The 10 Best Online Human Resources MBA Degree Programs

endicott college human resources

Human capital is one of the pillars of any successful business, and human resource professionals are respected, valued and well-compensated for their specialized work. “Hot job” trends come and go, but managers with business acumen and outstanding people skills will always be in high demand in the essential field of human resources. Professionals in the field of HR are in charge of decisions related to the recruitment, hiring, compensation, administration, and training of personnel, as well as handling firing and disciplinary action as needed.

For those with the soft skills and strategic mindset for a career in HR, an online MBA in Human Resources is a crucial career step. This elite credential distinguishes a potential employee from other job candidates, demonstrating professional commitment, broad business skills, and focused expertise in HR. This top level degree can open doors to careers in management analysis, human resources, corporate labor relations, and C-level leadership. Payscale.com reveals that Human Resource professionals earn lucrative salaries: HR Managers earn $66,414, on average, HR Directors earn $87,938, while a Vice President of Human Resources earns an average of $147,296, and as much as $233,000 for a senior position at a large company.

A typical curriculum will include a broad foundation in business studies, including Management, Marketing and Leadership, as well as coursework specific to Human Resources, such as HR Development, Recruitment, and Compensation. Many of the best online MBA in HR programs also include a senior seminar, capstone project, internship, or advance preparation for the Professional of Human Resources (PHR) exam administered by the HR Certification Institute. The majority of students pursuing an online MBA in Human Resources are working professionals enrolled on a part-time basis while maintaining existing careers (both in HR and other fields). Such students need flexibility in their scheduling and coursework, affordable tuition, and a high quality degree that will translate into real career advancement.

Our ranking of the 10 Best Human Resource MBAs can narrow the search. Each of these top schools is ranked on a number of key metrics: affordability, flexibility, and academic prestige. Read on, and find the best degree to fit your schedule, budget and HR career goals.

  • Affordability (1/3): an institution’s cost per credit hour for out-of-state residents provided by degree program or institutional website.
  • Flexibility (1/3): the number of options—including acceptance of prior college credits, self-paced learning initiatives, accelerated courses, and number of specializations—that allow students to complete a program at a pace of their choosing.
  • Academic Prestige (1/3): an institution’s placement in relation to similar institutions according to either regional or national ranking indexes.

1. Union University

Headquartered in in Jackson, Tennessee, Union University is a private, evangelical Christian, liberal arts institute. The school also operates additional campuses in Germantown and Hendersonville, Tennessee, and is affiliated with the Tennessee Baptist Convention. Union predates the founding of the state of Tennessee itself, having been established as Jackson Male Academy back in 1823, just after the territory was opened for settlement. Today, the university has a total enrollment of 4,259 and maintains a remarkable low student to faculty ratio of 11 to one. The most popular majors are in the Health Professions and in Business and Management, and Union’s engineering program is also highly respected. In addition to small class sizes, Union offers affordable tuition, and academic programs that incorporate strong Christina principles, character development, and community service. The school has been awarded the President’s Higher Education Community Service Award and included among America’s Top 100 College Buys. U.S. News and World Report ranks Union 176th in National Universities.

Union University offers a fast, affordable, flexible, and high quality online MBA with a concentration in Human Resources. The program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), and stresses both business and leadership skills, and Christian values. The curriculum is hands-on and project-based, and classes are designed to have immediate workplace applicability. Courses are offered one night per week in an 8-week format, and can be completed in as little as 12 months. With five annual start dates, degree seekers can begin their studies immediately. Students in the HR concentration will be armed with a grasp of the material required for the PHR certification exam, through courses such as Organizational Behavior, Human Resource Management, Employee Training and Development, and Strategic Human Resources. Tuition is affordable at $595 per credit. With low tuition, accelerated classes, national ranking, and a flexible format, this online MBA easily takes first place in our ranking of Best Human Resource MBAs.

