Human Resources

U.S. Career Institute’s self-paced, online Human Resources Associate Degree is designed to prepare you for a role in HR in as little as 16 months. Position yourself for success in a growing field!

With a degree in Human Resources, you’ll have the skills you need to be a leader in the business world. At our distance learning Human Resources school you’ll learn about workplace psychology, recruitment and staffing, employee benefits and labor relations. With our help, you can learn the essential HR skills needed to get started on a new career path or advance in your current career. There's no better time than now to start earning your degree.

Program goal: To prepare students to obtain entry-level HR employment in a wide range of fields.

• Complete in 16 months, part-time
• DEAC Accredited
• 100% online, self-paced classes, on your phone or computer
• 5-day money-back commitment
• One-on-one career coaching and instructor support
• Start learning today - no waiting period!
• A+ BBB Rating, 45 years in distance education, and 97% of students would recommend U.S. Career Institute to a friend.
• The DEAC is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a recognized accrediting agency.

Lead instructor/course expert. Rachel Haywood is a Business and Human Resources instructor at U.S. Career Institute, where she teaches across the HR and business curriculum, specializing in employment law, compensation and benefits, talent development, labor relations, organizational behavior, and workforce readiness. She has brought more than 20 years of combined experience in leadership, compliance, coaching, employee development, and military service. Rachel holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management/Marketing from Columbia Southern University and is a member of the Omega Nu Lambda National Honor Society (Eta Chapter), recognizing academic excellence in online education.

Students must be 18 years of age; exceptions will be made with guardian approval and the appropriate education, and students under 16 years of age will not be admitted.

• Students must submit a signed enrollment application.
• Students must attest to having successfully graduated from a state-recognized high school or earned a GED. Students who have completed 30 semester hours or more from a college accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education may submit official college transcripts to meet this requirement. International or homeschooled students must provide a letter of substantial equivalency or GED transcript. Without one, students can still be considered for admission providing they sign a waiver provided by the school and show ability to benefit from the program’s instruction in the first 12 semester hours completed at U.S. Career Institute.
• Students must be able to read and write in English. Applicants whose native language is not English must meet one of the listed requirements, such as a minimum total score of 61 on the TOEFL iBT, 6.0 on the IELTS, 44 on the Pearson Test of English Academic, 95 on the Duolingo English Test, or a high school diploma completed at an accredited/recognized high school where the medium of instruction is English.
• Transcripts not in English must be evaluated and translated by an appropriate third party; U.S. Career Institute accepts translation services from any NACES member.

U.S. Career Institute is an open enrollment school: as long as the applicant meets the admissions requirements for minimum education, age and English skills, they will be accepted into the school. Since applicants self-certify their high school completion information, U.S. Career Institute reserves the right to verify it by requiring a transcript. Enrollment begins on the date the school receives a student’s signed enrollment application.

Transfer credit. U.S. Career Institute grants credit for previous education or experience that is equivalent to its degree courses, including courses completed at a college accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, CLEP, ACE, DSST and Excelsior College Exams. Students may transfer a maximum of 50% of the total program credits required for graduation, and receive a tuition discount of $125 per credit hour for each course granted transfer credit.

Prospective students are expected to research regulatory (including licensing) and employer requirements in their state, county or city of residence prior to enrolling to ensure their chosen program will meet their needs.

The Associate of Applied Science in Human Resources is taught over four semesters. Students can complete it in 16 months, studying part-time. Classes are 100% online and self-paced, on your phone or computer, with no due dates or deadlines.

One year per semester. Each semester must be completed within one calendar year of enrollment, and students control the pace of course completion within each semester. A student unable to complete a semester within a year may request an Academic Extension in writing.

Automatic course shipments. Each course has a trigger quiz that automatically ships the next course in the program. The first course in the next semester is sent upon receipt of the second assignment in the last non-transfer course of the current semester, and the start date for each semester is the day its first course is shipped.

