The Best Master's in Human Resources in Pennsylvania for 2026
We built this ranking of the best master's in human resources in Pennsylvania by scoring nine human resources programs on graduation rate, admission selectivity, in-state tuition, and outcomes, using IPEDS and BLS data instead of surveys or paid placements.
In-state tuition among these nine programs runs from $7,716 to $66,838, a spread wide enough that a single blended average would mean almost nothing. West Chester University of Pennsylvania is the cheapest strong-value option at $7,716 a year, and it still lands 7th overall with an 82.1 Hakia Score, proof that the priciest human resources programs aren't automatically the best ones. Across all nine, the average graduation rate is 82%, so most students who start these programs actually finish them.
Below, you'll find what these programs actually cost once you run the math against national salary data, how SHRM certification and AACSB accreditation fit into the picture, and honest comparisons between online, accelerated, and traditional formats. Every figure ties back to real IPEDS and BLS numbers, not admissions-office marketing copy.
Key Takeaways on the Best Human Resources Master's Programs in Pennsylvania
- Villanova University tops this ranking of the best master's in human resources in Pennsylvania with a 94.9 Hakia Score, a 92% graduation rate, and $66,838 in-state tuition.
- In-state tuition across the nine ranked human resources programs spans $7,716 to $66,838, a nearly 9x difference between the cheapest and priciest options.
- West Chester University of Pennsylvania is the cheapest strong-value option at $7,716 in-state, ranking 7th overall with an 82.1 Hakia Score.
- The average graduation rate across these ranked programs is 82%.
- Six of the nine ranked programs are private nonprofit schools, where tuition runs 3x to 8x higher than the public options in this group.
- Nationally, BLS-tracked human resources roles report a median salary of $88,075 a year, the same benchmark every program's cost should be measured against.
The Hakia Score behind the programs here weighs four factors pulled directly from IPEDS: graduation rate, admission selectivity, in-state tuition, and post-program outcomes benchmarked against BLS wage data. No school paid for placement and no reputation survey factored into the score.
The 9 Best Human Resources Master's Programs in Pennsylvania, Ranked for 2026
| # | Program | Type | In-state tuition | Grad rate | Admit rate | Hakia Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Villanova UniversityVillanova, PA | Nonprofit | $66,838 | 92% | 27% | 94.9 |
| 2 | University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA · online option | Nonprofit | $60,920 | 97% | 5% | 93.3 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusUniversity Park, PA | Public | $20,066 | 86% | 61% | 89.9 |
| 4 | Temple UniversityPhiladelphia, PA · online option | Public | $21,989 | 75% | 80% | 84.5 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusUniversity Park, PA | Public | $20,066 | 86% | 61% | 83.7 |
| 6 | Drexel UniversityPhiladelphia, PA · online option | Nonprofit | $60,042 | 78% | 79% | 82.6 |
| 7 | West Chester University of PennsylvaniaWest Chester, PA · online option | Public | $7,716 | 71% | 78% | 82.1 |
| 8 | University of ScrantonScranton, PA · online option | Nonprofit | $53,208 | 80% | 81% | 80.1 |
| 9 | Saint Francis UniversityLoretto, PA · online option | Nonprofit | $25,288 | 74% | 77% | 75.3 |
The Top Human Resources Master's Programs in Pennsylvania at a Glance
Each program scores 0 to 100 on the Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. Longer bars rank higher.
Inside the Top Human Resources Master's Programs in Pennsylvania
Villanova University
Villanova, PA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 92%
- Admit rate
- 27%
- In-state
- $66,838
- Out-of-state
- $66,838
Villanova's MS in Human Resource Development posts a 94.9 Hakia Score and a 92% graduation rate, the top-ranked human resources master's program in Pennsylvania for 2026.
- 92% graduation rate
- $66,838 tuition (in and out of state)
- 27% admit rate
- SHRM/HRCI-certified coursework
Villanova's Master of Science in Human Resource Development (MSHRD) is a generalist program built to walk students through the whole HR field, from employment law and regulation to human behavior and business strategy, according to the program page. You can study it on campus and online in a hybrid mix, or go 100% online, and you choose the format each term. Even the online sections meet live and synchronous every week, so it's not a recorded-lecture program. Villanova calls it one of the longest-running graduate HR programs in the country and says its coursework is certified by SHRM and HRCI, which means classes count toward recertification credit for HR professionals who already hold those credentials.
