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

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$50,361

Est. from national median (169 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$38,233

Est. from national median (16 programs)

Analysis

A debt burden of $38,233 significantly exceeds what's typical for HR bachelor's programs—about $14,000 more than the national median and nearly $12,000 above the Tennessee average. Meanwhile, similar HR programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $50,361, which would make this one of the stronger outcomes in Tennessee, where the median sits at just $44,224. That earnings estimate puts this program roughly on par with UT-Knoxville's reported outcomes, but the debt load tells a different story about value.

The 0.76 debt-to-earnings ratio lands in acceptable territory—you're looking at roughly nine months of gross income to cover the total debt. However, with half of South College students receiving Pell grants, that higher debt burden matters more. These families have less cushion to absorb student loans, and HR roles, while stable, don't typically command salaries that make aggressive loan repayment painless in the early years.

For parents, the central question is whether this private college premium—an extra $12,000-14,000 in debt compared to state peers—delivers commensurate value in career placement, internship connections, or other support that translates to faster salary growth. Without actual graduate outcomes from South College specifically, you're betting on the estimated earnings materializing while carrying demonstrably higher debt. That's a tougher proposition than comparable programs in Tennessee offer.

Where South College Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Tennessee

Human Resources Management and Services bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Tennessee (8 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
South CollegeKnoxville	$17,935	$50,361*	—	$38,233*	—
The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleKnoxville	$13,484	$49,956*	$60,862	$22,018*	0.44
Lipscomb UniversityNashville	$38,824	$38,493*	$45,393	$26,298*	0.68
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 South College, approximately 50% 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.