Proctored exams. Some courses have a proctored exam: students schedule the exam with an approved proctor, present valid government-issued photo identification, and complete the exam within a 3.5-hour time allotment.

U.S. Career Institute is open Monday through Friday from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm Mountain Standard Time; instructors return calls Monday through Thursday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

U.S. Career Institute is committed to making your Human Resources education affordable and inclusive. Start a new career that you’ll love and find fulfilling without a mountain of debt. Make an investment in yourself today!

• Option 1, pay in full: $1,689 per semester (save $300); the application charge is waived.
• Option 2, monthly auto payments: $1,989 per semester at $139 a month, with a first payment of $139, plus a $40.00 shipping and handling charge.

First payment includes $24 tuition and $40 shipping and handling and $75 Application Charge. Shipping and Application Charge non-refundable.

U.S. Career Institute’s Human Resources program consists of four semesters. The total Human Resources program cost for all four semesters and fees is $8,191, which is $1,989 plus $40 for shipping per semester and a one-time application charge of $75.

The 2026 degree catalog states that tuition is currently $1989 plus $40 shipping/handling per semester; the school cannot guarantee the current cost per semester will remain the same for the student’s entire enrollment, but tuition for a semester in which a student is actively completing coursework will not increase. Students may pay for each semester in full or make monthly payments.

5-day money-back commitment. After you receive your first lesson, you have 5 full days to decide if our program is the best route for you.

Employer tuition reimbursement. You may be eligible for full or partial reimbursement of your tuition by your employer. Students should check with their supervisor or personnel department to see if they have an employer-sponsored tuition reimbursement program.

Military and VA benefits. Use your military and VA benefits to further your and/or your spouse's career. U.S. Career Institute is approved for or affiliated with VA education benefits including GI-Bill® benefits and MyCAA benefits. Reservists may also qualify for veterans’ training. If you think you may be eligible, contact your base's Education Officer or the Veterans Administration.

Funding. U.S. Career Institute participates in military education benefit programs and the MyCAA spouse support tuition program; specific questions regarding eligibility should be directed to the Veterans Administration by calling 1-888-GIBILL1. U.S. Career Institute also participates in various employer-paid and Vocational Rehabilitation programs. U.S. Career Institute does not participate in other financial aid programs.

Career Outlook

U.S. Career Institute’s Human Resources Degree Program prepares you for a wide range of potential careers. Whether you choose to specialize in recruiting and interviewing, training or employee benefits you’ll enjoy a career that allows you to work with people in a variety of settings. You’ll be an essential part of any business team.

If you have strong people skills, a career in HR may be right for you. With U.S. Career Institute’s online Human Resources associate degree you can work in many industries, including retail, travel, real estate and more. In human resources, you help resolve conflict in the workplace, explain employee benefits and work closely with company executives. Your HR skills will be in high demand, and a Human Resources associate degree will give you a competitive edge!

Beginner-Friendly Lessons. Classes are designed for anyone to easily learn, and are broken up into digestible sections that build as you progress through our program. No due dates or deadlines.

Engaging Curriculum. Reading lessons, supplemental videos, interactive exercises, note taking, read‑aloud and disability features, and open note multiple choice exams and essay questions with no time limit.

Student support and coaching. Your tuition includes access to instructors through the LMS, phone and email. Degree programs include Career Development Strategies, GE200. In this course, students learn in-depth networking and job search skills

Learning materials included. Your tuition includes e‑books, study guides, supplemental videos, and interactive exercises. Everything is included—no hidden fees after enrollment.

Method of training. Each U.S. Career Institute program is specifically designed for guided independent study via distance learning. Each course includes instructional materials with clear directions for each assignment, and the school provides one copy of the textbook and/or workbook, in electronic or physical form, as part of tuition. Students earn credit for a course when they have completed all required assignments for the course, and the faculty point out areas that need special attention.

Students who obtain a 3.72 or higher grade point average in a semester are awarded a seat on the Dean’s List.