by our College Data Analytics Team
[Human Resource Management](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/human-resource-management/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
College Factual analyzed 100 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying human resource management schools.
What’s on this page:
The right human resource management school can pay off in your paycheck for years to come. To help, we created our Highest Paid Human Resource Management Graduates ranking. It looks at the median early-career salaries graduates earn, so you can find the schools whose human resource management degrees pay off the most.
We offer a number of rankings, including this Highest Paid Human Resource Management Graduates list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Learn more about our methodology
Below are the schools whose human resource management graduates go on to earn the most.
Our analysis ranked San Jose State University the top school for human resource management graduate earnings in the United States. San Jose State University is a public school located in the city of San Jose. After graduating, human resource management degree recipients from San Jose State University typically earn about $108,084 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in human resource management will find them at University Of Washington Seattle Campus, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public institution. After graduating, human resource management degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus typically earn about $92,897 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in human resource management will find them at Cornell University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a private not-for-profit institution. Human Resource Management graduates of Cornell University earn a median of about $120,368 a year early in their careers.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying human resource management schools. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public institution. After graduating, human resource management degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor typically earn about $100,182 annually.
Immaculata University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in human resource management, landing the #5 spot this year. Immaculata University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Immaculata. Early-career human resource management graduates from Immaculata University make a median of around $84,549 per year.
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Northwestern University came in at #6 for human resource management graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the human resource management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $82,255.
Benedictine University placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for human resource management. Benedictine University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lisle. Early-career human resource management graduates from Benedictine University make a median of around $78,629 per year.
Bethel University Minnesota earned the #8 position for human resource management graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Paul, Bethel University Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the human resource management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $89,709.
Walsh University came in at #9 for human resource management graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of North Canton, Walsh University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career human resource management graduates from Walsh University make a median of around $80,566 per year.
Saint Marys University Of Minnesota ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying human resource management schools. Located in the town of Winona, Saint Marys University Of Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, human resource management degree recipients from Saint Marys University Of Minnesota typically earn about $78,884 annually.
Waldorf College earned the #11 position for human resource management graduate earnings this year. Set in the rural area of Forest City, Waldorf College is a private for-profit institution. Early-career human resource management graduates from Waldorf College make a median of around $75,847 per year.
University Of Scranton landed the #12 spot for human resource management salaries this year. Located in the city of Scranton, University Of Scranton is a private not-for-profit institution. Human Resource Management graduates of University Of Scranton earn a median of about $76,379 a year early in their careers.
Waukesha County Technical College landed the #13 spot for human resource management salaries this year. Waukesha County Technical College is a public school located in the suburb of Pewaukee. After graduating, human resource management degree recipients from Waukesha County Technical College typically earn about $60,941 annually.
Xavier University landed the #14 spot for human resource management salaries this year. Located in the city of Cincinnati, Xavier University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, human resource management degree recipients from Xavier University typically earn about $74,862 annually.
Dakota County Technical College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying human resource management schools. Set in the rural area of Rosemount, Dakota County Technical College is a public institution. Early-career human resource management graduates from Dakota County Technical College make a median of around $72,388 per year.
George Washington University came in at #16 for human resource management graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, human resource management degree recipients from George Washington University typically earn about $100,004 annually.
Regis University came in at #17 for human resource management graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Denver, Regis University is a private not-for-profit institution. Human Resource Management graduates of Regis University earn a median of about $74,125 a year early in their careers.
Brigham Young University Provo landed the #18 spot for human resource management salaries this year. Brigham Young University Provo is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Provo. After graduating, human resource management degree recipients from Brigham Young University Provo typically earn about $92,395 annually.
Saint Josephs University landed the #19 spot for human resource management salaries this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Saint Josephs University is a private not-for-profit institution. Human Resource Management graduates of Saint Josephs University earn a median of about $90,858 a year early in their careers.
Roosevelt University came in at #20 for human resource management graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the human resource management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $70,329.
Baylor University placed #21 among the highest-paying schools for human resource management. Located in the city of Waco, Baylor University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the human resource management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $80,478.
Colorado State University Global Campus came in at #22 for human resource management graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Denver, Colorado State University Global Campus is a public institution. Early-career human resource management graduates from Colorado State University Global Campus make a median of around $81,083 per year.
Point Park University landed the #23 spot for human resource management salaries this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Point Park University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career human resource management graduates from Point Park University make a median of around $69,407 per year.
Bryant University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying human resource management schools. Located in the suburb of Smithfield, Bryant University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, human resource management degree recipients from Bryant University typically earn about $79,061 annually.
Baldwin Wallace College came in at #25 for human resource management graduate earnings this year. Baldwin Wallace College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Berea. After graduating, human resource management degree recipients from Baldwin Wallace College typically earn about $68,688 annually.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning human resource management graduates:
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This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries human resource management graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 100 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.