Human Resources Management and Services (Bachelor's Degree) at Merrimack College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$50,361

Est. from national median (169 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$30,016

Est. from national median (72 programs)

Analysis

A debt load of $30,016 against first-year earnings around $50,000 creates a manageable starting point for Merrimack's HR program, though these figures come from national peer programs rather than tracked outcomes of this school's graduates. The estimated debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60 falls within the range financial advisors typically consider reasonable for a bachelor's degree, suggesting monthly loan payments that shouldn't consume more than about 10% of gross income in the early years.

What's harder to assess is whether Merrimack offers any distinctive advantage over the ten other Massachusetts schools teaching HR management. The estimated earnings align with the national median for this major, which is neither impressive nor alarming—HR roles typically start in this $48,000-$52,000 range regardless of where you study. The real question becomes whether the private college premium at Merrimack translates into stronger employer connections or career services, since the curriculum itself tends to be fairly standardized across programs.

For parents weighing this investment, the math works on paper but lacks the specificity you'd want for a $120,000 four-year commitment. If your child has strong relationships with faculty here or access to Merrimack's Boston-area network, the estimated debt burden appears sustainable. If they're choosing primarily on convenience or campus feel, exploring the state's public options could deliver similar HR career outcomes at significantly lower cost.

Where Merrimack College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all human resources management and services bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Human Resources Management and Services bachelors's programs at top institutions nationally

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Merrimack CollegeNorth Andover	$51,786	$50,361*	—	$30,016*	—
Benedictine UniversityLisle	$34,290	$83,475*	$70,999	$31,872*	0.38
University of Michigan-Ann ArborAnn Arbor	$17,228	$82,714*	$92,289	$14,225*	0.17
Northwestern UniversityEvanston	$65,997	$82,255*	—	$38,832*	0.47
Walsh UniversityNorth Canton	$34,595	$80,566*	—	$29,812*	0.37
Waldorf UniversityForest City	$25,220	$77,897*	$68,524	$32,111*	0.41
National Median	—	$50,361*	—	$26,625*	0.53

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with human resources management and services graduates

Compensation and Benefits Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate compensation and benefits activities of an organization.

$140,360/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Human Resources Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization.

$140,030/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Training and Development Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the training and development activities and staff of an organization.

$127,090/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Labor Relations Specialists

Resolve disputes between workers and managers, negotiate collective bargaining agreements, or coordinate grievance procedures to handle employee complaints.

$93,500/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Law Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in law. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Compliance Officers

Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Environmental Compliance Inspectors

Inspect and investigate sources of pollution to protect the public and environment and ensure conformance with Federal, State, and local regulations and ordinances.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers

Monitor and evaluate compliance with equal opportunity laws, guidelines, and policies to ensure that employment practices and contracting arrangements give equal opportunity without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Government Property Inspectors and Investigators

Investigate or inspect government property to ensure compliance with contract agreements and government regulations.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Coroners

Direct activities such as autopsies, pathological and toxicological analyses, and inquests relating to the investigation of deaths occurring within a legal jurisdiction to determine cause of death or to fix responsibility for accidental, violent, or unexplained deaths.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Regulatory Affairs Specialists

Coordinate and document internal regulatory processes, such as internal audits, inspections, license renewals, or registrations. May compile and prepare materials for submission to regulatory agencies.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Merrimack College, approximately 15% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 169 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.