General Education degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 903 schools to find the best for general education students.
Texas A And M University College Station tops our 2026 ranking of the best general education schools. Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public school located in the city of College Station. About 84% of students finish within six years. About 308 general education degrees were awarded at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station generally make around $64,891. Students borrow a median of $20,031 to complete this degree.
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Vanderbilt University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general education, ranking #2. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 94% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 12 general education students who graduated with this degree at Vanderbilt University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $77,997 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,975.
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The University Of Texas At Austin is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general education, landing the #3 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Austin. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. About 24 general education degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent year. General Education graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $57,819 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,275.
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University Of Massachusetts Amherst is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general education, ranking #4. Set in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public institution. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 64 general education degrees were awarded at University Of Massachusetts Amherst in the most recent year. Graduates of the general education program make about $58,304 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,234 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #5 makes Southern Methodist University one of the top schools for general education. Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dallas. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. Southern Methodist University awarded about 14 general education degrees in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Southern Methodist University earn a median of $70,632 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,712 to complete this degree.
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University Of California San Diego placed #6 among the best general education schools. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 52 general education students who graduated with this degree at University Of California San Diego in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $91,736. Typical student debt for the program is $17,101.
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New York University came in at #7 for general education this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 17 general education degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general education program make about $60,354 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,375 to complete this degree.
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Texas Tech University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Lubbock. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 277 general education students who graduated with this degree at Texas Tech University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Texas Tech University generally make around $50,332. Texas Tech University graduates carry a median of $24,271 in student loans.
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University Of Florida landed the #9 spot for general education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Gainesville. University Of Florida graduates 91% of students within six years. There were roughly 84 general education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Florida in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from University Of Florida earn around $58,388 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,669.
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The University Of Texas At Arlington earned the #10 position for general education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Arlington. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 121 general education students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Arlington in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of The University Of Texas At Arlington earn a median of $57,410 early in their careers. The University Of Texas At Arlington graduates carry a median of $13,250 in student loans.
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Seattle Pacific University landed the #11 spot for general education this year. Located in the city of Seattle, Seattle Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 62% of students finish within six years. Seattle Pacific University awarded about 19 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $52,713 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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Trinity College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. Located in the city of Hartford, Trinity College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 11 general education degrees were awarded at Trinity College in the most recent year. Students who receive their general education degree from Trinity College earn around $52,927 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,667 to complete this degree.
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Bucknell University came in at #13 for general education this year. Set in the town of Lewisburg, Bucknell University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Bucknell University graduates 86% of students within six years. About 15 general education degrees were awarded at Bucknell University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general education program make about $64,331 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,951.
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North Carolina State University At Raleigh ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 30 general education degrees were awarded at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent year. Students who receive their general education degree from North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn around $59,622 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,113 to complete this degree.
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Purdue University Main Campus landed the #15 spot for general education this year. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. About 83% of students finish within six years. About 16 general education degrees were awarded at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their general education degree from Purdue University Main Campus earn around $64,435 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
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University Of California Irvine placed #16 among the best general education schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Irvine. University Of California Irvine graduates 87% of students within six years. There were roughly 250 general education students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Irvine in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of University Of California Irvine earn a median of $26,106 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,575.
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University Of La Verne ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. Located in the suburb of La Verne, University Of La Verne is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 63% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 82 general education students who graduated with this degree at University Of La Verne in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of University Of La Verne earn a median of $35,364 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,314.
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Chapman University came in at #18 for general education this year. Set in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. Chapman University awarded about 43 general education degrees in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Chapman University earn a median of $37,928 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,746 to complete this degree.
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Colgate University placed #19 among the best general education schools. Set in the rural area of Hamilton, Colgate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. Colgate University awarded about 12 general education degrees in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Colgate University earn a median of $52,924 early in their careers. Colgate University graduates carry a median of $16,286 in student loans.
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Syracuse University landed the #20 spot for general education this year. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Syracuse University graduates 84% of students within six years. About 27 general education degrees were awarded at Syracuse University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general education program make about $54,785 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
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University Of Washington Seattle Campus ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Seattle. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 101 general education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $44,201. Typical student debt for the program is $15,729.
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University Of Oregon placed #22 among the best general education schools. University Of Oregon is a very large public school located in the city of Eugene. University Of Oregon graduates 72% of students within six years. About 81 general education degrees were awarded at University Of Oregon in the most recent year. Graduates of the general education program make about $23,105 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,096 to complete this degree.
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Brown University came in at #23 for general education this year. Set in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Brown University graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 14 general education students who graduated with this degree at Brown University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Brown University generally make around $33,866. Brown University graduates carry a median of $13,025 in student loans.
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Vanguard University Of Southern California earned the #24 position for general education this year. Set in the city of Costa Mesa, Vanguard University Of Southern California is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. Vanguard University Of Southern California awarded about 44 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $80,727 in their early career. Vanguard University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $21,111 in student loans.
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University Of Florida Online placed #25 among the best general education schools. University Of Florida Online is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Gainesville. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Florida Online awarded about 46 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $43,822 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,779.
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Rest of the Top 50 General Education Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s general education ranking:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 903 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
