Best Associate's in Human Resources Programs: The 2026 Rankings

Chandler-Gilbert Community College's entry on this list is the Associate in Applied Science in Organizational Management, a 61 to 68 credit degree that embeds a Certificate of Completion in Organizational Leadership directly into the curriculum. The coursework builds business communication, decision-making, and resource-allocation skills through classes like Human Relations in Business, Management and Leadership I, and Project Management in Quality Organizations, plus 20 credits of restricted electives students can steer toward a specialization. CGCC's own career data, sourced from Pipeline AZ, lists General and Operations Managers as a related path, with an Arizona average salary of $99,490 and entry-level pay of $37,340; that figure describes a broader management role, not an HR-specific title.

CGCC earns a Hakia Score of 89.3 on a 30% graduation rate, the lowest of the four programs here, but it is by far the most affordable: in-state tuition is $2,328, less than the cost of a single course at Colorado Christian, while out-of-state students pay $8,929, a $6,601 gap that is the widest on this list. That split makes the degree strongest for Arizona residents rather than out-of-state online students. With 15,085 students enrolled, CGCC is the largest institution on this list, and its elective-heavy structure suits students who want to customize the degree rather than follow a fixed HR-titled curriculum.

West Virginia Junior College's Morgantown campus offers its human resources associate degree alongside a lineup of other career-focused associate and diploma programs, including Business Administration, Medical Office Administration, Nursing, and Information Technology. The school traces its roots to an 1892 campus in Charleston and added WVJC Online in 2011, and it frames its teaching model around qualified instructors and a hands-on approach aimed at getting students career-ready in months rather than years. Students can pursue the degree on the Morgantown campus or fully online.

The numbers back a modest, no-surprises bet: a 71% graduation rate and flat tuition of $13,196 a year, the same whether a student lives in West Virginia or commutes from Fairmont, Waynesburg, or Garrett County, communities WVJC lists among where its students come from. As a private for-profit school, there's no in-state discount to chase. Total campus enrollment sits at 673, among the smallest in this ranking. A Hakia Score of 89.1, built on outcomes and cost data schools report to the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS), places the program fifth nationally among associate's-level human resources programs. It fits a student who wants a compact, locally taught credential and a flat price over a public college's residency math.

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College's Human Resources associate degree runs 63 credit hours across four semesters built from 8-week terms, with courses spanning Human Resource Management, Legal Issues and Compliance, Employee Recruitment/Retention, Compensation and Benefits, Labor Relations and Negotiations, Training for Organizations, and HR Organizational Metrics, capped by a 2-credit Human Resources Career Experience placement. It's taught days, evenings, and online, full or part time, at NWTC's Green Bay, Marinette, and Sturgeon Bay locations, and credits from three NWTC certificates (Human Resource Compliance, Organizational Safety and Health, and Employee Benefits, Relations, and Development) all apply toward it. Programs in NWTC's College of Business, including this one, carry accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, as the school states on its program page.

NWTC posts a 51% graduation rate and charges Wisconsin residents $4,485 a year against $6,728 for out-of-state students, a $2,243 annual gap. Total college enrollment runs 11,826, the largest of the four schools in this ranking. A Hakia Score of 87.8 places the program sixth nationally. NWTC's own Graduate Outcome Survey, cited on its program page, reports 78% of graduates employed after finishing (33% specifically in the HR field) and a $52,100 three-year median annual wage, a self-reported figure well below the national HR field median of $88,075 in BLS wage data (OEWS), which reflects the field broadly rather than any one school's graduates. The program suits an in-state student chasing the cheapest tuition in this ranking with a built-in transfer path into a four-year business degree.

Rasmussen University's Associate of Applied Science in Human Resources and Organizational Leadership runs 24 courses over 91 credit hours, with the school stating it can be finished in as few as 18 months. Core courses include Introduction to Human Resource Management, Introduction to Organizational Leadership, and Employment Law, which covers labor relations, employee rights, sexual harassment, and compensation and benefits law. Students can buy $149 self-directed competency assessments to test out of individual courses, and Rasmussen builds the curriculum to ladder directly into its online bachelor's in Human Resources and Organizational Leadership. The program enrolls online nationally, with campus-based support available in Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin.

