The best bachelor's in human resources programs in Mississippi reveals that HR Managers earn a median salary of $140,030 with 5% projected job growth through 2034 (BLS OES 2024). Top-ranked Bachelor's HR programs include Mississippi State University, Belhaven University, University of Southern Mississippi based on graduation rates, program strength, and career outcomes.
15
Programs Ranked
$9,508
Avg Tuition
$140,030
HR Manager Salary
0
SHRM-Aligned
Bachelor's in Human Resources Programs in Mississippi: Overview
Mississippi's bachelor's-level HR market is defined by three forces: a manufacturing sector led by Nissan Canton (6,400 employees) and Ingalls Shipbuilding (11,000+ workers), a healthcare system centered on UMMC in Jackson (10,000+ employees), and a low-regulation environment that emphasizes federal compliance over state-specific mandates. A bachelor's degree in human resources qualifies graduates for generalist roles at these employers, where the day-to-day work centers on high-volume hourly hiring, OSHA compliance, and workforce development in a state with persistent skills gaps. Mississippi's reliance on federal standards means HR generalists must develop strong foundational knowledge of FLSA, FMLA, OSHA, Title VII, and ADA, as these federal laws serve as the primary framework for most employment decisions in the state.
Mississippi State University leads the state's bachelor's HR pipeline, producing graduates who feed into both manufacturing and agricultural HR roles across the Golden Triangle region. The University of Southern Mississippi and Jackson State University provide additional options, with JSU offering the strongest connections to state government and healthcare employers in the Jackson metro. The state's 9 bachelor's HR programs collectively produce a smaller graduate pool than neighboring Tennessee or Alabama, which means Mississippi graduates face less competition for local positions. Several programs have increased their focus on workforce development and training, recognizing that Mississippi employers frequently need HR professionals who can build skills pipelines in communities with limited labor availability.
HR managers in Mississippi earn a median salary of $105,380 (BLS OES May 2024), the lowest among the nine states in this group but offset by a cost of living that stretches those dollars further than six-figure salaries in many coastal markets. A $105,000 salary in Jackson provides approximately the same purchasing power as $130,000 in Nashville or $145,000 in Atlanta. Bachelor's graduates typically start between $42,000 and $48,000 in HR coordinator or generalist roles, progressing to manager-level positions within 5-7 years at organizations that value stability and institutional knowledge. The state's manufacturing concentration also provides transferable skills: managing hourly workforces, coordinating OSHA compliance, and handling workers' compensation are competencies valued by manufacturers nationwide.
Mississippi HR Bachelor's Comparison
HR Industry Tracks in Mississippi
Designing recruitment pipelines for manufacturing production lines, managing seasonal hiring surges, building relationships with Mississippi Works centers for candidate referrals, and maintaining turnover metrics in industries where annual attrition can exceed 40%.
Coordinating required safety training programs, managing OSHA 300 logs, supporting incident investigations, preparing for compliance inspections, and partnering with safety managers to reduce workplace injury rates at manufacturing and processing facilities.
Building talent pipelines in communities with limited labor pools, partnering with community colleges on apprenticeship programs, managing relocation assistance, and addressing housing and transportation barriers that affect workforce availability in the Delta and rural Mississippi.
Managing OFCCP requirements for Ingalls Shipbuilding and other defense employers, maintaining affirmative action plans, coordinating EEO-1 reporting, and ensuring compliance with Service Contract Act and Davis-Bacon wage determinations.
Mississippi State University
Why #1: Mississippi State University
Scored 74.6/100 on the HR Program Quality Index, which evaluates program output, curriculum quality (including SHRM alignment), student success, institutional resources, and data transparency using IPEDS 2023 data.
Ranked #1 in Mississippi for bachelor's human resources programs with a score of 74.6/100, based on program output, curriculum quality, student success, and institutional resources according to IPEDS 2023 data.