The numbers back the #1 ranking. Villanova graduates 92% of MSHRD students and admits just 27% of applicants, the second most selective program in this group behind Penn. Tuition runs $66,838 flat, the same whether you live in Pennsylvania or not, since it's a private university with no in-state discount. That, combined with a 94.9 Hakia Score, the highest of the nine programs ranked here, makes Villanova the pick for someone who wants a broad HR generalist credential, format flexibility, and a curriculum built around SHRM and HRCI recertification rather than the lowest sticker price.
Nationally, the HR field's median wage runs $88,075 a year, per BLS wage data. That figure is the same across every school on this list, so weigh it against Villanova's $66,838 tuition, not against another program's outcomes.
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA · Nonprofit · online option
- Grad rate
- 97%
- Admit rate
- 5%
- In-state
- $60,920
- Out-of-state
- $60,920
Penn's MS in Organizational Dynamics admits just 5% of applicants yet graduates 97% of the students who enroll.
- 97% graduation rate
- 5% admit rate, most selective in PA
- $60,920 tuition (flat)
- low-residency hybrid format, 1-2 campus weekends per term
Penn's Master of Science in Organizational Dynamics (MSOD) is moving to a low-residency format starting fall 2026: coursework happens online in synchronous sessions, then you come to campus for one or two in-person weekends per course, what Penn calls the Hybrid I and Hybrid II format. Foundation courses form the academic core, and application courses have students work through real organizational problems. You can build an individualized curriculum with an advisor or choose a concentration. Penn describes its students as mid-career professionals with at least five years of experience, coming from startups, nonprofits, and multinational corporations across public and private sectors.
A 5% admit rate makes this the most selective HR-adjacent master's in Pennsylvania, yet 97% of students who enroll graduate, the highest completion rate of the nine programs ranked here. Tuition is $60,920 flat for residents and non-residents alike. Penn's 93.3 Hakia Score puts it second behind Villanova. This program fits someone who already has real management experience, wants the Penn network and small-seminar format, and can commit to in-person weekends inside an otherwise online schedule. It's not built for someone starting HR from zero.
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
University Park, PA · Public
- Grad rate
- 86%
- Admit rate
- 61%
- In-state
- $20,066
- Out-of-state
- $41,212
Penn State's HRER program charges Pennsylvania residents $20,066 a year, less than a third of Villanova's flat $66,838 tuition, while still graduating 86% of students and admitting 61% of applicants.
- $20,066 in-state tuition (vs $41,212 out-of-state)
- 86% graduation rate
- 61% admit rate, more open than Villanova or Penn
- online M.H.R.E.R. via Penn State World Campus
Penn State's Human Resources and Employment Relations (HRER) program runs two tracks: a Master of Science (M.S.) at University Park and a Master of Human Resources and Employment Relations (M.H.R.E.R.), which can also be completed online through Penn State World Campus. Both cover employment law, labor and employee relations, and HR administration. The program lists joint options too, including an integrated B.S./M.S. path and a J.D./M.S. co-degree with Penn State Law for students who want to pair HR with a law degree.
Penn State graduates 86% of HRER students and admits 61% of applicants, more open than Villanova and Penn but more selective than the other five programs in this ranking. Where it wins is cost: Pennsylvania residents pay $20,066 a year, less than a third of Villanova's flat $66,838, while out-of-state students pay $41,212, still well under Villanova's or Penn's private tuition. An 89.9 Hakia Score puts it third in the state ranking. This program fits Pennsylvania residents who want a public-school price, an online M.H.R.E.R. option through World Campus, or a path into HR law through the J.D./M.S. track.
Nationally, the BLS puts the median wage for the HR field at $88,075 a year. Penn State's in-state tuition gets a Pennsylvania resident to that same field for a fraction of the private-school cost.