Rasmussen reports a 53% graduation rate and a flat $10,595 tuition regardless of home state, since it is a private for-profit institution. Enrollment across the university totals 9,416. A Hakia Score of 87.7 ranks the program seventh nationally in this list. Rasmussen's own program page cites Bureau of Labor Statistics projections of 8% job growth for human resources specialists between 2023 and 2033. The program fits a working adult who wants the fastest path to a credential in this group (18 months) and a guaranteed bridge into a bachelor's degree rather than a traditional two-year associate's pace.

Amridge University's Associate of Arts in Human Resource Leadership is a 64-semester-hour online program built around a required foundational course, Management Intervention, taken at the start, then 16 hours of core business and HR coursework (Introduction to Business, Microcomputer Applications, and two electives chosen from options like Business Math, Principles of Organizational Behavior, Management Information Systems in Business, or Introductory Sociology), plus 20 hours of general education and 24 hours of open electives. Amridge is a SACSCOC-accredited, Christian-affiliated nonprofit that delivers the degree fully online, and a graduate finishes having completed roughly half the coursework needed for Amridge's HR bachelor's degree.

Every student counted in this program's outcomes has finished it: a 100% graduation rate, the highest of the four schools here. Tuition runs $9,480 a year, the same for every student regardless of home state, built from a flat $335-per-semester-hour full-time rate ($365 part time) plus a $495 comprehensive fee each term; at the full-time rate, the full 64-hour degree works out to roughly $21,440 in tuition alone, before fees and the roughly $150-per-course textbook estimate Amridge lists. Enrollment across the university is small, 639 total, the smallest of the four schools in this ranking. A Hakia Score of 87.6 ranks the program eighth nationally. It fits a self-directed adult learner, often one already working, who wants a small Christian university, a completion-focused model, and a direct on-ramp toward SHRM-aligned HR career paths, one of the professional organizations Amridge lists for its graduates.

Southeast Tech's Human Resource Management program is a two-year associate degree based in the George S. Mickelson Center in Sioux Falls, with students choosing in-person, online, or hybrid delivery under the school's NC-SARA authorization for distance learners. The curriculum runs through Human Resource Compliance, Compensation and Benefits, and Talent Acquisition and Training, plus supporting business courses in Business Law and Business Communications. Graduates enter as human resource representatives or assistants, with a stated path up to generalist or supervisory roles, and the college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

The program carries a Hakia Score of 87.4, good for #9 nationally among associate's HR programs, on a 59% graduation rate and 2,659 total enrollment. Tuition is flat at $3,720 a year, billed at $282 per credit hour, whether a student lives in South Dakota or not, so a full two-year degree runs about $7,440, under 8.5% of the field's $88,075 national median salary tracked by the BLS. Southeast Tech's own Graduate Outcomes Report cites 100% job placement for the program, a self-reported figure worth confirming with admissions but consistent with the low-cost, small-class model the school describes.

Western Iowa Tech's Human Resources Management program is a 64-credit Associate of Applied Science, offered out of Sioux City or fully online, with credits built to transfer. Coursework targets entry-level HR functions directly: interviewing applicants, administering pre-employment tests, running new-hire orientation, processing transfers, promotions, and terminations, writing job descriptions, calculating payroll, and maintaining accident reports. Students must hold a "C" or better in every core course before starting an internship, service learning placement, or on-the-job training, and that same "C" threshold is required to graduate.

WITCC posts a Hakia Score of 87.3, ranking #10 nationally, with a 50% graduation rate against 5,482 total students enrolled campus-wide, the largest student body of the four schools here. Tuition runs $4,296 in-state and $4,440 out-of-state, a gap of just $144 a year, the narrowest residency penalty in this group. A full two-year in-state degree totals roughly $8,592, under 10% of the field's $88,075 national median salary tracked by the BLS. That combination, a genuinely small out-of-state penalty paired with a hands-on, payroll-and-compliance curriculum, fits students who want transferable credits without being tied to Iowa residency.

