Human Resources Management and Services (Bachelor's Degree) at Purdue University Northwest

Median Earnings (1yr)

$47,640

32nd percentile

40th percentile in Indiana

Median Debt

$26,486

1% below national median

Analysis

Purdue University Northwest's HR program lands below both national and state earnings benchmarks, with first-year graduates earning $47,640 compared to $50,361 nationally and $49,225 statewide. At the 40th percentile among Indiana programs, it trails competitors like Indiana Wesleyan ($56,752) and Purdue Global ($50,810) by notable margins. For a program at this price point, those gaps matter—graduates are starting $3,000-9,000 behind peers from similar Indiana institutions.

The debt load of $26,486 sits right at Indiana's median for HR programs, creating a manageable but not impressive debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56. Graduates should be able to handle payments on a standard 10-year plan, but they're doing so with less earning power than most HR graduates across the state. The 71% admission rate and modest SAT averages suggest an accessible program, yet the earnings don't reflect a strong employment outcome advantage.

For families considering this program, the question becomes whether the regional job connections justify accepting below-average starting salaries. If your student has offers from Ball State (similar earnings) or can access Purdue Global's online option (better earnings, same debt), those alternatives deserve serious consideration. This isn't a financially problematic choice, but it's not optimizing for return on investment within Indiana's HR landscape.

Where Purdue University Northwest Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How Purdue University Northwest graduates compare to all programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Indiana

Human Resources Management and Services bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Indiana (17 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Purdue University NorthwestHammond	$8,419	$47,640	—	$26,486	0.56
Indiana Wesleyan University-MarionMarion	$31,168	$56,752	$51,543	$51,703	0.91
Indiana Wesleyan University-National & GlobalMarion	$8,216	$56,752	—	—	—
Purdue University GlobalWest Lafayette	$10,110	$50,810	—	$44,834	0.88
Ball State UniversityMuncie	$10,758	$47,451	$59,740	$20,500	0.43
Indiana State UniversityTerre Haute	$9,992	$38,296	$42,862	$25,000	0.65
National Median	—	$50,361	—	$26,625	0.53

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 Purdue University Northwest, approximately 28% 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.

Sample Size: Based on 47 graduates with reported earnings and 47 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.