10
Programs Ranked
$17,516
Avg Tuition
$140,030
HR Manager Salary
15
Fortune 500 HQs
Michigan's bachelor's-level HR market is shaped by the automotive industry's historic shift from internal combustion to electric vehicles. GM (F500 #18, $187.4B revenue) and Ford (F500 #19, $185B revenue) are retraining tens of thousands of workers, while the state's 2024 right-to-work repeal and 2025 Earned Sick Time Act have reshaped labor compliance. Michigan State University's SHRM-aligned, AACSB-accredited program leads the state's 14 ranked programs.
Michigan's EV Transition HR Market for Bachelor's Graduates
Michigan is home to 15 Fortune 500 companies, with GM (#18, $187.4B revenue) and Ford (#19, $185B revenue) at the top of the list (Axios Detroit). Both automakers are in the middle of the largest workforce transformation in their histories: converting internal combustion engine (ICE) manufacturing to electric vehicle (EV) production. Michigan expects roughly 3,000 new EV-related job openings in 2025, with an aspiration of 290,000 more by 2030 (Michigan LEO).
That transition is fundamentally an HR challenge. Existing assembly workers need retraining for battery manufacturing, robotics maintenance, and EV-specific quality systems. New hires need different skill sets than traditional auto workers. And all of it happens against the backdrop of Michigan's 2024 right-to-work repeal and the 2025 Earned Sick Time Act, which requires up to 72 hours of paid sick time per year for employers with 10+ workers.
Michigan State University's SHRM-aligned, AACSB-accredited program produces 104 annual HR graduates and holds a 87.7/100 quality score, the highest in the state. Wayne State University in Detroit (192 graduates/year) and the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor's Ross School BBA ($82,714 median starting salary) round out the top tier. Davenport University in Grand Rapids offers SHRM-aligned, ACBSP-accredited programs for West Michigan students.
Source: Fortune 500 2025, Axios Detroit
Michigan Industry HR Tracks
GM (F500 #18), Ford (F500 #19), Stellantis, and hundreds of Tier 1/Tier 2 suppliers. HR roles focus on shift workforce management, UAW labor relations, EV reskilling programs, and safety compliance. The EV transition is creating entirely new HR functions around battery plant staffing, retraining program design, and managing workforce reductions in legacy ICE facilities.
Corewell Health (formerly Beaumont/Spectrum Health) is Michigan's largest employer. Henry Ford Health, Trinity Health, and Ascension also maintain large hospital networks. HR roles involve nurse and physician recruitment, credentialing, union relations (SEIU, MNA), and compliance with CMS staffing requirements.
Ally Financial (F500 #255), Rocket Companies (Quicken Loans), and Flagstar Bank are headquartered in metro Detroit. HR roles cover talent acquisition for fintech and mortgage operations, compensation benchmarking, and remote/hybrid workforce management.
Dow Inc. (F500 #73, Midland), Whirlpool (F500 #184, Benton Harbor), and Kellanova (Battle Creek). These manufacturers need HR professionals who can manage plant workforces, navigate union contracts, and implement new ESTA compliance systems.
Michigan Employment Law Changes (2024-2025)
Right-to-Work Repeal
Employers can require union dues; HR must manage membership paperwork and dues deductions
Earned Sick Time Act (ESTA)
10+ employee firms: up to 72 hours paid sick time/year; 1 hour accrued per 30 worked
ESTA Small Employer Rule
Under 10 employees: 40 hours paid + 32 hours unpaid sick time; 72 hour carryover cap
Minimum Wage Increase
Gradual increase with tipped wage adjustments; HR must update payroll systems
Federal Overtime Threshold
Higher salary threshold for exempt status; reclassification analysis required
Michigan State University
Why #1: Michigan State University
Michigan's #1 ranked HR program (87.7/100) with SHRM alignment, AACSB accreditation, and an employer network including Ford, GM, Amazon, and PepsiCo. The School of HRLR is one of only a handful of standalone HR schools in the country.
Michigan State University's School of Human Resources and Labor Relations offers SHRM-aligned, AACSB-accredited programs with 104 annual HR graduates. MSU's undergraduate HR program benefits from the same employer network that achieves 95-100% placement for its graduate students at companies like Ford, GM, Amazon, and PepsiCo.
Program Highlights
- SHRM-aligned curriculum
- AACSB-accredited business school
- 104 annual HR graduates (IPEDS 2023)
- Standalone School of HRLR
- Top employers: Ford, GM, Amazon, PepsiCo
Key Strengths
- SHRM-aligned curriculum
- AACSB-accredited
- Standalone School of HRLR
- Top employer network
Program
- 120 credits
Prerequisites
Competitive admission
Sources
Wayne State University
Why #2: Wayne State University
Michigan's highest-volume bachelor's HR program (192 graduates/year) in the heart of Detroit, with an interdisciplinary curriculum that blends economics, law, and management perspectives.
Wayne State University produces 192 annual HR graduates, the highest volume in Michigan at the bachelor's level. Located in midtown Detroit, Wayne State provides direct access to the automotive corridor's HR job market with an interdisciplinary approach spanning economics, law, management, and sociology.
