Best institutions to study Labor and Industrial Relations
A program that focuses on employee-management interactions and the management of issues and disputes regarding working conditions and worker benefit packages, and that may prepare individuals to function as labor or personnel relations specialists.
26 U.S. institutions graduated 1,363 Labor and Industrial Relations students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 52.1002, a specialization of Human Resources Management and Services (CIP 52.10), and leads most directly to the Labor Relations Specialists occupation (BLS SOC 13-1075).
About Labor and Industrial Relations programs
A program that focuses on employee-management interactions and the management of issues and disputes regarding working conditions and worker benefit packages, and that may prepare individuals to function as labor or personnel relations specialists. Includes instruction in labor history, policies and strategies of the labor movement, union organization, labor-management negotiation, labor law and contract interpretation, labor economics, welfare and benefit packages, grievance procedures, and labor policy studies.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Labor and Industrial Relations program, part of the Human Resources Management and Services field, focuses on the dynamics between employees and management. It addresses issues related to working conditions, benefits, and labor disputes, preparing individuals for roles as labor or personnel relations specialists. This program is ideal for those interested in navigating the complexities of labor relations and advocating for fair workplace practices.
Students will gain essential skills in negotiation, critical thinking, and communication. Coursework covers labor history, labor law, grievance procedures, and contract interpretation, equipping graduates with the knowledge needed to effectively manage employee-management interactions.
Credentials awarded
What Labor and Industrial Relations graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree787 graduates / yr · 15 institutions58%
- Master's degree438 graduates / yr · 14 institutions32%
- Associate's degree84 graduates / yr · 3 institutions6.2%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year22 graduates / yr · 6 institutions1.6%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate12 graduates / yr · 4 institutions0.9%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years11 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.8%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship9 graduates / yr · 3 institutions0.7%
Graduates over time
Labor and Industrial Relations completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1,839 |
| 2013 | 2,094 |
| 2014 | 1,729 |
| 2015 | 1,953 |
| 2016 | 1,915 |
| 2017 | 1,895 |
| 2018 | 1,963 |
| 2019 | 1,853 |
| 2020 | 1,851 |
| 2021 | 1,747 |
| 2022 | 1,747 |
| 2023 | 1,650 |
| 2024 | 1,495 |
| 2025 | 1,363 |
Top 26 institutions for Labor and Industrial Relations, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cornell University Ithaca, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 316 | 95% | $17,613 | $73,436 |
| 2 | University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign Champaign, ILPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 148 | 85% | — | — |
| 3 | Pennsylvania State University - World Campus University Park, PAPublicMaster'sBachelor'sAssociate'sPost-degree cert.Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 139 | 34% | — | $58,884 |
| 4 | University of Iowa Iowa City, IAPublicBachelor's | 126 | 75% | — | $52,945 |
| 5 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 122 | 84% | — | $49,441 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus University Park, PAPublicBachelor'sPost-degree cert.Master'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 105 | 86% | — | $58,884 |
| 7 | Empire State University Saratoga Springs, NYPublicAssociate'sBachelor's | 90 | 41% | — | — |
| 8 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MNPublicMaster'sBachelor's | 60 | 85% | — | $50,946 |
| 9 | Cleveland State University Cleveland, OHPublicMaster'sBachelor's | 55 | 51% | — | $40,869 |
| 10 | Seton Hall University South Orange, NJPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 49 | 69% | $27,376 | $52,285 |
| 11 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MIPublicMaster's | 41 | 81% | — | $56,501 |
| 12 | Wayne State University Detroit, MIPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 14 | 58% | — | $48,324 |
| 13 | Los Angeles Trade Technical College Los Angeles, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 12 | 35% | — | — |
| 14 | Marshall University Huntington, WVPublicMaster's | 12 | 51% | — | — |
| 15 | University of Maryland - Baltimore County Baltimore, MDPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 11 | 70% | — | — |
| 16 | Citrus College Glendora, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 10 | 41% | — | — |
| 17 | Inter American University of Puerto Rico - Metro San Juan, PRPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 10 | 39% | $10,446 | — |
| 18 | University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras San Juan, PRPublicBachelor's | 10 | 50% | — | — |
| 19 | Rider University Lawrenceville, NJPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 7 | 61% | $23,844 | $40,941 |
| 20 | CUNY Graduate School and University Center New York, NYPublicPost-degree cert.Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 7 | — | — | — |
| 21 | University of Massachusetts - Boston Boston, MAPublicBachelor's | 6 | 49% | — | — |
| 22 | Hawaii Pacific University Honolulu, HIPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 4 | 35% | $30,299 | — |
| 23 | University of Rhode Island Kingston, RIPublicMaster's | 4 | 73% | — | $73,191 |
| 24 | SUNY Old Westbury Old Westbury, NYPublicBachelor's | 2 | 45% | — | — |
| 25 | Pennsylvania Western University California, PAPublicBachelor's | 2 | 52% | — | $44,114 |
