Organizational Behavior: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Organizational Behavior is a multidisciplinary field dedicated to understanding how individuals and groups interact within structured environments, particularly in workplace contexts. This program equips learners with the analytical tools to examine motivation, decision-making, communication, and group dynamics to enhance performance, foster collaboration, and drive effective leadership.
- Organization Theory: Explores the design, structure, and functioning of formal institutions, focusing on how systems and processes shape outcomes and adapt to change.
- Industrial and Organizational Psychology: Applies psychological principles to workplace challenges, including employee selection, job satisfaction, and mental well-being in professional settings.
- Social Psychology: Investigates how individual behavior is influenced by group dynamics, social norms, and interpersonal interactions within organizational culture.
- Sociology of Organizations: Analyzes the broader social structures and patterns that govern institutions, including roles, networks, and collective identities.
- Reinforcement and Incentive Theory: Studies how rewards, recognition, and consequences shape behavior and influence performance and motivation in teams.
- Employee Relations Strategies: Develops frameworks for managing conflicts, improving engagement, and building trust between workers and management.
- Organizational Power and Influence: Examines the distribution of authority, decision-making processes, and the mechanisms through which individuals and groups exert impact.
- Organization Stratification and Hierarchy: Reviews how roles, levels, and formal structures contribute to efficiency, control, and cultural norms within institutions.
- Leadership Styles: Evaluates different approaches to guiding teams, from transformational to situational leadership, and their impact on team effectiveness.
- Applications of Operations Research: Integrates quantitative methods and data analysis to optimize organizational processes, resource allocation, and strategic planning.
Organizational Behavior Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Organizational Behavior Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Organizational Behavior degrees, including Compensation and Benefits Managers, Human Resources Managers and Training and Development Managers. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 1,279,790 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compensation and Benefits Managers 11-3111 | $140,360 | $81,660 - $239,200 | 20,070 | $67.48 |
| Human Resources Managers 11-3121 | $140,030 | $83,790 - $239,200 | 215,520 | $67.32 |
| Training and Development Managers 11-3131 | $127,090 | $75,810 - $219,990 | 44,960 | $61.10 |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1011 | $97,270 | $46,460 - $210,530 | 81,780 | N/A |
| Human Resources Specialists 13-1071 | $72,910 | $45,440 - $126,540 | 917,460 | $35.05 |
Organizational Behavior Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $81,816 in Arkansas to $140,544 in New York—a 72% difference. The highest-paying states include New York, District of Columbia, and California. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 1,279,790 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Organizational Behavior by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Organizational Behavior programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Organizational Behavior is found at University of Oklahoma (OU), Norman Campus (309 graduates), Harvard University (238 graduates), Regent University (193 graduates), Wayne State University (WSU) (179 graduates), and Pennsylvania State University, Main Campus (168 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 3,432 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Oklahoma (OU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
309 | Norman, Oklahoma | Public | ou.edu |
| Harvard University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Residency
|
238 | Cambridge, Massachusetts | Private | harvard.edu |
| Regent University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
193 | Virginia Beach, Virginia | Private | regent.edu |
| Wayne State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
|
179 | Detroit, Michigan | Public | wayne.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Bachelor's
|
168 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | psu.edu |
| University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
128 | San Antonio, Texas | Private | uiw.edu |
| University of North Texas (UNT) |
Bachelor's
|
96 | Denton, Texas | Public | unt.edu |
| Fielding Graduate University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
91 | Santa Barbara, California | Private | fielding.edu |
| Purdue University Global |
Bachelor's
|
76 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdueglobal.edu |
| Northern Kentucky University (NKU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
66 | Highland Heights, Kentucky | Public | nku.edu |
| The College of Saint Scholastica (CSS) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
63 | Duluth, Minnesota | Private | css.edu |
| University of La Verne |
Master's
|
61 | La Verne, California | Private | laverne.edu |
| University of Richmond (UR) |
Bachelor's
|
61 | University of Richmond, Virginia | Private | richmond.edu |
| Southern Nazarene University (SNU) |
Bachelor's
|
55 | Bethany, Oklahoma | Private | snu.edu |
| University of Pennsylvania (Penn) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Other Award
|
54 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | upenn.edu |
| North Carolina State University (NC State) |
Postbac Cert.
