University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, School of Labor and Employment Relations
The School of Labor and Employment Relations at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign delivers graduate and undergraduate HR education, PhD research, union-leader training, and worker-centered policy research through its Climate Jobs Institute, serving students, employers, and Illinois state policymakers.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersChampaign, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, School of Labor and Employment Relations does
The School of Labor and Employment Relations (LER) is an academic unit within the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, a public state university, founded in 1946 and headquartered at 504 E. Armory Avenue, Champaign, Illinois, with an additional Labor Education Program site in Chicago. The school delivers degree and certificate programs — on-campus MHRIR (Master of Human Resources and Industrial Relations, completable in three semesters), an online MHRIR (completable in under two years), a Human Resources PhD, and a recently added Undergraduate HR Certificate — alongside an HR Data Analytics concentration. Extension and research arms include the Climate Jobs Institute (worker-centered clean energy research), the Labor Education Program (the only statewide provider of professional training for union leaders in Illinois), and a Hazardous Materials Training Program.
LER operates a tuition-driven academic model supplemented by alumni giving and corporate event sponsorship/employer partnership revenue. Distribution is omnichannel: on-campus instruction in Champaign, online asynchronous delivery for working professionals, the Labor Education Program's statewide union training, and the Climate Jobs Institute's policy-facing research outputs. Career services run through the Handshake recruiting platform and a LinkedIn alumni network exceeding 4,000 members, with reported outcomes of 84% of online graduates receiving a promotion or job change within six months, a 26% average post-graduation salary increase, $91k+ average full-time starting salaries, and $37+/hour average intern rates. Partnerships include Cornell University's ILR School (national strike and labor protest database), the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and SEDAC (clean energy workforce mapping under CEJA), and cultural/community organizations such as Krannert Art Museum and East Central Illinois CLUW. The school is led by Dean Simon Restubog (appointed permanent Dean effective August 1, 2026, after serving as Interim Dean since 2024) and produces the annual Illinois Corporate Board Diversity Report under state legislation dating to 2020.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, School of Labor and Employment Relations firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, School of Labor and Employment Relations
- Legal name
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, School of Labor and Employment Relations
- Website
- https://ler.illinois.edu
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- The School of Labor and Employment Relations at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign delivers graduate and undergraduate HR education, PhD research, union-leader training, and worker-centered policy research through its Climate Jobs Institute, serving students, employers, and Illinois state policymakers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, School of Labor and Employment Relations industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education - Human Resources and Industrial Relations
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Human Resources & Talent (SHRM/HRCI Recertification) (EDAAALAN)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- HR Compliance, Employment Law & Employee Relations Training (EDABAIAE)
Keywords
Where University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, School of Labor and Employment Relations is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Champaign
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, School of Labor and Employment Relations business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Tuition and Fees: Revenue from graduate and undergraduate tuition for on-campus and online programs including MHRIR, PhD, and certificate programs.
- Alumni Giving and Donations: The school actively solicits alumni donations and contributions to support scholarships, fellowships, and programs.
- Event Sponsorship and Partnerships: Revenue from corporate event sponsorships, partnership opportunities, and employer engagement programs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | On-campus MHRIR Program |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, School of Labor and Employment Relations product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The School of Labor and Employment Relations (LER) is an academic unit within the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign that delivers Human Resources and Industrial Relations degree programs, including an on-campus MHRIR master's (three semesters), an online HR master's (under two years), a PhD in HR, and an undergraduate HR certificate. It also operates the statewide Labor Education Program for union leaders and workers, the Climate Jobs Institute, and the Hazardous Materials Training Program as extension offerings.
Product overview
The School of Labor and Employment Relations (LER) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign operates as a premier academic institution offering degree programs and professional education. The core academic portfolio includes three degree programs (on-campus MHRIR, online MHRIR, and PhD in Human Resources), an undergraduate HR certificate, and multiple extension programs including the Climate Jobs Institute, Labor Education Program, and Hazardous Materials Training Program. The school has recently expanded its offerings under new leadership to include a Human Resources Data Analytics concentration and enhanced online continuing education, positioning itself as a comprehensive provider for HR education from undergraduate through doctoral levels, with strong career outcomes (84% career boost for online graduates, average starting salaries over $91k for full-time hires).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Climate Jobs Institute: An institute within the school that informs Illinois clean energy transition through research foregrounding workers and communities.
- Labor Education Program (LEP)
- Hazardous Materials Training Program
Products and services
- Human Resources Master's (MHRIR) On-campus Master of Human Resources and Industrial Relations (MHRIR) program that can be completed in three semesters and prepares students for HR management careers. A Joint MHRIR/JD variant is also offered.
- Online Human Resources Master's Online Master of Human Resources and Industrial Relations program that can be completed in just under two years. Designed for working professionals; 84% of graduates received a promotion or changed jobs within six months of graduation.
- Human Resources PhD Doctoral program in Human Resources and Industrial Relations preparing students for academic careers and advanced research positions, with degree requirements, career opportunities, and placement data.
- Undergraduate HR Certificate Certificate program for undergraduate students seeking to enter the human resources field.
- Online Human Resources Certificate Program Online certificate program in human resources offered to working professionals and through employer partnerships.
- Labor Education Program (LEP) State-wide provider of professional training and development for union leaders and workers in Illinois, based in Champaign and Chicago. Offers an undergraduate minor and continuing professional education.
- Climate Jobs Institute Research institute within LER that informs Illinois' clean energy transition through worker-centered research. Provides reports, tools, and resources; engages labor, industry, communities, and policymakers; mentors student researchers; and fosters applied research collaborations. Released its 2025 Annual Report.
- Hazardous Materials Training Program Provides comprehensive hazardous materials training in the Midwest, part of the institute and extension programs offered by the school.