Gateway's Human Resources associate degree is a 61-credit program built around an accelerated six-week online course format: students take two classes a semester but focus on one at a time. The curriculum covers employment law, occupational safety and health, equal employment opportunity, wages, health care, family leave, and retirement plans, and the degree closes with a capstone project plus an internship for real-world experience. Gateway's program page lists career outcomes in HR Generalist, HR Assistant, Talent Recruiter and Retention, and Benefits Assistant roles, and cites its own $71,302 salary outlook for graduates, separate from national BLS figures.

The program holds a Hakia Score of 86.7, ranking #11 nationally, with a 51% graduation rate across a 10,100-student institution, the largest overall enrollment of the four schools here. Tuition is $4,485 in-state versus $6,728 out-of-state, a $2,243 annual gap, the widest in-state/out-of-state spread in this group. Gateway's own estimate puts total program cost at $10,753 in tuition and fees plus $760 in books. The accelerated, one-class-at-a-time format suits working adults who can commit to intensive six-week terms, provided they qualify for Wisconsin's in-state rate.

Rhodes State's Human Resources associate degree is available fully online through Zoom or in a traditional daytime on-campus format, full-time or part-time, and covers recruitment, selection, placement, benefits, compensation, safety, training, development, labor relations, conflict resolution, and team building. The program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) and includes one or more embedded certificates awarded as students progress through the degree. The school states the curriculum prepares students to sit for the Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification exam, and students can double major with Business Administration or use a 3+1 pathway to finish a bachelor's degree at Franklin University.

Rhodes State carries a Hakia Score of 84.8, ranking #12 nationally, with a 47% graduation rate and 4,124 total enrollment, the lowest completion rate of the four schools here. Tuition is $4,560 in-state and exactly double, $9,120, out-of-state, the steepest residency premium in this group; a two-year in-state degree totals about $9,120, roughly 10.4% of the field's $88,075 national median salary tracked by the BLS. The embedded-certificate structure and Franklin University transfer path make this the strongest fit for Ohio residents stacking credentials toward a bachelor's degree, less so for out-of-state students facing the doubled tuition.

Empire State University is a public institution in Saratoga Springs, NY. Its Associate's in Human Resources program ranks #13 of the 25 analyzed here with an 84.7 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits above the 84.3 group average, in the middle third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 41% of its students, below the 50% average across the ranked schools. Empire State University holds an open-admission policy, accepting every qualified applicant. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 28% to 100%. The university enrolls 10,469 students overall.

On cost, Empire State University charges $7,070 a year in-state, roughly 2.4x the $16,980 out-of-state rate. Over two years that is about $14,140 in tuition for residents, against $33,960 for non-residents. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $2,328 at Chandler-Gilbert Community College to $27,631 at Colorado Christian University. The spread makes the program a clearer value for NY residents than for out-of-state students. Graduates step into a field with an $88,075 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the main draw here is its an online option.

Stautzenberger College-Maumee is a private, for-profit institution in Maumee, OH. Its Associate's in Human Resources program ranks #14 of the 25 analyzed here with an 82.8 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 84.3 group average, in the middle third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 55% of its students, above the 50% average across the ranked schools. Stautzenberger College-Maumee holds an open-admission policy, accepting every qualified applicant. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 28% to 100%. It is one of the smaller campuses here, with 586 students.

On cost, Stautzenberger College-Maumee charges $16,249 a year in-state. Over two years that totals about $32,498 in tuition. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $2,328 at Chandler-Gilbert Community College to $27,631 at Colorado Christian University. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with an $88,075 national median salary reported by the BLS. That median runs roughly 5x the program's annual in-state tuition. For prospective students, the draw here is above-average completion paired with an online option.

Based in Wausau, WI, Northcentral Technical College is a public institution. Its Associate's in Human Resources program lands at #15 of the 25 ranked here, earning an 82.8 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 84.3 group average, in the middle third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 45% of its students, below the 50% average across the ranked schools. Northcentral Technical College holds an open-admission policy, accepting every qualified applicant. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 28% to 100%. The university enrolls 6,746 students overall.

