Minnesota has 8 ranked master's HR programs, led by the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (score 87.4/100, SHRM-aligned, AACSB-accredited). The state's 75-year-old MHRIR program at UMN is one of the oldest HR graduate programs in the country. Average tuition across ranked programs is $24,905 ([IPEDS 2023](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/)), with Concordia-Saint Paul offering an affordable SHRM-aligned option at $14,250 total.
Strategic HR Leadership in Minnesota
Minnesota's HR leadership market is defined by scale and regulatory complexity. UnitedHealth Group (#3 Fortune 500, $400.3 billion revenue, 400,000 employees) requires HR directors who can manage total rewards for a global workforce. Cargill, the largest private company in the U.S. (headquartered in Wayzata), employs 160,000+ people across 70 countries. Target, 3M, General Mills, and Medtronic round out a corporate ecosystem that demands sophisticated compensation strategy, workforce analytics, and change management expertise.
At the same time, Minnesota's regulatory environment has become one of the most aggressive in the country. The 2024 ESST law, 2025 amendments (bereavement expansion, any-PTO-counts provision), and the January 2026 PFML mandate create a layered compliance structure. Master's-level HR professionals do not just administer these programs; they design organizational policies that integrate state law with federal FMLA, company disability plans, and the distinct local ordinances in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Bloomington.
The University of Minnesota's MHRIR program, housed in the Carlson School of Management, has trained HR leaders for 75 years. Its SHRM alignment, AACSB accreditation, and 92% placement rate at $85,006 mean starting salary make it the flagship program in the Upper Midwest. Concordia-Saint Paul offers an affordable alternative at $14,250 total with SHRM alignment.
Strategic HR Roles at Minnesota's Largest Employers
UnitedHealth's 400,000-employee workforce requires VP-level HR leaders who manage total compensation across multiple business units, design benefits products that compete nationally, and lead workforce planning for acquisitions. Mayo Clinic (76,000+ employees) needs HR directors who understand physician workforce dynamics, academic medical center governance, and clinical staffing optimization.
Target (#41 Fortune 500) and Best Buy (#68) employ large hourly workforces that require sophisticated scheduling analytics, ESST compliance automation, and seasonal workforce planning. General Mills HR leaders manage employer branding and talent acquisition strategies that compete against Nestle and PepsiCo for food science and marketing talent.
3M's 2024 spinoff of its healthcare division into Solventum created a major workforce transition requiring change management leadership, severance administration, and new-entity HR infrastructure design. Medtronic (Minneapolis) needs HR strategists who understand global medical device regulation's impact on workforce planning.
Source: Minnesota Paid Leave
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Why #1: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
75-year legacy, SHRM alignment, AACSB accreditation, 92% placement into Fortune 500 firms, and the strongest alumni network in the Upper Midwest.
The MHRIR program at the Carlson School of Management is one of the oldest and most respected HR graduate programs in the country. 40 credits, AACSB-accredited, SHRM-aligned. Reports 92% placement at $85,006 mean starting salary, with graduates hired by Ecolab, General Mills, UnitedHealth Group, and Honeywell.
Program Highlights
- SHRM-aligned
- AACSB-accredited
- 75-year legacy
- 92% placement
- $85K mean salary
Key Strengths
- SHRM-aligned
- AACSB-accredited
- 92% placement
Program
- 40 credits
Sources
Concordia University-Saint Paul
Why #2: Concordia University-Saint Paul
The most affordable SHRM-aligned master's in Minnesota at $14,250 total. Generous 50% transfer credit policy and no entrance exam requirement lower barriers for working professionals.
Concordia offers a 30-credit MA in Human Resource Management that is SHRM Academically Aligned and HLC-accredited. Fully online at $475/credit ($14,250 total), accepts up to 50% transfer credits, and requires no entrance exams.
Program Highlights
- SHRM-aligned
- $14,250 total
- 50% transfer credits accepted
- No entrance exams
- Fully online
Key Strengths
- SHRM-aligned
- $14,250 total
- 50% transfer credits accepted
Admissions
- GPA: 3
Program
- 30 credits
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree
Sources
Bethel University
Why #3: Bethel University
Scored 35.8/100 on the HR Program Quality Index with 23 annual graduates.