| 26 | City College of San Francisco San Francisco, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 40% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Human Resources Management and Services field (CIP 52.10) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 15 states & territories
Where Labor and Industrial Relations graduates come from. Each state links to all Human Resources Management and Services programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 4 | 415 | Cornell University316 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | 246 | Pennsylvania State University - World Campus139 / yr |
| New Jersey | 3 | 178 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick122 / yr |
| Illinois | 1 | 148 | University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign148 / yr |
| Iowa | 1 | 126 | University of Iowa126 / yr |
| Minnesota | 1 | 60 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities60 / yr |
| Michigan | 2 | 55 | Michigan State University41 / yr |
| Ohio | 1 | 55 | Cleveland State University55 / yr |
| California | 3 | 23 | Los Angeles Trade Technical College12 / yr |
| Puerto Rico | 2 | 20 | Inter American University of Puerto Rico - Metro10 / yr |
| West Virginia | 1 | 12 | Marshall University12 / yr |
| Maryland | 1 | 11 | University of Maryland - Baltimore County11 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 6 | University of Massachusetts - Boston6 / yr |
| Hawaii | 1 | 4 | Hawaii Pacific University4 / yr |
| Rhode Island | 1 | 4 | University of Rhode Island4 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 13-1075, Labor Relations Specialists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of this program can pursue careers as Labor Relations Specialists, Compliance Officers, and Human Resources Managers. The job outlook indicates little or no change in the field, with approximately 5,100 annual openings and a median wage of $93,500 for those with a Bachelor’s degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 52.1002
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Labor Relations Specialistsprimary SOC 13-1075 | $95,420 | -0.1% Little or no change | ~5,100 | Bachelor's degree |
Compliance Officers SOC 13-1041 | $80,730 | +3.0% About as fast as average | ~33,300 | Bachelor's degree |
Human Resources Managers SOC 11-3121 | $149,280 | +5.0% Faster than average | ~17,900 | Bachelor's degree |
Business Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1011 | $99,080 | +5.7% Faster than average | ~8,100 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Law Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1112 | $128,500 | +2.2% About as fast as average | ~2,200 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Compensation and Benefits Managers SOC 11-3111 | $149,230 | +0.2% Little or no change | ~1,500 | Bachelor's degree |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Labor and Industrial Relations programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Negotiate collective bargaining agreements.
- Investigate and evaluate union complaints or arguments to determine viability.
- Propose resolutions for collective bargaining or other labor or contract negotiations.
- Draft contract proposals or counter-proposals for collective bargaining or other labor negotiations.
- Interpret contractual agreements for employers and employees engaged in collective bargaining or other labor relations processes.
- Prepare evidence for disciplinary hearings, including preparing witnesses to testify.
Tools and technology used
Other Human Resources Management and Services specializations
The 6 other 6-digit CIP codes under Human Resources Management and Services (CIP 52.10).
- Human Resources Management/CIP 52.1001
Personnel Administration 18,033 graduates / yr518 institutions - Human Resources DevelopmentCIP 52.10053,502 graduates / yr76 institutions
- Organizational Behavior StudiesCIP 52.10033,311 graduates / yr116 institutions
- Human Resources Management and ServicesCIP 52.1099906 graduates / yr31 institutions
- Labor StudiesCIP 52.1004137 graduates / yr13 institutions
- Executive/CIP 52.1006
Career Coaching partial data93 graduates / yr9 institutions
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, Associate's degree, or a short-term award.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in active listening, critical thinking, negotiation, and effective communication.
What types of jobs can I get after graduation?+
You can work as a Labor Relations Specialist, Compliance Officer, or Human Resources Manager.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with about 5,100 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Labor and Industrial Relations?+
Labor and Industrial Relations is CIP 52.1002 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Human Resources Management and Services (CIP 52.10). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on employee-management interactions and the management of issues and disputes regarding working conditions and worker benefit packages, and that may prepare individuals to function as labor or personnel relations specialists. Includes instruction in labor history, policies and strategies of the labor movement, union organization, labor-management negotiation, labor law and contract interpretation, labor economics, welfare and benefit packages, grievance procedures, and labor policy studies.
How many institutions offer Labor and Industrial Relations programs?+
26 U.S. institutions reported Labor and Industrial Relations graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 15 states & territories, awarding 1,363 credentials in the year. That is 5.0% of all Human Resources Management and Services graduates.
How much do Labor and Industrial Relations graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Labor Relations Specialists occupation, which Labor and Industrial Relations most directly leads to, pays a median of $95,420 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Human Resources Management and Services field report median earnings of $52,285 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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