Temple University
Philadelphia, PA · Public · online option
- Grad rate
- 75%
- Admit rate
- 80%
- In-state
- $21,989
- Out-of-state
- $37,789
Temple's Fox School delivers a SHRM-aligned HR management master's fully online in as little as 13 months, backed by an 80% admit rate, the second most accessible of Pennsylvania's nine ranked programs, behind only Scranton's 81%.
- SHRM-certified curriculum
- 80% admit rate, second most accessible in PA
- 13-month completion option
- $21,989 in-state tuition
Temple's Fox School of Business runs its Master of Science in Human Resource Management fully online, part-time or full-time, with multiple entry points during the year. The 30-credit program says it can be finished in as little as 13 months, and its curriculum is certified to standards set by the Society for Human Resource Management. Coursework covers talent acquisition, talent management, employee relations, and total rewards, with named courses like Building Human Capital in High-Performance Organizations and Strategic Reward Systems.
Temple graduates 75% of students in this program, the third-lowest completion rate among the nine programs ranked here, behind only West Chester and Saint Francis, and admits 80% of applicants, the second most accessible in this ranking behind only Scranton's 81%. Tuition runs $21,989 for Pennsylvania residents and $37,789 for out-of-state students. An 84.5 Hakia Score puts Temple fourth in this ranking. The program fits a working HR professional who wants a SHRM-aligned curriculum, full online delivery, and one of the easiest paths in on this list, and who's willing to weigh that against a graduation rate lower than all but two other programs in Pennsylvania's ranked HR master's programs.
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
University Park, PA · Public
- Grad rate
- 86%
- Admit rate
- 61%
- In-state
- $20,066
- Out-of-state
- $41,212
Penn State admits just 61% of applicants to its HR and Employment Relations master's, tied for the third most selective admit rate among the nine programs here, trailing only Villanova and Penn, yet still graduates 86% of them, and in-state students pay $20,066 while out-of-state students pay more than double at $41,212.
- 83.7 Hakia Score
- 86% graduation rate
- $20,066 in-state tuition ($41,212 out-of-state)
- World Campus M.H.R.E.R. track for working professionals
Penn State's Human Resources and Employment Relations program comes in two formats: a two-year Master of Science (M.S.) built for research-oriented students, and a 30 to 33-credit Master of Human Resources and Employment Relations (M.H.R.E.R.) aimed at working professionals, offered at University Park or fully online through World Campus. Coursework covers employment law, labor and employment relations, and organizational strategy, and the university also runs a joint J.D./M.S. with Penn State Law for students who want a legal credential alongside the HR degree.
Penn State earns a Hakia Score of 83.7, the fifth-highest among Pennsylvania's master's in HR programs, built on an 86% graduation rate and a 61% admit rate tied for the third most selective among the nine programs here, trailing only Villanova and Penn. Tuition runs $20,066 in-state and $41,212 out-of-state, so Pennsylvania residents pay less than half of what nonresidents pay for the same degree. With 50,737 students enrolled, this is the largest school on the list, a fit for candidates who want a flagship university's resources and a research or legal track layered onto the HR degree, not just the fastest route to a professional credential.
Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA · Nonprofit · online option
- Grad rate
- 78%
- Admit rate
- 79%
- In-state
- $60,042
- Out-of-state
- $60,042
Drexel charges one flat $60,042 tuition for its fully online HR development master's, so a student anywhere in the country pays the same rate as a student in Philadelphia, inside a program with a 79% admit rate.
- 82.6 Hakia Score
- 78% graduation rate
- $60,042 flat tuition, no out-of-state premium
- 100% online, one of 160+ Drexel online programs
Drexel's M.S. in Human Resource Development runs 100% online, one of more than 160 online degree and certificate programs the university offers from the bachelor's through doctoral level. Drexel reports a 9 to 1 average student-to-faculty ratio across its online programs and places itself among the top 100 in U.S. News & World Report's National Universities rankings, per the school's own site. Prospective students can also try a no-cost "Test Drive" of Drexel's online learning platform before applying.
