Best Online Master’s in Human Resources Programs of 2023

Georgetown University is a highly selective private Jesuit Catholic school in Washington, D.C., founded in 1789. It's the oldest Catholic university in the nation. Its Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies offers online business- and industry-focused master's degrees intended for adult learners, including a Master's in Human Resources Management. The thirty-credit online program focuses highly on ethics and is taught by the same distinguished faculty that teach the on-campus program. It takes two to five years to complete and averages six to eight hours of commitment per week. Five focus areas are available to customize your graduate degree: Strategic Human Capital Management, Talent and Organization Development, Global Human Resources Management, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and HR Analytics and Technology. Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies offers a number of scholarships for community service and military service.

The online Master of Science in Human Resource Management program through the Florida International University College of Business stands out on this list for having the most selective admissions rate and best graduation rate of the public schools. It's a highly flexible program that students can complete in as little as one-year online. Florida International's program is unique because the curriculum was created by human resource industry executives and is continuously adjusted to reflect changes in the human resources field. Courses are heavy on practical application and include Wellness Management, Labor Issues and Conflict Management, and Human Resource Strategy and Planning. The program is geared toward working adults, and the admissions committee prefers a minimum of five years of professional full-time work experience.

A private institution in Los Angeles, the University of Southern California (USC) offers a rigorous and highly selective online Master of Science in Human Resource Management program. The program is administered through USC's Bovard College, which is geared toward working professionals and offers online master's degrees designed to accelerate careers in high-growth fields. The online Master of Science in Human Resources Management can be completed entirely online in one to two years. Its learning style is student-centered, and its focus is on the crucial role that human resources professionals play in the performance of global organizations. Additionally, the program's curriculum was designed by industry leaders, and start terms for the program are offered three times a year.

Villanova University is a private Augustinian Catholic school located in Pennsylvania. Its College of Arts and Sciences offers a 36-credit-hour Master of Science in Human Resource Development that students can complete online. Villanova's key goals are to produce human resources professionals who integrate diversity and inclusion into HR practices and initiatives and lead and empower others. Admission requirements include a bachelor's degree and an academic writing sample; a GPA of at least 3.0 is recommended. Merit-based funding is available for full-time students via scholarships and graduate assistantships. Additionally, several full-tuition graduate fellowships are available each year to students in the College of Arts and Sciences. Three-start times are available during the calendar year for incoming students.

Ivy League Cornell University's online master's program in human resources stands out for having the most selective rate of admission (11%) and highest graduation rate (95%). Located in Ithaca, New York, the university's Cornell Online program offers the online Executive Master of Human Resource Management degree through the School of Industrial and Labor Relations. This rigorous program is designed for high-achieving human resource professionals with at least eight years of experience. It takes 15 months to complete, and courses complement busy work schedules by being offered in the early morning, evening, and weekends. Faculty are among the most distinguished practitioners and researchers in the field. They have been published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, the International Journal of Human Resource Management, the Industrial and Labor Relations Review, and many others.

Northcentral University is a private, non-profit educational institution founded in 1996 that provides online degrees only. Its online Master of Human Resource Management focuses on topics like human resources practices, global talent development, employment law, and staffing models. All faculty hold doctorate degrees, and there is no group work required. The average completion time for the degree is 16 months. and admitted students can begin any time of the year. Northcentral University stands out for its Pursuit of Knowledge Scholarship, which provides full tuition to three students and half tuition to two students annually who are enrolled in a master's or doctoral program. The only requirement to apply for the scholarship is to answer an essay question about how a graduate degree would help you in your personal and professional life.

Colorado State University Global is the distance-education arm of Colorado State, a public research institution in Fort Collins. It offers a thirty-six-credit hour online Master in Human Resource Management that students can complete 100% online. Colorado State's online program graduates will most likely earn jobs as human resources directors, employee relations managers, and corporate recruiters. Additionally, 99% of program graduates work in human resources. The school stands out for its many student support services for distance learners, including 24/7 access to live, expert tutors and access to online libraries and career services.

Massachusetts-based Boston University and its Metropolitan College offer a highly selective online Master of Science in Human Resources Management. The program has an admissions rate of 20% and requires five years of professional experience or certification as a Certified Employee Benefit Specialist. Applicants must also demonstrate mathematical proficiency by taking an online math test. Courses include Ecommerce, Quantitative and Qualitative Decision-Making, and Enterprise Risk Planning and Compliance. Boston University is a private research institution founded in 1839 by the United Methodist Church but is now non-sectarian. It has a total student body of about 35,000 - 4,000 of whom are enrolled at Metropolitan College. The college offers flexible, part-time study options for non-traditional students looking to work on their degrees in the evening or entirely online.

The University of Massachusetts offers a fully online Master's Degree in Human Resources through UMASS Global, which was established in 1958 to provide educational opportunities to adult students. The program's goal is to prepare graduates to best handle issues like strategic management; staffing, training, and development; conflict and negotiation; employee benefits; and legal problems. UMASS Global's program graduates have been hired by businesses and organizations, including Robert Half, the University of California, Cintas, Bausch & Lomb, and PricewaterhouseCoopers. UMASS Global is a designated Military Friendly School. It offers a substantial tuition reduction for active-duty military members and their spouses and credits for military training for active duty service members and veterans.

Located in Malibu, California, Pepperdine University is a private Christian research university that offers a Master of Science in Human Resources primarily online through its Graziadio Business School. The program requires two in-person immersion experiences and takes place in Los Angeles during the first and last terms. The human resources skills this thirty-credit hour program provides are:

• Business acumen


• Communication and collaboration


• Global and ethical perspectives


• Knowledge of human resources concepts

Pepperdine's online master's in human resources can be completed in as little as sixteen months online and boasts a low student-to-faculty ratio of 13:1. GRE scores are not needed to apply. However, applicants must have at least one year of work experience (preferably two).