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

Median Earnings (1yr)

$52,945

62nd percentile

60th percentile in Iowa

Median Debt

$23,149

13% below national median

Analysis

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.

Where University of Iowa Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How University of Iowa graduates compare to all programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
University of Iowa	$52,945	$67,540	+28%
Waldorf University	$77,897	$68,524	-12%
Grand View University	$49,917	$63,128	+26%
Mount Mercy University	$48,722	$52,422	+8%
Upper Iowa University	$49,106	$48,961	-0%

Compare to Similar Programs in Iowa

Human Resources Management and Services bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Iowa (14 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
University of IowaIowa City	$10,964	$52,945	$67,540	$23,149	0.44
Waldorf UniversityForest City	$25,220	$77,897	$68,524	$32,111	0.41
Grand View UniversityDes Moines	$33,450	$49,917	$63,128	$27,375	0.55
Upper Iowa UniversityFayette	$19,000	$49,106	$48,961	$41,006	0.84
Mount Mercy UniversityCedar Rapids	$39,070	$48,722	$52,422	$29,225	0.60
University of DubuqueDubuque	$40,065	$48,657	—	$27,000	0.55
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 Iowa, approximately 18% 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 132 graduates with reported earnings and 149 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.