The program carries a Hakia Score of 82.6, Pennsylvania's sixth-highest among master's in HR, built on a 78% graduation rate and a comparatively open 79% admit rate. Tuition is flat at $60,042 no matter where a student lives, the third-highest sticker price among the nine programs ranked here behind Villanova and Penn, but with no out-of-state penalty, a real advantage for HR professionals studying online from outside Pennsylvania. With 21,153 students enrolled, Drexel fits candidates who value full schedule flexibility and a large private university's resources over the lowest possible price.
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
West Chester, PA · Public · online option
- Grad rate
- 71%
- Admit rate
- 78%
- In-state
- $7,716
- Out-of-state
- $19,290
West Chester's SHRM-aligned HR management master's costs just $7,716 in-state, the cheapest of Pennsylvania's ranked programs, and its 7-week terms let students finish all 10 courses in as little as one year.
- 82.1 Hakia Score
- $7,716 in-state tuition
- AACSB accredited, SHRM-aligned curriculum
- 10 courses in 7-week terms, finish in as little as one year
West Chester's M.S. in Human Resource Management is a 10-course degree delivered 100% online and asynchronously through the AACSB-accredited College of Business and Public Management. Courses run in 7-week terms instead of the traditional 15 weeks, with five start dates a year, so a student can finish in as little as one year. The curriculum is SHRM-aligned, one of only 440 programs worldwide the school says are recognized for matching Society for Human Resource Management standards, and it makes graduates eligible to sit for the SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) exam in their final year.
The program holds a Hakia Score of 82.1, ranking seventh among Pennsylvania's master's in HR programs, with a 71% graduation rate and a 78% admit rate. In-state tuition is $7,716, the least expensive option in this group by a wide margin; out-of-state students pay $19,290, still less than a third of Drexel's flat rate. With 17,171 students enrolled, West Chester fits students who want an AACSB-accredited, SHRM-aligned credential at the lowest cost and fastest pace on this list.
University of Scranton
Scranton, PA · Nonprofit · online option
- Grad rate
- 80%
- Admit rate
- 81%
- In-state
- $53,208
- Out-of-state
- $53,208
Scranton's 33-credit HR management master's charges $875 per credit, $28,875 total, with no GRE or GMAT required and SHRM-CP exam eligibility built into the curriculum.
- 80.1 Hakia Score
- 33 credits at $875/credit ($28,875 total)
- 80% graduation rate
- No GRE/GMAT required, SHRM-CP exam prep
The University of Scranton's online M.S. in Human Resources Management is a 33-credit, SHRM-aligned program that requires no GRE or GMAT for admission. At $875 per credit, the 33-credit sequence totals $28,875 in direct program cost, completed in 18 to 22 months. Coursework covers staffing, compensation and salary planning, organizational behavior and leadership, and control and budgeting systems, and graduates are prepared to sit for the SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) exam. Students also gain membership in the school's SHRM student chapter.
Scranton carries a Hakia Score of 80.1, the eighth-ranked master's in HR in Pennsylvania, with an 80% graduation rate and an 81% admit rate, the most accessible of this group. Tuition is billed flat at $53,208 whether a student lives in Pennsylvania or elsewhere, well above the $28,875 the program's own per-credit pricing works out to for the 33-credit sequence. Enrollment is 4,724, the smallest school on this list. The school cites a U.S. News & World Report ranking among the top-5 regional universities in the north and a Bureau of Labor Statistics figure of $121,220 for median HR manager pay in 2020; both are the school's own citations, not independent findings here. Scranton fits candidates who want a no-test-required path to SHRM-CP eligibility at a defined per-credit price.
Saint Francis University
Loretto, PA · Nonprofit · online option
- Grad rate
- 74%
- Admit rate
- 77%
- In-state
- $25,288
- Out-of-state
- $25,288
Saint Francis charges the same flat $25,288 tuition no matter where a student lives, which works out to about $843 per credit for a 100% online, HRCI-aligned MHRM.
- 77% admit rate
- $25,288 flat tuition, same in-state and out-of-state
- 100% online, 30-credit MHRM (10 courses)
- Hakia Score 75.3
Saint Francis University's Shields School of Business offers a Master of Human Resource Management (MHRM), delivered 100% online as a 30-credit, ten-course program. The curriculum is built on the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI) body of knowledge and maps to Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) competencies, with coursework in staffing, recruitment and retention, employment and labor law, compensation and benefits administration, and performance management. Classes are taught by HR practitioners rather than research faculty, and the school points to regular video feedback and direct professor access as part of how the online format is run.
