Human Resources Management and Services (Bachelor's Degree) at Western Governors University

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$59,158

Est. from UT median (3 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$30,016

Est. from national median (72 programs)

Analysis

Western Governors University's online HR bachelor's program appears positioned above national norms based on comparable programs, though the full picture requires reading between limited data points. Similar HR programs in Utah suggest first-year earnings around $59,000—notably higher than the $50,000 national median for this field. That $9,000 premium reflects Utah's competitive labor market for business professionals. The estimated debt of $30,000 sits above the state median of $17,000 for HR programs but remains manageable given the earnings trajectory, producing a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.51 that suggests graduates could realistically pay off loans within a few years.

What matters most here is recognizing these estimates come from peer institutions with published outcomes, not WGU's actual graduate data. The competency-based online model attracts working adults (often Pell-eligible students looking to advance), which could mean faster degree completion and lower total debt than traditional programs, or it could mean students juggling work and school face different employment outcomes. The $30,000 debt estimate derives from WGU's other bachelor's programs nationally, while earnings mirror what Utah's brick-and-mortar HR programs report. That combination suggests reasonable value, but you're essentially betting on WGU's model producing outcomes similar to programs with proven track records. If your child is already working in an HR-adjacent role and needs the credential to advance, that's different than entering the field cold.

Where Western Governors University Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Utah

Human Resources Management and Services bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Utah (5 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Western Governors UniversitySalt Lake City	$8,300	$59,158*	—	$30,016*	—
Brigham Young UniversityProvo	$6,496	$59,842*	$71,748	—*	—
Weber State UniversityOgden	$6,391	$59,158*	$62,854	$20,500*	0.35
Utah Valley UniversityOrem	$6,270	$52,194*	—	$13,736*	0.26
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 Western Governors University, approximately 35% 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 median of 3 similar programs in UT. Actual outcomes may vary.