Program Highlights
- 350 annual HR graduates
Key Strengths
- 350 annual HR graduates
Belhaven University
Why #2: Belhaven University
Scored 60.9/100 on the HR Program Quality Index, which evaluates program output, curriculum quality (including SHRM alignment), student success, institutional resources, and data transparency using IPEDS 2023 data.
Ranked #2 in Mississippi for bachelor's human resources programs with a score of 60.9/100, based on program output, curriculum quality, student success, and institutional resources according to IPEDS 2023 data.
Program Highlights
- 109 annual HR graduates
Key Strengths
- 109 annual HR graduates
University of Southern Mississippi
Why #3: University of Southern Mississippi
Choose Southern Miss for its workforce development specialization, AACSB college accreditation, affordable online format, and no GRE requirement.
The University of Southern Mississippi offers a 30-credit MS in Human Capital Development through its AACSB-accredited college. The SACSCOC-accredited online program focuses on workforce development with no GRE requirement.
Program Highlights
- Workforce development focus
- AACSB (college-level)
- No GRE required
- SACSCOC-accredited
- 226 annual HR graduates (IPEDS 2023)
Key Strengths
- Workforce development focus
- AACSB (college-level)
- No GRE required
- SACSCOC-accredited
Admissions
- GPA: 2.75
Program
- 30 credits
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree
Sources
| 1 | Mississippi State University | Mississippi State, MS | Public | $9,665 | 9200% | 350 | 74.6 |
| 2 | Belhaven University | Jackson, MS | Private | $28,800 | 9500% | 109 | 60.9 |
| 3 | University of Southern Mississippi | Hattiesburg, MS | Public | $9,508 | — | 226 | 57 |
| 4 | University of Mississippi | University, MS | Public | $9,252 | 7000% | 104 | 56.7 |
| 5 | Jackson State University | Jackson, MS | Public | $8,520 | 10000% | 47 | 56.4 |
| 6 | Mississippi College | Clinton, MS | Private | $20,246 | 8400% | 32 | 54.3 |
| 7 | William Carey University | Hattiesburg, MS | Private | $13,500 | 8300% | 39 | 54.1 |
| 8 | Alcorn State University | Alcorn State, MS | Public | $7,869 | — | 48 | 46.4 |
| 9 | Southeastern Baptist College | Laurel, MS | Private | $5,625 | 10000% | 1 | 45.6 |
| 10 | Mississippi University for Women | Columbus, MS | Public | $7,992 | — | 130 | 44.9 |
| 11 | Rust College | Holly Springs, MS | Private | $11,385 | — | 17 | 42.5 |
| 12 | Millsaps College | Jackson, MS | Private | $40,940 | — | 16 | 40.9 |
| 13 | Mississippi Valley State University | Itta Bena, MS | Public | $7,892 | — | 24 | 40.3 |
| 14 | Blue Mountain Christian University | Blue Mountain, MS | Private | $19,120 | — | 35 | 36.7 |
| 15 | Delta State University | Cleveland, MS | Public | $8,435 | — | 10 | 35.5 |
Career Paths
Entry-level role handling recruitment, onboarding, benefits administration, and employee records.
Leads HR department operations, develops policies, manages staff, and advises leadership on workforce strategy.
Designs pay structures, conducts salary surveys, ensures pay equity compliance.
Designs and delivers employee training programs, assesses skill gaps.
Strategic role aligning HR initiatives with business goals.
Mississippi HR Bachelor's Programs FAQ
Bachelor's in Human Resources Programs in Nearby States
HR completions volume, CIP breadth, multi-level depth
SHRM alignment (+15), AACSB (+10) or ACBSP (+5)
IPEDS 6-year graduation rate
Carnegie 2021 classification
IPEDS reporting completeness
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, enrollment, and graduation rates
- 2.Bureau of Labor Statistics OES 2024 — Occupational employment and wage statistics for HR roles
- 3.SHRM — HR curriculum standards and certification requirements
Last updated: February 2026
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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.