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earned the #6 position for value in labor & industrial relations this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $17,214, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,460 to complete the labor & industrial relations program here. Soon after graduation, labor & industrial relations degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $64,052. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Cleveland State University came in at #7 for value in labor & industrial relations this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,982, with out-of-state students paying around $18,502. Labor & Industrial Relations graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career labor & industrial relations graduates make about $54,679. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Capella University came in at #8 for value in labor & industrial relations this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Capella University is a very large private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,400. Students borrow a median of $36,121 to complete the labor & industrial relations program here. Labor & Industrial Relations graduates of Capella University earn a median of $72,053 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $36,121 median debt.
Michigan State University landed the #9 spot for labor & industrial relations value this year. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,079, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Labor & Industrial Relations graduates carry a median of $23,475 in student loans. Labor & Industrial Relations graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $78,014 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
University Of Rhode Island came in at #10 for value in labor & industrial relations this year. Located in the suburb of Kingston, University Of Rhode Island is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,942, while out-of-state students pay about $37,146. Students borrow a median of $23,984 to complete the labor & industrial relations program here. Early-career labor & industrial relations graduates make about $73,191. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Rhode Island admits about 72% of applicants.
Pennsylvania State University World Campus came in at #11 for value in labor & industrial relations this year. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,356. Median earnings reach $63,435 ten years out. Pennsylvania State University World Campus admits about 91% of applicants.
University Of Iowa earned the #12 position for value in labor & industrial relations this year. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,283, compared with $33,371 for out-of-state students. Labor & Industrial Relations graduates carry a median of $23,149 in student loans. Soon after graduation, labor & industrial relations degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $52,945. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Iowa admits about 84% of applicants.
Rutgers University New Brunswick placed #13 among the best values for labor & industrial relations. Located in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $17,929 in tuition and fees, compared with $37,441 for out-of-state students. Labor & Industrial Relations graduates carry a median of $25,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, labor & industrial relations degree recipients from Rutgers University New Brunswick generally make around $58,302. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Rutgers University New Brunswick admits about 58% of applicants.
Rider University earned the #14 position for value in labor & industrial relations this year. Located in the suburb of Lawrenceville, Rider University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,120. Typical student debt for labor & industrial relations graduates is $27,000. Early-career labor & industrial relations graduates make about $40,941. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Northwestern University landed the #15 spot for labor & industrial relations value this year. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $68,322. Typical student debt for labor & industrial relations graduates is $38,832. Early-career labor & industrial relations graduates make about $78,551. That is a strong return on a $38,832 median debt. Northwestern University admits about 8% of applicants.
Seton Hall University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value labor & industrial relations schools. Set in the suburb of South Orange, Seton Hall University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $53,170 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for labor & industrial relations graduates is $23,032. Early-career labor & industrial relations graduates make about $80,158. Set against $23,032 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Cornell University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value labor & industrial relations schools. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $69,314 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete the labor & industrial relations program here. Early-career labor & industrial relations graduates make about $92,864. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cornell University admits about 9% of applicants.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus landed the #18 spot for labor & industrial relations value this year. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,644, with out-of-state students paying around $41,790. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $63,435. The acceptance rate is 61%.
University Of New Haven ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value labor & industrial relations schools. Set in the suburb of West Haven, University Of New Haven is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $47,332 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for labor & industrial relations graduates is $26,244. Early-career labor & industrial relations graduates make about $49,615. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Loyola University Chicago placed #20 among the best values for labor & industrial relations. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $53,710 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,521 to complete the labor & industrial relations program here. Early-career labor & industrial relations graduates make about $58,568. That is a strong return on a $23,521 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Narrow Labor & Industrial Relations Schools by Region
View All Rankings >
Labor & Industrial Relations is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. See all related rankings.
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 · 38 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
