Human Resources Management and Services at Wilmington University

Wilmington's HR program starts graduates at $58,000—well above the national median of $50,000—but earnings slide to $55,000 by year four. That downward trajectory is unusual for a bachelor's program and worth understanding. The debt load of $31,125 remains manageable (just over half of first-year earnings), but you're essentially betting on that initial salary plateau to pay off the investment.

Context matters here: Delaware has only three schools offering this degree, and Wilmington sits at the 60th percentile in the state while ranking in the 86th percentile nationally. Translation: this program performs solidly compared to HR programs nationwide, but Delaware's small market means there's less differentiation between schools. The first-year salary matches the state median exactly, suggesting Wilmington prepares students adequately for Delaware's HR job market.

The earnings decline raises questions about career progression or whether graduates are shifting into roles with different compensation structures. However, even at the four-year mark, graduates earn $5,000 more than the national median. If your child plans to work in Delaware and can keep debt near $31,000, this delivers reasonable value despite the backward earnings trajectory—just recognize they'll likely need to be strategic about advancing their careers beyond that initial role.