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  • Cost Per Credit Hour: $595
  • Academic Prestige: 2
  • Flexibility-Enhancing Components: Multiple start dates, accelerated format

2. University of North Texas

The University of North Texas (UNT) is a public research university which is located in Denton, Texas. It is the flagship campus of the University of North Texas System. The school was founded in 1890 as a coeducational, private teachers college, the Texas Normal College and Teacher Training Institute. Today, UNT offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs in a variety of fields, including engineering, social sciences, natural sciences, performing and visual arts, humanities, and public policy, through a total of eleven colleges and two schools. UNT serves a total of 38,081 students, the fourth-highest enrollment in the state of Texas. Unlike most large institutions, the school offers an integrated liberal arts curriculum known as the “Classic Learning Core,” an approach more traditional to small, private liberal arts schools. The Carnegie Foundation considers UNT a “doctoral university with highest research activity” and U.S. News and World Report ranks the school 231st in National Universities.

The University of North Texas awards the best online MBA in Human Resource Management and Organizational Behavior available in terms of flexibility, prestige and affordability. prestigious and accelerated. The program has maintained accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) for over 50 years, and is designed to develop students’ organizational behavior skills, and equip them with practical strategies for optimizing the contribution of human resources to their organization. Courses are 8 weeks long, and the program has 5 start dates, allowing degree seekers to begin the program right away. The curriculum consists of 12 courses, totaling 36 credit hours, and can be completed in as little as 14 months. The UNT program is considered to be among the best MBAs in Human Resource Management in the nation by a number of respected sources. It is designated as 28th in Best Online MBA Programs from U.S. News and World Report, and ranked 11th in the nation by TopManagementDegrees.com, while The Princeton Review includes it among the country’s Top 25 Online MBA programs. Tuition is also affordable, at a price of $540 per credit. UNT’s combination of speed, affordable tuition and academic quality merits top placement in our ranking of the Best Human Resource MBAs.

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  • Cost Per Credit Hour: $540
  • Academic Prestige: 6
  • Flexibility-Enhancing Components: Multiple start dates, accelerated format

3. Liberty University

Based in Lynchburg, West Virginia, Liberty University is a private, nonprofit, evangelical Christian university. Liberty dates back to 1971, when it was founded as the Lynchburg Baptist College by noted televangelist, activist, and Senior Pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church, Reverend Jerry Falwell. Today, it is the world’s largest Christian university, with a massive enrollment of over 125,000 students. Of these, the majority, an estimated 110,000, are enrolled in the school’s highly successful online degree programs. On-campus students students have access to academic resources like a 250,000-volume library with robotic retrieval system, a Civil War Chaplains Museum, and astronomical observatory, and recreational amenities like an artificial ski slope and paintball facilities on the 7,000-acre grounds. The university awards a total of 500 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees, and stresses conservative Christian values and ethics across all disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation considers the university to be a “doctoral research university of moderate research activity,” while U.S. News and World Report ranks Liberty 231st in National Universities.

Liberty offers an affordable, fast, and high quality online MBA in Human Resources. The program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs(ACBSP) and regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. This online MBA degree program has earned a rating of 139th in Best Online MBA programs from U.S. News and World Report, and is intended to give students a solid grasp of organizational behavior, compensation management, workforce planning, and human resource development. Studies are designed to be collaborative, developing team and leadership skills, and incorporate Christian ethics and values into business principles and practices. The online MBA program can be completed in just two years, and consists of 45 credit hours in coursework, along with a capstone course, offered as an optional, project-based intensive. All students complete 33 credits in Core Business Courses, and 12 in the Human Resources Cognate. Class topics include Workforce Planning & Employment, Human Resource Development, and Compensation Management. With eight start dates per year, students can begin earning their degrees as soon as they are ready, and those with existing academic credit are allowed to transfer in up to 21 of the required 45 credits, making this one of the most flexible, programs included in our list Best Human Resource MBAs. Tuition is affordable as well, costing $565 per credit.