On cost, Northcentral Technical College charges $4,485 a year in-state, versus $6,728 for out-of-state students. Over two years that is about $8,970 in tuition for residents, against $13,456 for non-residents. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $2,328 at Chandler-Gilbert Community College to $27,631 at Colorado Christian University. Graduates step into a field with an $88,075 national median salary reported by the BLS. That median runs roughly 20x the program's annual in-state tuition. For prospective students, the draw here is low in-state cost paired with an online option.

San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia is a private, for-profit institution in Visalia, CA. Its Associate's in Human Resources program ranks #16 of the 25 analyzed here with an 81.6 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 84.3 group average, in the middle third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 36% of its students, below the 50% average across the ranked schools. San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia holds an open-admission policy, accepting every qualified applicant. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 28% to 100%. It is one of the smaller campuses here, with 2,318 students. The degree is also offered online, which widens access for working students.

Graduates step into a field with an $88,075 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the main draw here is its an online option.

Stautzenberger College-Brecksville is a private, for-profit institution in Brecksville, OH. Its Associate's in Human Resources program ranks #17 of the 25 analyzed here with an 81.5 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 84.3 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 59% of its students, above the 50% average across the ranked schools. Stautzenberger College-Brecksville holds an open-admission policy, accepting every qualified applicant. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 28% to 100%. It is one of the smaller campuses here, with 62 students.

On cost, Stautzenberger College-Brecksville charges $16,249 a year in-state. Over two years that totals about $32,498 in tuition. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $2,328 at Chandler-Gilbert Community College to $27,631 at Colorado Christian University. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with an $88,075 national median salary reported by the BLS. That median runs roughly 5x the program's annual in-state tuition. For prospective students, the draw here is above-average completion paired with an online option.

Rasmussen University-Florida is a private, for-profit institution in Ocala, FL. Its Associate's in Human Resources program ranks #18 of the 25 analyzed here with an 80.1 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 84.3 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 42% of its students, below the 50% average across the ranked schools. Rasmussen University-Florida holds an open-admission policy, accepting every qualified applicant. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 28% to 100%. It is one of the smaller campuses here, with 3,121 students.

On cost, Rasmussen University-Florida charges $14,024 a year in-state. Over two years that totals about $28,048 in tuition. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $2,328 at Chandler-Gilbert Community College to $27,631 at Colorado Christian University. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with an $88,075 national median salary reported by the BLS. That median runs roughly 6x the program's annual in-state tuition. For prospective students, the main draw here is its an online option.

Rasmussen University-Wisconsin is a private, for-profit institution in Green Bay, WI. Its Associate's in Human Resources program ranks #19 of the 25 analyzed here with an 80.0 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 84.3 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 57% of its students, above the 50% average across the ranked schools. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 28% to 100%. It is one of the smaller campuses here, with 55 students.

On cost, Rasmussen University-Wisconsin charges $13,929 a year in-state. Over two years that totals about $27,858 in tuition. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $2,328 at Chandler-Gilbert Community College to $27,631 at Colorado Christian University. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with an $88,075 national median salary reported by the BLS. That median runs roughly 6x the program's annual in-state tuition. For prospective students, the main draw here is its above-average completion.

Based in Saint Paul, MN, Saint Paul College is a public institution. Its Associate's in Human Resources program lands at #20 of the 25 ranked here, earning a 79.1 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 84.3 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 40% of its students, below the 50% average across the ranked schools. Saint Paul College holds an open-admission policy, accepting every qualified applicant. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 28% to 100%. The university enrolls 5,198 students overall. The degree is also offered online, which widens access for working students.

On cost, Saint Paul College charges $5,486 a year in-state. Over two years that totals about $10,972 in tuition. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $2,328 at Chandler-Gilbert Community College to $27,631 at Colorado Christian University. Graduates step into a field with an $88,075 national median salary reported by the BLS. That median runs roughly 16x the program's annual in-state tuition. For prospective students, the main draw here is its an online option.

