Human Resources Management and Services at Aquinas College

Based on comparable HR programs across Michigan, first-year earnings around $50,600 would place Aquinas graduates right at the state median—a middle-of-the-pack outcome in a field where even top Michigan programs like Michigan State produce graduates earning $56,500. The challenge lies in the estimated debt load of $35,800, which runs about $8,800 higher than what typical Michigan HR programs report and roughly $9,200 above the national median. That 0.71 debt-to-earnings ratio means nearly three-quarters of a year's salary would go toward debt—a tighter squeeze than most HR graduates face.

The gap between what similar programs charge and what Aquinas appears to cost matters here because HR isn't a high-earning field where extra debt gets quickly absorbed. While the estimated starting salary is respectable and matches state benchmarks, it doesn't offer much cushion when paired with above-average borrowing. You're looking at a degree that gets you to roughly the same career starting point as less expensive alternatives.

For a parent weighing this investment, the question becomes whether Aquinas offers something—smaller classes, connections, campus culture—that justifies the additional debt burden. The earnings trajectory looks standard for the field, but starting with significantly more debt than peers at other Michigan schools means your child would need longer to reach financial stability. If similar programs elsewhere would leave them with $8,000-$9,000 less debt for comparable outcomes, that's worth serious consideration.