Illinois · Human Resources Management and Services

Best colleges for Human Resources Management and Services in Illinois

Ranked by graduate earnings

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, William Rainey Harper College and University of Illinois Chicago award the most Human Resources Management and Services degrees in Illinois: 160, 44 and 42 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 36 Illinois colleges offer Human Resources Management and Services and award 1,048 degrees and certificates a year in all.

The Human Resources Management and Services program prepares students for effective management of people within organizations. This program focuses on policies and systems related to employee recruitment, training, performance appraisal,…

Institutions
36
offering CIP 52.10
States & territories
52
with a program page
Degrees / yr
1,048
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$50,361
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
8
College Scorecard
Median net price
$20,078
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
49%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Human Resources Managers
$162,450
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 8 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings

Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Benedictine University
Lisle Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$83,4753650%$23,570$31,872
2Northwestern University
Evanston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$82,2553195%$14,799$38,832
3North Central College
Naperville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program
$53,5871064%$20,052$24,314
4Concordia University - Chicago
River Forest Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program
$51,763436%$17,620$34,419
5Lewis University
Romeoville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program
$50,3611267%$17,632$27,000
6McKendree University
Lebanon Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program
$49,505853%$23,994$24,625
7Northeastern Illinois University
Chicago Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$49,1311822%—$15,365
8Western Illinois University
Macomb Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$47,4671845%—$26,000

Colleges awarding the most Human Resources Management and Services degrees in Illinois

Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign Public
160Not reported
2William Rainey Harper College
Palatine Public
44Not reported
3University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago Public
42Not reported
4University of Illinois Springfield
Springfield Public
42Not reported
5Benedictine University
Lisle Private not-for-profit
36$83,475
6Loyola University Chicago
Chicago Private not-for-profit
32Not reported
7Northwestern University
Evanston Private not-for-profit
31$82,255
8National Louis University
Chicago Private not-for-profit
23Not reported
9Roosevelt University
Chicago Private not-for-profit
20Not reported
10Western Illinois University
Macomb Public
18$47,467
Show the other 26 Illinois colleges offering Human Resources Management and Services
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
DeVry University - Illinois (Online)LislePrivate for-profit359
Joliet Junior CollegeJolietPublic26
College of DuPageGlen EllynPublic24
Northeastern Illinois UniversityChicagoPublic18
Governors State UniversityUniversity ParkPublic15
Stautzenberger College - Rockford Career CollegeRockfordPrivate for-profit15
University of St FrancisJolietPrivate not-for-profit14
Greenville UniversityGreenvillePrivate not-for-profit13
Eastern Illinois UniversityCharlestonPublic12
Lewis and Clark Community CollegeGodfreyPublic12
Lewis UniversityRomeovillePrivate not-for-profit12
North Central CollegeNapervillePrivate not-for-profit10
DePaul UniversityChicagoPrivate not-for-profit9
Triton CollegeRiver GrovePublic9
City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington CollegeChicagoPublic8
McKendree UniversityLebanonPrivate not-for-profit8
North Park UniversityChicagoPrivate not-for-profit7
Oakton CollegeDes PlainesPublic7
Moraine Valley Community CollegePalos HillsPublic5
Waubonsee Community CollegeSugar GrovePublic5
Concordia University - ChicagoRiver ForestPrivate not-for-profit4
Judson UniversityElginPrivate not-for-profit3
Illinois CollegeJacksonvillePrivate not-for-profit2
Illinois Eastern Community CollegesOlneyPublic1
College of Lake CountyGrayslakePublic1
Trinity Christian CollegePalos HeightsPrivate not-for-profit1

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Human Resources Managers (SOC 11-3121).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+5.0%
Faster than average
Openings / yr (US)
~17,900
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$140,030
typically Bachelor's degree

Top skills

Active ListeningReading ComprehensionSpeakingWritingMonitoringCritical Thinking

What Human Resources Managers earn in Illinois

Jobs in Illinois
13,520
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$162,450
median $151,370
Best-paying metro
$165,550
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

Related careers

Human Resources Specialists
$81,480 avg · 35,430 jobs
Training and Development Specialists
$74,660 avg · 15,140 jobs
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors
$70,230 avg · 13,580 jobs
Human Resources Managers
$162,450 avg · 13,520 jobs
Compliance Officers
$87,900 avg · 10,650 jobs
Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists
$86,460 avg · 4,410 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Human Resources Management and Services programs in Illinois.

Which Illinois colleges award the most Human Resources Management and Services degrees?+

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (160 graduates a year), William Rainey Harper College (44 graduates a year) and University of Illinois Chicago (42 graduates a year) award the most Human Resources Management and Services degrees in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 36 Illinois colleges offer Human Resources Management and Services.

Which Human Resources Management and Services program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Benedictine University tops the list at $83,475. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Human Resources Managers earn in Illinois?+

The average annual wage for Human Resources Managers in Illinois is $162,450 (median $151,370), across about 13,520 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

What is the focus of the Human Resources Management and Services program?+

The Human Resources Management and Services program prepares students for effective management of people within organizations. This program focuses on policies and systems related to employee recruitment, training, performance appraisal,…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop active listening, reading comprehension, speaking, writing, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Human Resources Managers?+

The national job outlook is about +5.0% growth with around 17,900 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

Human Resources Management and Services in other statesRhode IslandIdahoColoradoUtahDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaVirginiaMaryland

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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