Columbus State Community College is a public institution in Columbus, OH. Its Associate's in Human Resources program ranks #21 of the 25 analyzed here with a 79.1 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 84.3 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 28% of its students, below the 50% average across the ranked schools. Columbus State Community College holds an open-admission policy, accepting every qualified applicant. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 28% to 100%.

On cost, Columbus State Community College charges $5,488 a year in-state, roughly 2.0x the $11,224 out-of-state rate. Over two years that is about $10,976 in tuition for residents, against $22,448 for non-residents. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $2,328 at Chandler-Gilbert Community College to $27,631 at Colorado Christian University. The spread makes the program a clearer value for OH residents than for out-of-state students. Graduates step into a field with an $88,075 national median salary reported by the BLS. It earns its place in the top 25 on the balance of cost, completion, and outcomes.

Tarrant County College District is a public institution in Fort Worth, TX. Its Associate's in Human Resources program ranks #22 of the 25 analyzed here with a 79.0 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 84.3 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 34% of its students, below the 50% average across the ranked schools. Tarrant County College District holds an open-admission policy, accepting every qualified applicant. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 28% to 100%.

On cost, Tarrant County College District charges $3,537 a year in-state, roughly 2.4x the $8,370 out-of-state rate. Over two years that is about $7,074 in tuition for residents, against $16,740 for non-residents. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $2,328 at Chandler-Gilbert Community College to $27,631 at Colorado Christian University. The spread makes the program a clearer value for TX residents than for out-of-state students. Graduates step into a field with an $88,075 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the main draw here is its low in-state cost.

Based in Tempe, AZ, Bryan University is a private, for-profit institution. Its Associate's in Human Resources program lands at #23 of the 25 ranked here, earning a 78.9 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 84.3 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 41% of its students, below the 50% average across the ranked schools. Bryan University holds an open-admission policy, accepting every qualified applicant. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 28% to 100%. It is one of the smaller campuses here, with 2,519 students.

On cost, Bryan University charges $12,194 a year in-state. Over two years that totals about $24,388 in tuition. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $2,328 at Chandler-Gilbert Community College to $27,631 at Colorado Christian University. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with an $88,075 national median salary reported by the BLS. That median runs roughly 7x the program's annual in-state tuition. For prospective students, the main draw here is its an online option.

Minnesota State Community and Technical College is a public institution in Fergus Falls, MN. Its Associate's in Human Resources program ranks #24 of the 25 analyzed here with a 78.2 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 84.3 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 47% of its students, below the 50% average across the ranked schools. Minnesota State Community and Technical College holds an open-admission policy, accepting every qualified applicant. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 28% to 100%. The university enrolls 5,645 students overall. The degree is also offered online, which widens access for working students.

On cost, Minnesota State Community and Technical College charges $5,424 a year in-state. Over two years that totals about $10,848 in tuition. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $2,328 at Chandler-Gilbert Community College to $27,631 at Colorado Christian University. Graduates step into a field with an $88,075 national median salary reported by the BLS. That median runs roughly 16x the program's annual in-state tuition. For prospective students, the main draw here is its an online option.

Based in Eau Claire, WI, Chippewa Valley Technical College is a public institution. Its Associate's in Human Resources program lands at #25 of the 25 ranked here, earning a 78.2 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 84.3 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 50% of its students, above the 50% average across the ranked schools. Chippewa Valley Technical College holds an open-admission policy, accepting every qualified applicant. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 28% to 100%. The university enrolls 8,330 students overall.

On cost, Chippewa Valley Technical College charges $4,485 a year in-state, versus $6,728 for out-of-state students. Over two years that is about $8,970 in tuition for residents, against $13,456 for non-residents. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $2,328 at Chandler-Gilbert Community College to $27,631 at Colorado Christian University. Graduates step into a field with an $88,075 national median salary reported by the BLS. That median runs roughly 20x the program's annual in-state tuition. For prospective students, the draw here is low in-state cost paired with above-average completion.