Human Resources Management and Services (Bachelor's Degree) at University of Alabama at Birmingham

Median Earnings (1yr)

$45,343

20th percentile

60th percentile in Alabama

Median Debt

$27,000

1% above national median

Analysis

UAB's HR program sits in an interesting middle ground—earning just above the Alabama median ($45,343 vs. $44,736), yet trailing the national median by about $5,000. That 60th percentile ranking among Alabama schools tells you this is a solid in-state option, though it won't match the top performers like Columbia Southern. The debt load of $27,000 is actually lower than Alabama's typical $31,422, giving you a manageable 0.60 debt-to-earnings ratio. For context, that means your graduate could theoretically pay off their debt in about 7-8 months of gross earnings.

The catch is transparency: with fewer than 30 graduates tracked, these numbers could swing considerably with just a few outliers. What we know for certain is that UAB keeps costs reasonable while delivering earnings that work for the local job market, even if they're not exceptional. Birmingham's status as a regional business hub likely explains why graduates can start near $45,000 despite the program's modest national ranking.

If your student plans to work in Alabama after graduation, this program offers decent value—especially at this debt level. But if they're aiming for a competitive HR career in higher-cost markets or at Fortune 500 companies, you might want to explore programs with stronger national placement records. The numbers suggest UAB prepares students for solid regional HR roles, not necessarily corporate talent management positions.

Where University of Alabama at Birmingham Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How University of Alabama at Birmingham graduates compare to all programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Alabama

Human Resources Management and Services bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Alabama (10 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
University of Alabama at BirminghamBirmingham	$8,832	$45,343	—	$27,000	0.60
Columbia Southern UniversityOrange Beach	$5,808	$53,843	$50,348	$31,715	0.59
Athens State UniversityAthens	—	$44,130	$49,341	$31,130	0.71
Faulkner UniversityMontgomery	$23,920	$40,764	$37,351	$33,124	0.81
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 University of Alabama at Birmingham, approximately 33% 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 22 graduates with reported earnings and 29 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.