The numbers point to an accessible, career-focused program rather than a selective one. Saint Francis admits 77% of applicants and graduates 74% of its students. Tuition is a flat $25,288 regardless of residency, so an out-of-state student pays the same rate as a Pennsylvania resident, a real advantage over programs that charge a premium for non-residents. Spread across the 30-credit MHRM, that works out to roughly $843 per credit. Saint Francis ranks 9th among Pennsylvania's master's-level HR programs on the Hakia Score (75.3), which weighs outcomes like graduation rate and access alongside cost.
This program fits a working HR generalist or specialist who wants to move into a strategic HR role without relocating or pausing a career. The fully online format and residency-blind flat tuition remove the two biggest practical barriers, schedule and geography, that keep working adults out of a master's program, and the HRCI/SHRM-aligned curriculum gives that reader a direct line to the functional areas (HR specialist and HR manager) roles actually require.
What Master's in Human Resources Programs Cost in Pennsylvania
Human resources programs in Pennsylvania post a nine-fold spread in what a master's actually costs. In-state tuition among the nine ranked programs runs from $7,716 a year at West Chester University of Pennsylvania to $66,838 a year at Villanova University, against an average graduation rate of 82% across the group. That range alone tells you the first decision isn't which school ranks highest, it's whether you're buying a public-school credential or a private-school one.
Do the math on the cheap end first. West Chester's $7,716 annual in-state tuition, run across a typical two-year human resources master's, totals roughly $15,432, less than one-fifth of the $88,075 national median salary the BLS reports for human resources occupations. Penn State's Main Campus programs (ranked 3rd and 5th, both $20,066 in-state) land in similar territory: about $40,132 for two years, still under half a year of the national median salary.
The private schools change the equation. Villanova's $66,838 a year, over two years, runs $133,676, more than 1.5 times the $88,075 national median. Drexel ($60,042) and Penn ($60,920) sit close behind. None of these figures include lost income while you're studying or the opportunity cost of a full-time program, so the real payback period stretches further than the sticker price suggests. For most readers weighing the best master's in human resources in Pennsylvania, the public options are worth pricing out before the private brand name.
Certification and the SHRM Credential
Human resources programs don't lead to a state license the way nursing or accounting degrees do. There's no HR licensing board and no mandatory exam standing between you and the job title. What functions as the field's credibility marker instead is voluntary certification through SHRM, the Society for Human Resource Management, which administers the SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP exams.
Employers increasingly list SHRM-CP or the competing HRCI PHR/SPHR credentials as preferred, not required, qualifications. A master's from one of the programs ranked here doesn't automatically confer certification; you still sit for the SHRM exam separately, typically after logging some HR work experience or coursework hours. What the degree does is prepare you for the exam content, and at several of these schools, coursework aligns directly with SHRM's body of applied knowledge.
If certification matters to your plan, ask any program on this list whether its curriculum is a SHRM Academic Alignment partner before you enroll. That detail doesn't show up in IPEDS data, so you have to ask the admissions office directly.
Why Accreditation Matters for Master's in Human Resources Programs
Accreditation is the one credential-behind-the-credential that separates legitimate human resources programs from a diploma mill. The gold standard for the business schools that house most HR master's programs is AACSB accreditation, held by fewer than 6% of business schools worldwide. Villanova, Penn, Penn State, Temple, and Drexel are the kind of research universities that typically carry it, but check each school's status directly since AACSB accreditation applies at the business-school level, not the university level.
Accreditation isn't cosmetic. It affects whether employers and other universities recognize your degree, whether credits transfer, and in some cases whether you qualify for SHRM Academic Alignment coursework or scholarship programs. For an accredited human resources degree, confirm which accreditor covers the specific department granting the HR master's, since university-wide accreditation doesn't guarantee the business or HR program itself carries a specialty accreditation.
