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

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$49,063

Est. from KS median (7 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$30,736

Est. from KS median (4 programs)

Analysis

Similar programs across Kansas suggest first-year earnings around $49,000 for this degree, which positions Southwestern's HR program right at the state median. The estimated $30,700 in debt—also derived from comparable Kansas programs—exceeds the national benchmark for HR degrees by about $4,000, though the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63 remains manageable by conventional standards.

What's encouraging is the jump to $60,580 by year four, which outpaces both the national and state medians for HR programs. This trajectory suggests graduates find their footing in the field, though whether Southwestern's specific program drives these outcomes or whether this simply reflects Kansas HR market dynamics is impossible to determine from peer-based estimates. The school serves a substantial population of Pell grant recipients (39%), which often correlates with higher borrowing needs.

The fundamental challenge here is uncertainty. You're looking at debt and earnings patterns from other Kansas HR programs, not actual outcomes from Southwestern graduates. Before committing, verify whether the school can provide placement data, typical employers, or alumni contacts in HR roles. The estimated numbers aren't alarming, but they're also not compelling enough to proceed on estimates alone when you're making a $30,000+ investment.

Where Southwestern College Stands

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

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
Southwestern College	—	$60,580	—
Cornell University	$73,436	$94,446	+29%
Rasmussen University-Kansas	$56,465	$56,152	-1%
Wichita State University	$48,817	$55,826	+14%
Friends University	$54,539	$50,553	-7%

Compare to Similar Programs in Kansas

Human Resources Management and Services bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Kansas (12 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Southwestern CollegeWinfield	$38,480	$49,063*	$60,580	$30,736*	—
Rasmussen University-KansasTopeka	$15,340	$56,465*	$56,152	$38,233*	0.68
Friends UniversityWichita	$32,748	$54,539*	$50,553	$46,619*	0.85
Ottawa University-Kansas CityOverland Park	—	$49,063*	—	$30,736*	0.63
Ottawa University-OttawaOttawa	$35,300	$49,063*	—	$30,736*	0.63
Ottawa University-OnlineOverland Park	—	$49,063*	—	$30,736*	0.63
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 Southwestern College, approximately 39% 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 median of 7 similar programs in KS. Actual outcomes may vary.