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  • Cost Per Credit Hour: $565
  • Academic Prestige: 6
  • Flexibility-Enhancing Components: Multiple start dates, accelerated format

4. Trevecca Nazarene University

Trevecca Nazarene University (TNU) is a private Christian liberal arts school which is located in Nashville, Tennessee. TNU got its start in 1901, when it was established by a Cumberland Presbyterian minister as the “Pentecostal Literary and Bible Training School.” The school became an official college of the Church of the Nazarene, an evangelical denomination, in 1917, and absorbed the Southeastern Nazarene College of Georgia. Today, TNU continues to further its mission of offering students “a Christian community providing education for leadership and service,” and awards a variety of certificates as well as associate, baccalaureate, master’s, education specialist and doctoral degrees. Total enrollment stands at 3,221, and class sizes are small, with a student to faculty ratio of 17 to one. TNU offers a variety of hands-on study opportunities in the form of internships and service learning programs, and actively promotes spiritual development and community service, including volunteer projects with local charities and mission trips both in the U.S. and around the world. U.S. News and World Report gives TNU a ranking of 231st in National Universities.

Trevecca Nazarene University offers an online MBA with a specialization in Human Resources. The program is designed to develop students’ business acumen, along with the highest degree of ethics. Online students learn such essential human resource functions as recruiting, job analysis, selection, training, performance appraisal, compensation, and discipline, and examine key legislation and best practices. The program requires the completion of 10 Business Core courses and 3 classes in the Human Resource specialization, including Strategic Human Resource Management, Staffing and Development, and Compensation and Benefits. Classes are offered in a cohort model of instruction, and are meant to be taken one-at-a-time, promoting focus, collaboration, and peer-to-peer support. Online student can take advantage of TNU’s MBA Professional Mentoring Program, which connects distance learners with experienced, skilled mentors drawn from faculty and business professionals.

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  • Cost Per Credit Hour: $520
  • Academic Prestige: 6
  • Flexibility-Enhancing Components: n/a

5. Endicott College

Endicott College is a small, private college which is based in Beverly, Massachusetts. Endicott was first established as Endicott Junior College in 1939, a a two-year women’s college with the progressive aim of educating women for advancement within the workforce and increased independence. The school became coeducational in 1994. In modern times, Endicott serves a student body of 5,334, with roughly equal numbers of undergraduate and graduate students, and offers 23 bachelor programs, 27 concentrations, and 27 minors. Tuition is affordable, and class sizes are remarkably small, thanks to a low student to faculty ratio of 14 to one. Endicott’s campus occupies 235 acres of oceanfront property on the North Shore of Massachusetts Bay, and includes many historic buildings, two beaches, a skating rink, and 250-seat performance hall. U.S. News and World Report ranks the college 34th in Regional Universities North and 61st in Best Value Schools.

Endicott College offers an accelerated online MBA with a concentration in Human Resources through its Van Loan School of Graduate and Professional Studies. The degree requires the completion of 42 credits: 30 credits in Core Business Classes and 12 credits in the HR Concentration. This online MBA is offered in an accelerated format, and the entire program can be completed in as little as 18 months. The Human Resources concentration consists of four focused HR courses: Compensation and Benefits, Human Resource Laws and Compliance, Organizational and Individual Development, and Recruitment and Selection. Students who wish to pursue a second concentration through additional coursework can opt for a number of relevant choices, such as Healthcare, Hospitality, or International Business. Endicott’s low tuition of $487 makes it the second most affordable school included in our ranking of Best Human Resource MBAs, and makes this fast paced MBA in HR an outstanding value.

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  • Cost Per Credit Hour: $487
  • Academic Prestige: 9
  • Flexibility-Enhancing Components: Accelerated format

6. University of Illinois- Springfield

Based in the capital city of Illinois, the University of Illinois- Springfield (UIS) is a public, liberal arts university. UIS was founded as Sangamon State University in 1969, and joined the University of Illinois System in 1995. UIS has since grown to become a mid-sized university, with a student body of 5,700, and a host of degree programs, including 27 bachelor’s, 20 master’s, and one doctorate degree. Research at UIS is active, and open to both undergraduate and graduate students. IN addition to research, students can learn outside the classroom in a variety of internship placements in local government, nonprofit and business settings. Tuition is affordable and class sizes are small, allowing students to enjoy individual attention and interaction, with a remarkably low student to faculty ratio of 14 to one. U.S. News and World Report ranks the university 13th in Top Public Schools and 63rd in Regional Universities Midwest, as well as 60th in Best Value Schools.

