Human Resources Management and Services at University of Denver

At $30,000 in estimated debt against first-year earnings near $50,000, University of Denver's HR program appears reasonably positioned—until you consider that comparable programs in Colorado typically produce much stronger outcomes. The two other Colorado schools with reported data show graduates earning $56,000 to $62,000 within a year, suggesting DU's estimated figures may lag the state market by $5,000 to $11,000 annually. That gap matters when you're carrying $30,000 in debt from a private university experience.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60 looks manageable on paper, tracking close to the national benchmark for HR programs. But Colorado's HR market appears stronger than the national average, and DU's selectivity (SAT scores averaging 1344) suggests students here might reasonably expect outcomes closer to Colorado State Global's $62,000 rather than the national median. The question becomes whether DU's network and Denver location translate into quicker salary growth that closes this initial gap.

For parents weighing this investment, recognize you're working with estimates drawn from peer institutions rather than actual DU graduate outcomes. The limited data prevents a definitive assessment, but the comparison with other Colorado HR programs suggests this may not be DU's strongest value proposition. If your child is set on this path, get specific placement data from the department—where recent grads landed, which employers recruit on campus, and whether internships lead to jobs that justify the private school price tag.