Human Resources Management and Services at University of Iowa

The University of Iowa's HR program outperforms the competition where it matters most—earning potential. With first-year earnings of $52,945 climbing to $67,540 by year four, graduates see 28% growth while carrying manageable debt of $23,149. This ranks in the 60th percentile among Iowa's HR programs, placing it squarely above the state median of $49,512 and well ahead of schools like Mount Mercy and University of Dubuque.

The value proposition is straightforward: you're paying less than the typical Iowa HR graduate ($27,375) while earning more from day one. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.44 means your child would owe less than half their starting salary—easily manageable territory. The strong earnings trajectory suggests real career advancement opportunities, not just lateral moves with modest raises. With a robust sample size of over 100 graduates, these aren't fluky numbers.

One caveat worth noting: Waldorf University shows significantly higher earnings ($77,897), though you'd want to investigate whether that's driven by a small, specialized subset of graduates. For most families, Iowa's combination of above-average earnings, below-average debt, and proven growth makes it a solid bet for an HR career without the financial stress.