|
53 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Public | ncsu.edu |
| University of Michigan (U‑M) |
Bachelor's
|
52 | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Public | umich.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Bachelor's
|
52 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | worldcampus.psu.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU) |
Bachelor's
|
49 | Provo, Utah | Private | byu.edu |
| Minnesota State University |
Bachelor's
|
47 | Mankato, Minnesota | Public | mnsu.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Bachelor's
|
44 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| Temple University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
44 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| Santa Clara University (SCU) |
Bachelor's
|
43 | Santa Clara, California | Private | scu.edu |
| Villanova University |
Postbac Cert.
|
43 | Villanova, Pennsylvania | Private | villanova.edu |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus |
Master's
|
42 | Denver, Colorado | Public | ucdenver.edu |
| Northwestern University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
39 | Evanston, Illinois | Private | northwestern.edu |
| Waldorf University |
Bachelor's
|
39 | Forest City, Iowa | Private | waldorf.edu |
| Wayne State College (WSC) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
38 | Wayne, Nebraska | Public | wsc.edu |
| Wilmington University (WilmU) |
Bachelor's
|
36 | New Castle, Delaware | Private | wilmu.edu |
| Indiana University (IUB) |
Bachelor's
|
36 | Bloomington, Indiana | Public | indiana.edu |
| Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
35 | Cleveland, Ohio | Private | case.edu |
| George Washington University (GW) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
33 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | gwu.edu |
| Azusa Pacific University (APU) |
Master's
|
32 | Azusa, California | Private | apu.edu |
| Vanderbilt University (VU) |
Master's
|
32 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | vanderbilt.edu |
| University of North Texas at Dallas (UNT Dallas) |
Bachelor's
|
30 | Dallas, Texas | Public | untdallas.edu |
| Miami University |
Bachelor's
|
29 | Oxford, Ohio | Public | miamioh.edu |
| Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) |
Bachelor's
|
29 | Harrisonburg, Virginia | Private | emu.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Postbac Cert.
|
27 | College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
| Alliant International University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Doctorate (Professional)
|
26 | San Diego, California | Private | alliant.edu |
| University of Denver (DU) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
25 | Denver, Colorado | Private | du.edu |
| Bethel University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
25 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Private | bethel.edu |
| Estrella Mountain Community College (EMCC) |
Associate's
|
25 | Avondale, Arizona | Public | estrellamountain.edu |
| Benedictine University (BenU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
24 | Lisle, Illinois | Private | ben.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Other Award
|
21 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| Tiffin University (TU) |
Master's
|
19 | Tiffin, Ohio | Private | tiffin.edu |
| Bethune-Cookman University (B‑CU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
18 | Daytona Beach, Florida | Private | cookman.edu |
| Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) |
Master's
|
18 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | pcom.edu |
| Pitzer College (PZ) |
Bachelor's
|
17 | Claremont, California | Private | pitzer.edu |
| Chadron State College (CSC) |
Master's
|
17 | Chadron, Nebraska | Public | csc.edu |
| Edgewood College |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
17 | Madison, Wisconsin | Private | edgewood.edu |
| Mesa Community College (MCC) |
Associate's
|
16 | Mesa, Arizona | Public | mesacc.edu |
| Rio Salado College |
Associate's
|
16 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | rio.maricopa.edu |
| Ashford University (UAGC) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
16 | San Diego, California | Private | uagc.edu |
| University of Tulsa (TU) |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Tulsa, Oklahoma | Private | utulsa.edu |
| Saint Joseph's University (SJU) |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | sju.edu |
| Saint Mary's College of California |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Moraga, California | Private | stmarys-ca.edu |
| Saint Louis University (SLU) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | slu.edu |
| Phoenix College (PC) |
Associate's
|
14 | Phoenix, Arizona | Public | phoenixcollege.edu |
| University of Cincinnati |
Associate's
|
14 | Blue Ash, Ohio | Public | ucblueash.edu |
| University of Toledo (UToledo) |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Toledo, Ohio | Public | utoledo.edu |
| George Mason University |
Master's
|
14 | Fairfax, Virginia | Public | www2.gmu.edu |
| Mount St. Joseph University (MSJ) |
Master's
|
13 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Private | msj.edu |
| Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
12 | West Palm Beach, Florida | Private | pba.edu |
| Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC) |
Associate's
|
12 | Chandler, Arizona | Public | cgc.maricopa.edu |
| Campbellsville University (CU) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Campbellsville, Kentucky | Private | campbellsville.edu |
| Oklahoma Christian University (OC) |
Master's
|
10 | Edmond, Oklahoma | Private | oc.edu |
| Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (Ship) |
Master's
|
10 | Shippensburg, Pennsylvania | Public | ship.edu |
| Claflin University |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Orangeburg, South Carolina | Private | claflin.edu |
| Champlain College |
Postbac Cert.