Program Highlights
- 192 annual HR graduates (IPEDS 2023)
- Highest volume in Michigan
- Interdisciplinary curriculum
- HLC-accredited
- Downtown Detroit location
Key Strengths
- 192 annual HR graduates
- Interdisciplinary curriculum
- Downtown Detroit location
- HLC-accredited
Admissions
- GPA: 2.75
Program
- 120 credits
Prerequisites
Bachelor's admission requirements
Sources
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Why #3: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
A top-3 nationally ranked business school with a human capital specialization and $82,714 median starting salary. Ross School graduates command premium compensation at consulting firms and F500 employers.
The University of Michigan's Ross School of Business offers a BBA with a human capital track. Ranked #3 nationally for business programs, the AACSB-accredited program reports a $82,714 median starting salary for graduates, among the highest for any HR-related undergraduate program in the country.
Program Highlights
- AACSB-accredited business school
- Human capital track
- Ranked #3 nationally
- Ross School of Business
- $82,714 median starting salary
Key Strengths
- AACSB-accredited
- Human capital track
- Ranked #3 nationally
- Ross School of Business
Admissions
- GPA: 3.5
Program
- 120 credits
Prerequisites
Pre-business core requirements, Competitive admission
Sources
| 1 | Michigan State University | East Lansing, MI | Public | $16,930 | 8700% | 104 | 87.7 | true | true | false |
| 2 | Wayne State University | Detroit, MI | Public | $13,660 | 8900% | 192 | 67.8 | false | false | false |
| 3 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | Ann Arbor, MI | Public | $17,977 | 9200% | 48 | 61.7 | false | true | false |
| 4 | Davenport University | Grand Rapids, MI | Private | $22,272 | — | 36 | 55.4 | true | false | true |
| 5 | Grand Valley State University | Allendale, MI | Public | $14,978 | 8500% | 49 | 45.2 | false | false | false |
| 6 | University of Michigan-Dearborn | Dearborn, MI | Public | $14,544 | 9400% | 16 | 41.5 | false | false | false |
| 7 | Central Michigan University | Mount Pleasant, MI | Public | $13,862 | — | 32 | 38.9 | false | false | false |
| 8 | Baker College | Owosso, MI | Private | $12,460 | — | 28 | 38.5 | false | false | true |
| 9 | Western Michigan University | Kalamazoo, MI | Public | $15,198 | — | 43 | 36.1 | false | false | false |
| 10 | Oakland University | Rochester Hills, MI | Public | $16,429 | — | 40 | 35.8 | false | false | false |
Career Paths
Manages recruitment, onboarding, and employee relations at OEMs and suppliers navigating the ICE-to-EV transition.
Leads HR operations at manufacturing plants and corporate offices, implementing ESTA compliance and managing union relations.
Manages UAW contract negotiations, grievance procedures, and collective bargaining compliance at automotive employers.
Sources skilled trades workers, engineers, and EV specialists for Michigan's retooling automotive industry.
Designs EV reskilling programs and upskilling curricula for ICE workers transitioning to battery and EV assembly.
Michigan HR Salary by Experience Level
Bachelor's graduates entering Michigan's HR market start at $45,000 to $52,000 depending on employer and location. Automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers pay at the upper end, particularly for roles involving labor relations or EV workforce planning. Healthcare systems like Corewell Health and Henry Ford Health offer similar starting ranges with different benefits structures.
Mid-career HR managers in Michigan earn $118,650 on average. The EV transition is creating premium-paid roles: workforce retraining program managers, battery plant HR leads, and labor relations specialists navigating UAW contracts during facility retooling earn $90,000 to $130,000. SHRM-CP or PHR certification provides a meaningful salary boost, particularly at employers like GM and Ford where credentials influence internal HR promotion decisions.
Michigan HR Bachelor's Programs FAQ
Bachelor's in Human Resources Programs in Nearby States
IPEDS 2023, SHRM Academic Alignment, AACSB, ACBSP
HR degree completions from IPEDS 2023 (sqrt normalized, cap 300), plus CIP code breadth and multi-level depth bonuses
SHRM-aligned curriculum (+15 pts) and AACSB (+10) or ACBSP (+5) business school accreditation
6-year graduation rate from IPEDS 2023
Carnegie 2021 classification (R1/R2 research universities score highest)
Completeness of IPEDS reporting (tuition, graduation rate, acceptance rate, Carnegie classification)
Data Sources & Methodology
Rankings based on the 5-factor HR Program Quality Index: Program Output (30%), Curriculum Quality including SHRM alignment (25%), Student Success (25%), Institutional Resources (15%), and Data Transparency (5%). Data from IPEDS 2023 and BLS OES May 2024.
- 1.IPEDS 2023 — Program completions, tuition, and graduation rates
- 2.Bureau of Labor Statistics OES 2024 — HR occupation salaries
- 3.Michigan LEO — Earned Sick Time Act and EV workforce initiatives
Last updated: March 2026
Related HR Bachelor's Degree Resources
Taylor Rupe
Education Researcher & Data Analyst
B.A. Psychology, University of Washington · B.S. Computer Science, Oregon State University
Taylor combines training in behavioral science with data analysis to evaluate HR education programs. His research methodology uses IPEDS completion data, BLS employment statistics, and SHRM alignment data to produce evidence-based program rankings.