The the University of Illinois- Springfield offers a top quality MBA with a graduate certificate in Human Resource Management which can be earned online. The MBA program is designed to endow students with theoretical and practical knowledge of business principles like accounting, finance, information systems, marketing, operations management, and organizational behavior, while the HR certificate component teaches key knowledge in staffing, training and development, total compensation, employee relations, and labor relations. The program is AACSB accredited, and U.S. News and World Report ranks UIS 193rd in Part-time MBA programs. The curriculum requires the completion of twelve courses, including 8 core business classes and four electives, for a total of 36 credit hours. The majority of core classes meet week nights on the UIS campus, while electives, including all three Human Resource Courses required for the certificate, are offered fully online. HR course topics include Acquiring and Developing Talent, Performance Management, and Strategic Human Resource Management. With an incredibly affordable tuition of only $362, this is the most affordable school in our ranking of the Best Human Resource MBAs, and an incredible value from a excellent school.

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  • Cost Per Credit Hour: $362
  • Academic Prestige: 12
  • Flexibility-Enhancing Components: n/a

7. Central Michigan University

Located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, Central Michigan University (CMU) is a large, public research university. The school was founded in 1892 as the state’s second normal school, the Central Michigan Normal School and Business Institute, offering classes in teaching, business and stenography, with an initial class of just 31 students. Nowadays, CMU’s enrollment is 28,389, making it one of Michigan’s largest universities, and earning it a place among the nation’s 100 largest. The university confers over 200 degrees at the undergraduate, master’s, specialist, and doctoral levels. Popular and wellanked programs include journalism, entrepreneurship, neuroscience, engineering, teacher education, and psychology, among others. CMU has eight academic divisions, including a College of Science and Engineering, a College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences, and a College of Medicine. Washington Monthly ranks CMU 211th in the nation, and U.S. News and World Report ranks it 207th in National Universities and 113rd in Top Public Schools.

Central Michigan University offers one of the nation’s best online MBAs with a concentration in Human Resource Management. The program is accredited by AACSB International and ranked 54th in Best Online MBA Programs by U.S. News and World Report. The online MBA prepares students to take on leadership roles, with advanced skills in accounting, finance, marketing, and management, while the HR concentration develops facility with human resource best practices, strategic planning, fiscal management, and team building. To earn their online MBA degree, distance learners must complete 27 Business Core credits (9 classes) and 9 credits in Human Resource Management (3 courses). Classes in the concentration include Human Resource Management, Employee Selection and Evaluation, and a Seminar in Organizational Development. The program has three annual start dates, and tuition costs $600 per credit.

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  • Cost Per Credit Hour: $600
  • Academic Prestige: 5
  • Flexibility-Enhancing Components: n/a

8. Bryan College

Bryan College is a Christian liberal arts school which is located in Dayton, Tennessee. The school was established in 1930 as William Jennings Bryan University, and today serves a student body of 1,710 undergraduates and graduate students. The school emphasizes Biblical teachings in all academics, and offers a selection of associate’s degrees, and bachelor’s degrees in 20 majors with over 60 distinct options, as well as three master’s degrees. Business and Management are overwhelmingly the school’s most popular areas of study, with more than half of students opting to major in a businesselated discipline. Some 77% of professors 77% of their professors hold terminal degrees in their fields, and the student to faculty ratio is quite low, at 16 to one. U.S. News and World Report ranks the Bryan 68th in Regional Universities South and 34th in Best Value Schools.

Bryan College confers one of the nation’s best MBAs in Human Resources in a convenient and accelerated format. The course of study prepares students with the business knowledge and decision-making skills to strategically manage an organization’s personnel and related programs, and ethical principles and Christian values are stressed throughout.
Bryan’s MBA in HR is accredited by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE) and is recognized by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) as meeting the recommended guidelines for HR education. U.S. News and World Report ranks it 205th nationally in Best Online MBA Programs.
In this accelerated MBA in Human Resources, classes are organized in a 9-week accelerated format, and students can complete the entire degree program in as little as 18 months on a part-time basis, while maintaining their existing careers. The curriculum comprises 36 credits, and includes such topics as Management and Leadership, Employment Law, Human Resources Development, Strategic Compensation Management, and Managing Organizational Change. All students complete a in-depth research and analysis on a topic of individual interest within the HR field during the graduate Seminar in Human Resources. Tuition in this fast paced online MBA in HR is also affordable, at $575 per credit.