|
10 | Burlington, Vermont | Private | champlain.edu |
| American Public University System (APUS) |
Postbac Cert.
|
10 | Charles Town, West Virginia | Private | apus.edu |
| Colorado Christian University (CCU) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Lakewood, Colorado | Private | ccu.edu |
| Spelman College |
Residency
|
9 | Atlanta, Georgia | Private | spelman.edu |
| Ivy Tech Community College (Ivy Tech) |
Other Award
|
9 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | ivytech.edu |
| Rider University |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Lawrenceville, New Jersey | Private | rider.edu |
| Concordia University (CUC) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | River Forest, Illinois | Private | cuchicago.edu |
| Greenville University |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Greenville, Illinois | Private | greenville.edu |
| Endicott College |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
8 | Beverly, Massachusetts | Private | endicott.edu |
| Black Hills State University (BHSU) |
Master's
|
8 | Spearfish, South Dakota | Public | bhsu.edu |
| Faith International University (FIU) |
Master's
|
8 | Tacoma, Washington | Private | faithiu.edu |
| Johnson & Wales University (JWU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
8 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | online.jwu.edu |
| California Lutheran University (CLU) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
7 | Thousand Oaks, California | Private | callutheran.edu |
| Simpson University |
Master's
|
7 | Redding, California | Private | simpsonu.edu |
| Central Michigan University (CMU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
7 | Mount Pleasant, Michigan | Public | cmich.edu |
| Providence College |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | providence.edu |
| Peru State College |
Master's
|
6 | Peru, Nebraska | Public | peru.edu |
| Alvernia University |
Doctorate (Research)
|
6 | Reading, Pennsylvania | Private | alvernia.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Master's
|
6 | Middletown, Pennsylvania | Public | harrisburg.psu.edu |
| Eastern Connecticut State University (ECSU) |
Master's
|
5 | Willimantic, Connecticut | Public | easternct.edu |
| Lindenwood University |
Postbac Cert.
|
5 | Saint Charles, Missouri | Private | lindenwood.edu |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico (UIPR) |
Master's
|
5 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Private | metro.inter.edu |
| Boston College (BC) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
4 | Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts | Private | bc.edu |
| Walsh University |
Bachelor's
|
4 | North Canton, Ohio | Private | walsh.edu |
| University of Mobile |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Mobile, Alabama | Private | umobile.edu |
| Scripps College |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Claremont, California | Private | scrippscollege.edu |
| University of Southern Maine (USM) |
Postbac Cert.
|
3 | Portland, Maine | Public | usm.maine.edu |
| Bluffton University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
3 | Bluffton, Ohio | Private | bluffton.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Reading, Pennsylvania | Public | berks.psu.edu |
| Glendale Community College (GCC) |
Associate's
|
2 | Glendale, Arizona | Public | gccaz.edu |
| GateWay Community College (GWCC) |
Associate's
|
2 | Phoenix, Arizona | Public | gatewaycc.edu |
| University of the Pacific (UOP) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Stockton, California | Private | pacific.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Organizational Behavior programs
How much can I earn with a Organizational Behavior degree?
Salaries for Organizational Behavior graduates vary by role and location. Compensation and Benefits Managers earn a median of $140,360 annually, while Human Resources Managers earn around $140,030. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in New York average $140,544 compared to $81,816 in Arkansas. Approximately 1,279,790 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Organizational Behavior programs?
Currently 112 accredited institutions offer Organizational Behavior degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of Oklahoma (OU), Norman Campus (309 graduates), Harvard University (238 graduates), and Regent University (193 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Organizational Behavior growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 5,857 in 2010 to a peak of 3,607 in 2020, before declining slightly to 3,447 in 2023-24. This represents a 41% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Organizational Behavior degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Compensation and Benefits Managers, Human Resources Managers, and Training and Development Managers. Related occupations employ approximately 1,279,790 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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