Master's vs. Other Human Resources Degree Levels
A master's is one rung on the human resources degree ladder, not the only one. Most HR careers start with a bachelor's in human resources, business administration, or a related field, and plenty of HR generalists build full careers without ever going back for a master's. The BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level requirement for human resources specialists, and a bachelor's plus experience for human resources managers.
This ranking focuses on the master's level because that's where the Pennsylvania program data separates most clearly. Nine human resources programs at the master's level had enough IPEDS graduation-rate, tuition, and admissions data to score reliably; a bachelor's-level ranking would answer a different question, mostly about undergraduate cost and access. If you're weighing a straight-to-master's path against working first and going back later, know that most of these schools, including Temple and Penn State, admit students with a few years of HR or business experience already on their resume, not just recent college graduates.
Online Master's in Human Resources Programs and Accelerated Paths
Several of the schools in this ranking offer online or hybrid formats for their human resources programs, letting working HR staff keep their job while finishing the degree part time. Penn State's World Campus is well known for exactly this kind of format, and Temple and Drexel both serve large working-adult populations in the Philadelphia area with evening and hybrid course schedules.
An online format doesn't show up as a separate line in the IPEDS data used to rank the options here, so the grad rate, tuition, and admit rate here reflect the institution as a whole, not a specific online track's numbers. If the online option is what you're actually choosing between, call the program directly and ask whether the online cohort's completion rate and cost match the figures reported here. At West Chester, where in-state tuition is $7,716, stretching a part-time online schedule to three years instead of two changes the total cost math far less than it would at a $66,838-a-year private program.
Accelerated tracks work the opposite way: compress the same credit total into 12 to 16 months and you cut the calendar time before you're back earning full pay, but you also lose the ability to work full time while studying. Weigh that tradeoff against your own income needs, not against what looks best in a ranking.
Human Resources Careers and Salary Outlook
Every school in this ranking reports its own graduation rate, admission rate, and tuition, numbers that genuinely differ program to program. Salary isn't one of those numbers. The $88,075 median a year comes from national BLS wage data covering human resources occupations, and it's the same figure regardless of which of these nine human resources programs you attend. Use it as a field benchmark, not a promise from any one school.
The BLS splits the field into two tracks. Human resources managers, the role a master's degree and several years of experience typically target, sit at the higher end of that range. Human resources specialists, the more common entry point, sit lower. A human resources degree at the master's level is generally aimed at moving you from the specialist track toward the manager track, or toward a director-level generalist role in human resource management.
What this ranking can't tell you is how much of that salary jump comes from the degree itself versus the experience and SHRM certification stacked on top of it. Treat the $88,075 figure as a field-wide anchor: compare it against each school's tuition, from $7,716 to $66,838 a year, to see how many years of salary it would take to recover the cost, and remember that most HR master's students are already working, not starting from zero income.
Human Resources Master's Programs in Pennsylvania: Your Questions, Answered
How long does a master's in human resources take to complete?
Is an online master's in human resources respected by employers?
How much do master's in human resources programs cost in Pennsylvania?
Do you need SHRM certification to work in human resources?
What accreditation should a human resources program have?
What's the difference between a human resources manager and specialist?
What graduation rate is good for a human resources master's program?
Should I get a master's in human resources or just work my way up?
How the Human Resources Master's Programs in Pennsylvania Are Scored
Every program earns a Hakia Score from 0 to 100, built only from federal data (IPEDS, the U.S. Department of Education, and BLS) and scored against its true peers: programs in the same field at the same degree level. No reputation surveys, no pay-to-play. Here is how the score is weighted:
- Outcomes44%
Graduation rate (26%) and real per-school graduate earnings (18%). Does the program get students to the finish line, and where do they land?
- Selectivity & academics38%
Admissions selectivity (24%) and the academic profile of admitted students (14%).
- Scale & value18%
Enrollment (7%), cost-to-earnings value (6%), and the number of graduates a program produces (5%).
Weights renormalize over the data each program actually reports, so a school missing a metric (many open-access colleges do not publish entrance scores or earnings) is never penalized for it. Scores are percentiles within the peer group, curved to a 0-to-100 scale. What the score does not measure: individual instructor quality, specific course content, or campus culture. Verify those directly with the program.