2026 Best Value Human Resource Management Schools in Michigan
[Human Resource Management](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/human-resource-management/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 24 schools to find the best return on investment for human resource management students.
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2026 Best Value Human Resource Management Schools in Michigan
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in human resource management, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Human Resource Management Schools
Washtenaw Community College earned the #1 spot for value among human resource management schools in Michigan. Washtenaw Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ann Arbor. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,736, with out-of-state students paying around $6,504. Typical student debt for human resource management graduates is $17,616. Soon after graduation, human resource management degree recipients from Washtenaw Community College generally make around $45,332. Set against $17,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Michigan Dearborn earned it the #2 place for human resource management. Located in the city of Dearborn, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,640, with out-of-state students paying around $32,896. Students borrow a median of $22,831 to complete the human resource management program here. Early-career human resource management graduates make about $55,944. That is a strong return on a $22,831 median debt. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in human resource management will find it at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Students borrow a median of $14,225 to complete the human resource management program here. Early-career human resource management graduates make about $82,714. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Oakland University one of the best values for human resource management. Located in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $17,167 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,735 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human resource management graduates is $25,480. Soon after graduation, human resource management degree recipients from Oakland University generally make around $65,022. Set against $25,480 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Students looking for strong value in human resource management will find it at Wayne State University, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $16,159 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $34,650. Typical student debt for human resource management graduates is $24,213. Human Resource Management graduates of Wayne State University earn a median of $48,324 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,213 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
University Of Michigan Flint landed the #6 spot for human resource management value this year. Set in the city of Flint, University Of Michigan Flint is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,236 in tuition and fees, compared with $27,790 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $30,500 to complete the human resource management program here. Early-career human resource management graduates make about $39,385. Set against $30,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Central Michigan University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value human resource management schools. Central Michigan University is a large public school located in the town of Mount Pleasant. In-state tuition and fees average $15,480. Students borrow a median of $27,670 to complete the human resource management program here. Soon after graduation, human resource management degree recipients from Central Michigan University generally make around $59,127. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Eastern Michigan University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value human resource management schools. Set in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,990. Students borrow a median of $28,781 to complete the human resource management program here. Human Resource Management graduates of Eastern Michigan University earn a median of $60,775 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Grand Valley State University placed #9 among the best values for human resource management. Set in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,502 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,894 for out-of-state students. Human Resource Management graduates carry a median of $25,452 in student loans. Human Resource Management graduates of Grand Valley State University earn a median of $50,259 early in their careers. Set against $25,452 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Baker College Of Flint earned the #10 position for value in human resource management this year. Baker College Of Flint is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Owosso. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,000. Students borrow a median of $35,821 to complete the human resource management program here. Early-career human resource management graduates make about $56,497. Set against $35,821 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Western Michigan University placed #11 among the best values for human resource management. Located in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,987 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,952. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the human resource management program here. Soon after graduation, human resource management degree recipients from Western Michigan University generally make around $58,745. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Michigan State University came in at #12 for value in human resource management 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, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Typical student debt for human resource management graduates is $23,475. Soon after graduation, human resource management degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $78,014. That is a strong return on a $23,475 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Davenport University came in at #13 for value in human resource management this year. Set in the suburb of Grand Rapids, Davenport University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $24,466. Typical student debt for human resource management graduates is $31,112. Human Resource Management graduates of Davenport University earn a median of $51,681 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Cleary University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value human resource management schools. Located in the suburb of Howell, Cleary University is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $26,102. Human Resource Management graduates carry a median of $22,067 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human resource management degree recipients from Cleary University generally make around $58,385. That is a strong return on a $22,067 median debt. The acceptance rate is 68%.
More Human Resource Management Rankings
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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 · 24 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.