Bethel produces 23 annual HR graduates through its graduate business programs. Located in Saint Paul with access to Twin Cities Fortune 500 employers.
Program Highlights
- 23 annual HR graduates
- Twin Cities location
Key Strengths
- 23 annual HR graduates
| 1 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | Minneapolis, MN | Public | $14,496 | 9200% | 80 | 87.4 | true | true | false |
| 2 | Concordia University-Saint Paul | Saint Paul, MN | Private | $25,000 | 6600% | 27 | 40.1 | false | false | false |
| 3 | Bethel University | Saint Paul, MN | Private | $42,760 | — | 23 | 35.8 | false | false | false |
| 4 | Saint Mary's University of Minnesota | Winona, MN | Private | $42,500 | — | 22 | 35.7 | false | false | false |
| 5 | The College of Saint Scholastica | Duluth, MN | Private | $39,530 | — | 17 | 35 | false | false | false |
| 6 | Capella University | Minneapolis, MN | For-Profit | $14,436 | 1300% | 303 | 33.7 | false | false | true |
| 7 | Rasmussen University-Minnesota | St. Cloud, MN | For-Profit | $10,207 | 5600% | 23 | 24.7 | false | false | true |
| 8 | Walden University | Minneapolis, MN | For-Profit | $10,313 | 3300% | 67 | 24.4 | false | false | true |
Navigating Minnesota's Employment Law Landscape at the Strategic Level
Master's-level HR professionals in Minnesota manage the intersection of three regulatory layers. The state ESST law (1 hour per 30 hours worked, 48-hour annual / 80-hour accrual caps) applies statewide. Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Bloomington each maintain local ordinances with potentially higher standards. The PFML mandate (effective January 2026, up to 20 weeks, 0.88% payroll tax) adds a new leave administration infrastructure.
For HR directors and VPs, the strategic challenge is integration. A comprehensive leave policy must layer PFML with FMLA, ADA accommodations, company-sponsored short-term disability, and ESST in a way that avoids gaps, prevents double-dipping, and remains compliant with all three regulatory levels. Employers also have the option to self-insure or purchase equivalent plans from private carriers, which requires cost-benefit analysis at the CFO level.
Minnesota HR Salary by Experience (Master's Level)
Master's graduates from UMN's MHRIR program start at $85,006 (mean). Concordia and Bethel graduates typically enter at $65,000 to $80,000 for HR manager or HRBP roles. Mid-career professionals with SHRM-SCP earn $110,000 to $140,000 as directors. VP of HR roles at Fortune 500 firms in the Twin Cities reach $180,000+ in base salary, with total compensation exceeding $250,000 when equity and performance incentives are included.
Career Paths
Leads HR operations at Fortune 500 firms. Designs PFML/ESST integration policies, manages multi-site compliance, and drives workforce planning.
Aligns HR strategy with business unit goals at UnitedHealth, Target, or General Mills. Advises senior leadership on organizational design and talent retention.
Designs total rewards packages competitive with Chicago and coastal markets. Manages PFML cost modeling, self-insurance evaluations, and equity compensation programs.
Leads change management for corporate transformations (like 3M's Solventum spinoff), designs leadership development programs, and drives culture integration during M&A.
Oversees total HR function for 10,000+ employee organizations. Reports to C-suite on talent strategy, regulatory compliance, and organizational effectiveness.
Minnesota HR Master's Programs FAQ
Master's in Human Resources Programs in Nearby States
Wisconsin
Iowa
North Dakota
South Dakota
IPEDS 2023, SHRM Academic Alignment, AACSB, ACBSP
HR degree completions from IPEDS 2023
SHRM alignment (+15 pts) and AACSB (+10) or ACBSP (+5) accreditation
6-year graduation rate from IPEDS 2023
Carnegie 2021 classification
Completeness of IPEDS reporting
Data Sources
Rankings based on the 5-factor HR Program Quality Index.
- 1.IPEDS 2023 — Program completions, tuition, and graduation rates
- 2.Bureau of Labor Statistics OES 2024 — HR occupation salaries
- 3.Minnesota Paid Leave — PFML program details
Last updated: March 2026
Related 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.