- Joint MHRIR/JD Program Joint degree program combining the Master of Human Resources and Industrial Relations with a Juris Doctor (law degree) for students pursuing both HR and legal careers.
- Online Continuing Education Professional development and continuing education offerings for working HR professionals, part of the school's expanded online and continuing education portfolio.
- LEP Undergraduate Minor Undergraduate minor in labor studies offered through the Labor Education Program.
Quantifiable outcome
- 84% of online graduates received a promotion or changed jobs within six months of graduation
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, School of Labor and Employment Relations
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, School of Labor and Employment Relations technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, School of Labor and Employment Relations partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Magdalena Novoa (Department of Urban and Regional Planning)minorClimate Jobs Institute partners with Assistant Professor Novoa on the Memorias de la Mujer Lotina exhibition featuring coal community art from Chile.
- Cornell University ILR SchoolcoreCollaborates with Cornell University's ILR School to create a comprehensive database of strike and labor protest activity across the United States, informing and supporting labor movement activists, policymakers, and scholars.
- Krannert Art MuseumminorClimate Jobs Institute partners with Krannert Art Museum for the Memorias de la Mujer Lotina exhibition bringing coal-impacted communities from Chile and Illinois into dialogue.
- Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO)coreClimate Jobs Institute collaborates with DCEO on clean energy workforce mapping tool and CEJA workforce training programs implementation.
- Smart Energy Design Assistance Center (SEDAC)minorCollaborated with SEDAC to develop the clean energy workforce mapping tool supporting CEJA workforce training programs.
- East Central Illinois Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW)minorPartners with CLUW to host events connecting women labor activists from Chile and Illinois.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, School of Labor and Employment Relations competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Cornell University ILR School: Cornell's School of Industrial and Labor Relations is the most direct peer, offering HR/IR graduate programs and research with a longer history and larger endowment. The two schools already collaborate on a national strike and labor protest database.
- Penn State School of Labor and Employment Relations: Penn State's School of Labor and Employment Relations offers similar graduate degree programs (MHRIR, PhD) in HR and employment relations with a comparable name and mission, making it one of the closest direct competitors.
- Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations: Rutgers SMLR is a peer professional school focused on HR and labor relations, offering master's and PhD programs with similar curriculum overlap to UIUC LER.
- Michigan State University School of Human Resources and Labor Relations: MSU's School of Human Resources and Labor Relations offers graduate HR/IR education and research comparable to UIUC LER, with similar program structures and target student profiles.
- University of Minnesota Industrial Relations Center: The University of Minnesota's Industrial Relations Center offers HR/IR graduate education and research that competes directly with UIUC LER for faculty, students, and policy influence.
Broad incumbents
- SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management): SHRM is the dominant HR professional association offering SHRM-CP/SCP certifications and learning. While not a degree-granting institution, it competes for the same working-professional continuing education audience that UIUC LER serves online.
- MIT Sloan School of Management: MIT Sloan offers an MBA and specialized master's programs (including the Master of Finance in Finance, MBAn) at the broader business management level. It competes for talent interested in HR/management careers but through a generalist business degree.
Emerging players
- Coursera: Coursera partners with universities to deliver online credentials and certificates in HR and management. It competes with UIUC LER's online MHRIR and certificate offerings on price, accessibility, and breadth.
- Western Governors University: WGU is a non-profit online university offering accredited bachelor's and master's degrees in business and HR management at lower tuition. It targets the same working-professional market as the online MHRIR with a more flexible, lower-cost model.
Regional players
- University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Business: Wisconsin's School of Business offers master's programs with HR/management concentrations and competes regionally in the Midwest for graduate students who might otherwise consider UIUC LER.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, School of Labor and Employment Relations social profiles
Digital presenceUniversity of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, School of Labor and Employment Relations financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, School of Labor and Employment Relations leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, School of Labor and Employment Relations funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, School of Labor and Employment Relations M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, School of Labor and Employment Relations
What does University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, School of Labor and Employment Relations do?
The School of Labor and Employment Relations (LER) is an academic unit within the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign that delivers Human Resources and Industrial Relations degree programs, including an on-campus MHRIR master's (three semesters), an online HR master's (under two years), a PhD in HR, and an undergraduate HR certificate. It also operates the statewide Labor Education Program for union leaders and workers, the Climate Jobs Institute, and the Hazardous Materials Training Program as extension offerings.
Is University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, School of Labor and Employment Relations a public or private company?
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, School of Labor and Employment Relations is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, School of Labor and Employment Relations founded?
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, School of Labor and Employment Relations was founded in 2020.
Where is University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, School of Labor and Employment Relations based?
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, School of Labor and Employment Relations is headquartered in Champaign, United States, in the North America region.
How does University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, School of Labor and Employment Relations make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Fees are the primary driver. The others are alumni Giving and Donations and event Sponsorship and Partnerships.
Who are University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, School of Labor and Employment Relations's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Cornell University ILR School, Penn State School of Labor and Employment Relations, Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations, Michigan State University School of Human Resources and Labor Relations and University of Minnesota Industrial Relations Center. Broad incumbents are SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) and MIT Sloan School of Management. Emerging players are Coursera and Western Governors University. University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Business is listed as a regional player.
Does University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, School of Labor and Employment Relations have an API?
No public API is recorded for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, School of Labor and Employment Relations.
What industry is University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, School of Labor and Employment Relations in?
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, School of Labor and Employment Relations's product category is Higher Education - Human Resources and Industrial Relations. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAALAN, Human Resources & Talent (SHRM/HRCI Recertification), with a secondary code of EDABAIAE, HR Compliance, Employment Law & Employee Relations Training. Its NAICS code is 611310 and its SIC code is 8200.