Est. Earnings (1yr)
$50,361
Est. from national median (169 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$25,000
Est. from national median (89 programs)

Analysis

A $50,000 starting salary paired with $25,000 in debt looks reasonable on paper, but the reality is murkier. These figures come from national peers rather than Delaware graduates, and the state picture tells a different story—the only Delaware HR program with reported data shows graduates earning $58,000, roughly $8,000 more than the national baseline used here. Whether University of Delaware's actual outcomes lean closer to that state figure or stay near the national median matters significantly when you're considering a $100,000+ total investment.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.50 suggests manageable repayment if those estimates hold true, but there's meaningful variation in how HR programs perform. Nationally, this field shows a $5,500 gap between median and top-quartile programs—not enormous, but enough to affect monthly loan payments and early-career financial flexibility. University of Delaware's stronger admissions profile (SAT of 1297) could push outcomes higher, yet without actual graduate data, you're essentially betting on the institution's brand translating to better placement.

The straightforward question: are you comfortable making a six-figure commitment based on what similar programs produce elsewhere? If your child has clear interest in HR and Delaware offers other compelling advantages—location, network, campus fit—the estimated numbers don't scream disaster. But they also don't provide the confidence that comes from seeing real outcomes for this specific program.

Where University of Delaware Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Delaware

Human Resources Management and Services bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Delaware (3 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
University of DelawareNewark$16,080$50,361*—$25,000*—
Wilmington UniversityNew Castle$12,330$58,049*$55,392$31,125*0.54
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 University of Delaware, approximately 16% 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.