Are you considering advancing your human resources career or want to switch into this fast-growing profession? With remote and hybrid work expanding, organizations need skilled HR experts more than ever.
Pursuing an online bachelor’s or master’s degree in human resources management enables working professionals to gain specialized expertise without career disruption. You can access top-ranked programs completely online and on a flexible schedule.
Let’s explore the advantages of online HR degrees, curriculum covered, career outlook for graduates and the top 14 schools offering acclaimed virtual bachelor’s and master‘s options.
Why Are Online HR Degrees Ideal for Working Professionals?
Instead of taking years off to attend a campus-based program, online HR degrees allow you to elevate your qualifications on your own time. Here are the main benefits:
Convenience and Flexibility
Online programs feature self-paced courses or flexible evening/weekend live class sessions. You can complete assignments when convenient around your work and life commitments.
Access Top Schools Across the Country
Fully online degrees give you options to learn from leading universities across the US and globally without needing to relocate. This expands program choice and specializations offered.
Reduce Education Costs
Online degrees eliminate accommodation, commuting and other costs associated with on-campus learning. Some schools provide discounted online tuition rates, financial assistance and scholarships.
Immediate Career Impact
You can start applying elevated HR knowledge and credentials gained through an online program right away on the job to expand your responsibilities.
Below we explore popular online bachelor’s and master‘s routes for breaking into or getting ahead in HR careers.
What Will You Study in an Online HR Program?
While exact curriculum varies, most online bachelor’s and master‘s in human resources cover core topics like:
Foundational HR Disciplines
- Recruitment, hiring and onboarding
- Compensation, payroll and benefits management
- Employee development, training and retention strategies
- Performance management tactics
- HR information systems (HRIS) platforms
- Labor relations and employment law compliance
Business Acumen
- Leadership principles
- Organizational behavior
- HR metrics, analytics and reporting
- Budgeting and finance
- Marketing, communications and PR
- Strategic management
Individual and Organizational Psychology
- Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs
- Organizational change management
- Conflict negotiation and resolution
- Professional communications and relationship building
Hands-on case studies, simulations, capstone projects and internships are also common. Some schools align curriculum to HR certification exams like SHRM and HRCI.
Next let’s overview standout bachelor’s and master‘s options.
Top Online Bachelor‘s in Human Resource Management
While various quality programs exist, here are details on 3 leading online bachelor‘s degrees ideal for getting started in HR:
Western Governors University
WGU offers a respected online Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a Human Resources Management emphasis. The flexible, self-paced 120 credit program takes most working professionals 2-3 years to complete.
Standout Courses
- Managing Human Capital
- Compensation and Benefits Planning
- Leadership and Communication
- Data-Driven Decision Making
Outcomes
Graduates report average early career salaries of $56,000 and pursue roles like HR coordinators, recruiters and generalists. Many leverage business knowledge gained to also work in operations, sales and account management.
Bellevue University
Bellevue provides an online Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a Human Resources Management concentration featuring 8-week accelerated courses.
Standout Courses
- Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
- Diversity and Inclusion in Organizations
- HR Metrics and Performance Analysis
- Principles of Ethical Leadership
Outcomes
The program has a 94% placement rate with average reported salaries of $55,000. Grads work as HR specialists and generalists in a variety of industries. Some continue studies in Bellevue‘s highly ranked online Master of Science in Leadership.
Southern New Hampshire University
SNHU offers an online Bachelor‘s in Human Resource Management aligned with SHRM curriculum guidelines and taught by industry-expert faculty.
Standout Courses
- HR Information Systems
- Budgeting and Finance
- Organizational Development and Change
- Relationship Management
Outcomes
Many graduates continue their studies with SNHU’s top online HR master’s degree. Others pursue early career roles as HR coordinators, recruiters and assistants earning average salaries around $51,000 reported.
Key Benefits of Online Bachelor‘s HR Degrees
Online bachelor‘s programs provide an accessible entry point for first-time-in-college students or working professionals with some college credits seeking an HR career pivot.
You gain well-rounded knowledge to pursue HR coordinator and specialist roles or build more business acumen in related fields like sales, marketing and operations coordination.
Top Online Master‘s in Human Resource Management
Now let‘s explore popular online master‘s degrees ideal for specializing expertise and qualifying for leadership:
Villanova University
Villanova offers a respected online Master of Science in Human Resource Development focused on integrating adult learning theory into organizational change strategies.
Standout Courses
- Principles of Human Resource Development
- HRD Consulting and Practicum
- Organizational Performance and Change
- Strategic Planning in HRD
Outcomes
The program has a 95% placement rate with grads earning average early career salaries of $74,000 as HR managers, organizational development consultants and learning leads. Many obtain SHRM certifications.
Purdue University
Purdue Global provides an acclaimed online Master of Business Administration with an HR concentration taught by industry experts and focused on leadership development.
Standout Courses
- Human Resource Information Systems
- Employee Training and Development
- Employment Law
- Labor Relations
Outcomes
MBA holders pursue director, VP and Chief Human Resource Officer roles at average salaries around $99,000. They leverage business acumen to make strategic impacts improving workplace operations and culture.
University of Southern California
USC offers an online Master of Science in Organizational Change and Leadership integrating organizational psychology and evidence-based management strategies.
Standout Courses
- Leadership Theories and Practice
- Organizational Assessment
- Change Management
- Conflict and Negotiation
Outcomes
Graduates work as directors and VPs of organizational development, culture and change management earning $90,000+ at companies like Deloitte, Accenture and Cisco.
Why Pursue a Master‘s Degree in Human Resources?
Specialized online master’s programs in HR or broader disciplines like organizational leadership, management and psychology position you for senior-level positions driving workplace culture and operations.
You gain sophisticated expertise in managing organizational change, team development, conflict resolution, leadership strategy and evidence-based decision making leveraging workforce analytics.
Beyond Degrees: HR Certificates & Specializations
In addition to full bachelor’s and master’s degrees, you can build HR skills through individual courses, professional certificates and specializations from accredited universities.
For example:
- Villanova offers a SHRM Exam Preparation certificate
- University of Minnesota provides an acclaimed HR Management Specialization on Coursera
- Cornell University delivers an HR Skills for People Managers program on edX
These programs allow you to affordably reskill into HR or augment degree knowledge in as little as 5 months.
HR Careers: Job Options, Salaries and Growth
What types of HR jobs can you qualify for and salaries earned with an online bachelor’s or master‘s degree? Here is an overview:
Entry-Level
HR Assistant – $40,000 avg
HR Coordinator – $45,000 avg
HR Generalist – $58,000 avg
Mid-Career
HR Manager – $72,000 avg
HR Business Partner – $83,000 avg
Senior-Level Leadership
HR Director – $97,000 avg
Chief HR Officer – $163,000 avg
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts HR roles will grow 9% through 2030, much faster than other occupations.
Major factors fueling hiring demand include trends like remote and hybrid work adoption, use of workforce analytics and AI in decision making and emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
Key Takeaways: Choosing the Best Online HR Degree
I hope this overview has illustrated the flexible pathways online bachelor’s and master‘s provide for breaking into or advancing an HR career.
When researching schools, look for respected nonprofit universities featuring curriculum aligned to HR certifications. Consider specializations offered, hands-on learning formats, career support services and admissions requirements fit to your background.
Investing in an online HR degree enables you to position yourself for some of the most meaningful, high growth roles improving workplace culture and the employee experience at leading organizations.
