Human Resources Management and Services (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Median Earnings (1yr)

$48,970

75th percentile

60th percentile in Minnesota

Median Debt

$21,532

20% above national median

Analysis

The University of Minnesota's HR certificate outperforms the national median by $2,666 in first-year earnings, though it sits at the middle of Minnesota's pack—several in-state schools likely offer similar outcomes. With debt of $21,532 and starting earnings just under $49,000, graduates face a manageable debt burden at 44% of first-year income, well below the typical threshold for financial strain. The 21% earnings growth over four years suggests this credential opens doors to progressive career advancement in HR.

What stands out is the practical math: even if your child already has a bachelor's degree and is considering this as an additional credential, the relatively low debt load means they could reasonably pay it off within two to three years of full-time HR work. The certificate appears to deliver solid workforce entry credentials at a flagship university's reasonable cost structure.

The main consideration is whether a certificate alone positions graduates competitively for advancement. HR increasingly prefers bachelor's degrees for management tracks, so this makes most sense either as professional development for someone already working, or as a stepping stone credential. For a traditional undergraduate looking to build HR skills, exploring full degree programs might offer better long-term positioning, though at higher cost.

Where University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How University of Minnesota-Twin Cities 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 Minnesota-Twin Cities	$48,970	$59,448	+21%
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus	$64,711	$81,611	+26%
University of Phoenix-Arizona	$46,304	$63,337	+37%
University of Phoenix-Hawaii	$46,304	$63,337	+37%
University of Phoenix-California	$46,304	$63,337	+37%

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Human Resources Management and Services certificate's programs at top institutions nationally

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMinneapolis	$16,488	$48,970	$59,448	$21,532	0.44
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusPittsburgh	$21,524	$64,711	$81,611	$22,000	0.34
Ferris State UniversityBig Rapids	$13,630	$53,029	$52,161	$27,921	0.53
Indiana University-IndianapolisIndianapolis	$10,449	$51,570	$56,585	$25,422	0.49
University of Phoenix-HawaiiKapolei	—	$46,304	$63,337	$12,785	0.28
University of Phoenix-ArizonaPhoenix	$9,552	$46,304	$63,337	$12,785	0.28
National Median	—	$46,304	—	$17,974	0.39

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 Minnesota-Twin Cities, approximately 17% 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 94 graduates with reported earnings and 94 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.