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  • Cost Per Credit Hour: $575
  • Academic Prestige: 14
  • Flexibility-Enhancing Components: Accelerated format

9. Nova Southeastern University

Nova Southeastern University (NSU) is a nonprofit, private university, which is situated in Davie, Florida. The university was established in
as the Nova University of Advanced Technology, awarding graduate degrees in the physical and social sciences. The school later merged with Southeastern University of the Health Sciences, and adopted its current title in 1994. Today, NSU consists of 18 colleges and schools offering over 150 programs of study, including law and business. NSU has strong programs in health sciences, and awards popular degrees in osteopathic medicine, allopathic medicine, allied with health, pharmacy, dentistry, optometry, physical therapy, education, occupational therapy, and nursing. The school stresses flexibility in education, and offers Dual Admission for students wishing to purse graduate degree credits during their undergraduate years, and innovative, tech-integrated classroom learning formats. NSU serves a total of 20,793 students, with a low student to faculty ratio of 17 to one. The university is classified as a “research university with high research activity” and a “community engaged university” by the Carnegie Foundation, and U.S. News and World Report ranks it 198th in National Universities.

Nova Southeastern University confers an online MBA with a Concentration in Human Resource Management through its Huizenga College of Business. The program gives students in-depth understanding of interpersonal and organizational behaviors, and teaches various approaches for managing and motivating employees, including practical skills in implementing new procedures, resolving conflicts, employee benefits and compensation, and training personnel. This comprehensive online degree is ranked 205th in Best Online MBA Programs by U.S. News and World Reports. A total of 40-49 credits are required for graduation, with 18 total credits in the Human Resources Concentration. HR class topics include Human Resource Development, Talent Management, Managing Total Rewards, and Employee Relations. The schedule allows for high flexibility, with five annual start dates, and an accelerated course of study which can be completed in 21 months. Tuition costs $899 per credit.

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  • Cost Per Credit Hour: $899
  • Academic Prestige: 4
  • Flexibility-Enhancing Components: Multiple start dates, accelerated format

10. Mercer University

Mercer University is a nonprofit, private university with its main campus in Macon, Georgia, and additional campuses in Savanah and Atlanta. Mercer was established in 1833, making it one of the oldest private institutions in the state. The school got its start as a Mercer Institute, a boys’ preparatory school, and became a university in 1937. Today, the school is home to over 8,600 students enrolled in in 12 colleges and schools, including a schools of liberal arts, business, engineering, music, law, theology, medicine, and pharmacy. Mercer’s campuses are home to such resources as teaching hospitals, research centers, an opera house, a university press and a performing arts center. Mercer is a member of the Georgia Research Alliance, and is considered by the Carnegie Foundation to be a “community engaged” campus. Princeton Review has consistently ranked Mercer among the nation’s top ten percent of universities, and U.S. News and World Report ranks Mercer 133rd in National Universities, as well as 39th in Best Value

Mercer University awards an elite online MBA with a Concentration in Human Resources. The program is rated as one of the best online MBAs in Human Resources by a number of reputable sources. CE Magazine ranks it 24th in Global Online MBAs, while U.S. News and World Report ranks among the nation’s Top 100 online MBA programs. The degree is accredited by the prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), and online classes are taught by the same highly credentialed professors who teach on campus. The course of study comprises 30-36 credit hours: a Business Foundation Courses (0-9), which may be waived, a Business Core Program (21 hours), the Human Resources Concentration (12 hours), and an MBA Capstone (3 hours). This prestigious MBA in HR has a tuition of $775, and a flexible schedule of 5 start dates per year.

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  • Cost Per Credit Hour: $775
  • Academic Prestige: 1
  • Flexibility-Enhancing Components: Multiple start dates

Carrie Morris
Author

Warren Dahl
Editor-in-Chief