How To Get a Free Human Resources Degree

If you're hoping to pursue or advance your career in human resources, you'll probably need a specific degree in the field. But the thought of paying for that degree can be overwhelming.

Is there any way to get a free or affordable human resources degree online? In some cases, you can go to college for free or at a low cost.

Some schools have lower tuition costs than others, and some offer better financial aid options than others. Additionally, you can save money on your degree by testing out of courses and using transfer credits to graduate more affordably.

Keep reading to learn how to reduce the cost of a human resources degree.

Is It Possible to Earn a Free Human Resources Degree?

Most human resource management bachelor's degrees are not free. Even schools that offer tuition-free options for some students usually have other costs associated with getting the degree, such as fees and book costs.

That said, aspiring HR professionals can still find ways to reduce the cost of a degree. Some of these options include:

• applying for scholarships and other financial aid opportunities
• participating in work-study programs
• applying transfer credit to their degree
• testing out of college courses

We'll explore each of these options in greater depth a little later in this article. If you want to begin an HR career, know that an affordable degree is within reach.

Where Can I Find Free HR Courses?

If you're looking for an option that's truly free, consider taking free online HR courses and certification programs. These courses are short-term training programs designed to teach the fundamentals of good HR practices and skills.

Some of the topics commonly covered in free HR certification courses include:

• HR functions
• employee relations
• HR strategies
• people management
• talent acquisition

These interactive courses are typically self-paced, enabling learners to study and complete assessments on their own time. You can find these courses online through websites like Coursera and Alison.

Keep in mind, however, that these courses are not designed to replace a college education. For more in-depth training and to earn the credentials necessary for many HR jobs, you'll need to earn at least a bachelor's degree in the field.

Tips for Making an HR Degree Affordable

If you are still concerned about how to pay for your human resources degree, keep reading. The following tips will make it easier to afford college, potentially helping you reduce or even eliminate your expenses.

Apply for Financial Aid

Applying for financial aid is one of the best ways to save money on college. Various financial aid options, like grants and work-study programs, are available through state and federal funding.

You may also qualify for financial assistance from your school. Many provide options for students who demonstrate financial need. To be considered for the various options available, fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online form.

Explore Scholarship Opportunities

Scholarships are often more competitive than need-based aid, but they can also be a great way to earn money for school. Many are merit-based, so you’ll need to follow the application instructions for each scholarship carefully to make sure you meet every requirement.

Scholarships may be available through your school or outside organizations, such as nonprofit organizations and businesses. You can look online or check with local organizations to find out about local opportunities.

Consider a Work-Study Program

Many schools provide work-study programs for students who demonstrate financial need. These programs allow students to work for the school, earning money to cover college expenses.

Typically, you must fill out the FAFSA to be considered for a work-study program. Check with your school to determine what programs and positions are available.

Test Out of Courses With CLEP, AP, and DSST Exams

CLEP, AP, and DSST exams are all offered through different organizations, but each provides a way to earn college credit with examinations. If you pass the tests, you apply the credit earned toward your degree instead of enrolling in the course at the college.

Taking these tests may enable you to test out of many basic general education courses in college. This can save you money in the long run by reducing the number of courses you have to take to earn your degree.

Utilize Transfer Credits

If you have already taken some college classes or earned an associate degree, you may be able to apply your previous credits to your current degree program.

Transfer policies can vary across different schools. For example, they may accept certain types of credits or may award different amounts of credit hours. Check with your school to determine how many of your previous credits you can transfer.

Top Schools Offering Low-Cost HR Degrees Online

The schools below all offer human resources degrees online, and each one participates in a program that can bring tuition down to zero for students who qualify. Eligibility is usually tied to residency, income, and enrollment status, so read the requirements closely before you apply. You can find more options on our list of tuition-free online colleges in the U.S.

Keep in mind that most of these programs cover tuition and mandatory fees only. Books, supplies, and course-specific charges are typically still your responsibility.

Charter Oak State College

Charter Oak State College is Connecticut’s public online college, and it offers a fully online Bachelor of Science in Human Resources Management. The program covers core HR territory, including:

• human resource management fundamentals
• staffing and performance appraisal
• project management
• strategic management
• a capstone in human resources

Students in the Business Administration major can also choose a Human Resources concentration instead.

Connecticut’s CT Finish Line Scholarship covers all mandatory tuition and fees at Charter Oak after other grant and merit aid is applied. To qualify, you’ll need to earn an associate degree from CT State Community College during the 2025–26 academic year, have participated in PACT and/or the Mary Ann Handley Award program, and enroll at Charter Oak in an eligible bachelor’s program beginning in fall 2026.

Excelsior University

Excelsior University is a private, nonprofit online university based in Albany, New York. Its HR offerings include:

• BS in Business with a concentration in Human Resources Management
• MS in Human Resource Management with an Emphasis on Diversity and Technology
• MS in Management with a Human Resource Management concentration

Excelsior’s HR concentrations align with the Society for Human Resource Management’s HR Curriculum Guidebook and Template.

Eligible New York residents can attend tuition-free. To qualify, you must have been a New York resident for at least 12 months, have a household adjusted gross income of $60,000 or less, and be eligible for both a Federal Pell Grant and New York State’s Tuition Assistance Program (TAP). Excelsior applies Pell and TAP funds first, then covers any remaining tuition and course-related fees with institutional aid. Note that this offer applies to undergraduate programs, so it covers the BS in Business but not the master’s degrees.

Florida International University

Florida International University is a large public research university in Miami. FIU Online offers a Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resource Management that can be completed entirely online, and the curriculum aligns with SHRM’s HR Curriculum Guidebook and Templates. Coursework includes:

• human resource management
• recruitment and staffing
• human resource information systems
• compensation and benefits
• training and development
• union-management relations
• employment law and international HR electives

FIU’s Golden Promise guarantees 100% of tuition and fees for Florida residents with a Student Aid Index (SAI) of 0 or less. Recipients must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, submit the FAFSA, enroll in at least 12 credits per semester, complete 30 credits per year, and maintain a 2.0 GPA. The program covers up to 120 credits and is open to first-time-in-college students and, since fall 2023, new transfer students.

Metropolitan State University

Metropolitan State University in Saint Paul is part of the Minnesota State system and offers a Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management that can be taken online or in person. The program is built for working adults and prepares students for HR roles in business, government, and nonprofit organizations.

Minnesota’s North Star Promise Scholarship gives eligible residents a tuition-free path to a bachelor’s degree. You’ll need to be a Minnesota resident with a family adjusted gross income below $80,000, complete the FAFSA or Minnesota Dream Act Application, and not already hold a bachelor’s degree. The award is last-dollar, covering whatever tuition and required fees remain after other gift aid is applied. There’s no separate application and no age limit, part-time students taking as little as one credit can qualify, and the scholarship renews for up to 120 credits.

Thomas Edison State University

Thomas Edison State University in Trenton is a public university built specifically for adult learners, and all of its programs are online. HR options include:

• BSBA in Human Resources Management/Organizational Management (120 credits)
• MS in Human Resources Management, aligned with the SHRM HR curriculum
• undergraduate and graduate certificates in human resources management

TESU is generous with transfer credit and prior learning assessment, and it runs its own exam program, TECEP, which lets you test out of coursework.

New Jersey’s Garden State Guarantee can eliminate tuition for qualifying students. Full-time New Jersey residents and New Jersey Dreamers with an adjusted gross income between $0 and $65,000 pay no tuition, provided they’re in their third or fourth year, meaning at least 60 credits toward a first bachelor’s degree. The award is applied after federal and state grants and other scholarships, and students must maintain satisfactory academic progress. Because the benefit starts in year three, pairing it with transfer credits from a community college is a smart way to keep the first two years cheap as well.

FAQs About Free HR Degrees

Below, we've answered some frequently asked questions students have about lowering the cost of their HR degrees.

Can I Really Get a Human Resources Degree for Free?

It’s possible, but it depends heavily on where you live and what your income looks like. Most tuition-free programs are state or institutional promise scholarships with residency and income requirements attached. If you qualify for one and stack it with Pell Grant funding, transfer credits, and testing out of general education courses, you can get very close to zero out-of-pocket tuition. Fees, books, and supplies usually aren’t covered.

Do Tuition-Free Programs Cover Online Students?

Not always, and this is the detail people miss most often. Some promise programs exclude online learners, charge separate online program fees that the scholarship doesn’t cover, or require full-time on-campus enrollment. Always confirm with the school’s financial aid office that the program applies to the specific online degree you want.

Are Free Online HR Certificates Worth Anything to Employers?

They’re useful for building foundational knowledge and showing initiative, but they don’t substitute for a degree or a professional certification. Most HR roles above the entry level expect a bachelor’s degree, and employers tend to weigh SHRM-CP or PHR certification more heavily than a free course certificate.

Do I Need a Degree Specifically in Human Resources?

Not necessarily. Many HR professionals hold degrees in business administration, management, psychology, or communications. That said, an HR-specific degree, especially one aligned with SHRM’s curriculum guidelines, covers employment law, compensation, and staffing in depth, which can make you more competitive and better prepared for certification exams.

Can Graduate Students Get Tuition-Free HR Degrees?

It’s much harder. Most promise and last-dollar programs are limited to undergraduates. Tuition-free graduate study usually comes through assistantships, fellowships, or employer tuition reimbursement rather than state scholarship programs. If you’re already working in HR, check whether your employer offers tuition benefits before you look anywhere else.

How Much Can Transfer Credits and CLEP Exams Actually Save Me?

Quite a lot. General education requirements typically make up roughly half of a bachelor’s degree. Clearing those through an affordable community college, CLEP, AP, or DSST exams, or a school’s own exam program can cut both your cost and your time to graduation substantially. Transfer policies vary, so confirm what your target school accepts before you start taking exams.

Find Free and Low-Cost Colleges

A completely free human resources degree is rare, but a very inexpensive one is well within reach for most students. Reach out to your school of choice to learn more about the aid available and explore the resources on Learn.org to get more tips on how to save money while in college.