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.
College Factual analyzed 903 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best general education schools.
Johns Hopkins University tops our 2026 ranking of the best general education schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Baltimore. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. Johns Hopkins University awarded about 293 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $63,838 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,426 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Los Angeles came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. About 189 general education degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Students who receive their general education degree from University Of California Los Angeles earn around $61,708 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,097 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong general education program will find one at California State University Sacramento, which ranked #3. This very large public university is located in the city of Sacramento. California State University Sacramento graduates 56% of students within six years. About 146 general education degrees were awarded at California State University Sacramento in the most recent year. Graduates of the general education program make about $77,526 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,492.
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Students looking for a strong general education program will find one at Stanford University, which ranked #4. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Stanford. Stanford University graduates 92% of students within six years. About 113 general education degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general education program make about $71,967 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,492.
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University Of Pennsylvania is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general education, landing the #5 spot this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. About 96% of students finish within six years. University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 151 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from University Of Pennsylvania earn around $77,285 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,155.
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University Of California Berkeley earned the #6 position for general education this year. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. About 93% of students finish within six years. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 25 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $70,847 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,238.
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California State University Fullerton came in at #7 for general education this year. California State University Fullerton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. California State University Fullerton awarded about 36 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from California State University Fullerton earn around $54,471 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,525.
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California State University Long Beach came in at #8 for general education this year. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. California State University Long Beach graduates 69% of students within six years. California State University Long Beach awarded about 68 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from California State University Long Beach earn around $50,982 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,671 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Riverside ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. Set in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a very large public institution. About 76% of students finish within six years. About 145 general education degrees were awarded at University Of California Riverside in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from University Of California Riverside generally make around $61,108. University Of California Riverside graduates carry a median of $19,187 in student loans.
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Washington University In St Louis earned the #10 position for general education this year. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 24 general education students who graduated with this degree at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Washington University In St Louis earn around $68,303 in the first couple years of their career. Washington University In St Louis graduates carry a median of $17,553 in student loans.
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California State Polytechnic University Pomona came in at #11 for general education this year. California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pomona. California State Polytechnic University Pomona graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 32 general education students who graduated with this degree at California State Polytechnic University Pomona in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of California State Polytechnic University Pomona earn a median of $70,724 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,226 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general education from California State Polytechnic University Pomona
Point Loma Nazarene University placed #12 among the best general education schools. Point Loma Nazarene University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. About 126 general education degrees were awarded at Point Loma Nazarene University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Point Loma Nazarene University generally make around $61,550. Students borrow a median of $22,542 to complete this degree.
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California State University Bakersfield landed the #13 spot for general education this year. This large public university is located in the city of Bakersfield. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 121 general education degrees were awarded at California State University Bakersfield in the most recent year.
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University Of California Davis landed the #14 spot for general education this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Davis. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 91 general education students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Davis in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $59,285. University Of California Davis graduates carry a median of $14,404 in student loans.
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University Of California San Diego placed #15 among the best general education schools. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. About 86% of students finish within six years. University Of California San Diego awarded about 54 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from University Of California San Diego earn around $61,100 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,101 to complete this degree.
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Harvard University placed #16 among the best general education schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. Harvard University graduates 98% of students within six years. About 10 general education degrees were awarded at Harvard University in the most recent year. General Education graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $65,968 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
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Azusa Pacific University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Azusa. About 62% of students finish within six years. Azusa Pacific University awarded about 73 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Azusa Pacific University generally make around $63,794. Students borrow a median of $23,709 to complete this degree.
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California State University Dominguez Hills came in at #18 for general education this year. This large public university is located in the city of Carson. About 43% of students finish within six years. California State University Dominguez Hills awarded about 70 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from California State University Dominguez Hills earn around $68,117 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,886 to complete this degree.
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University Of San Diego placed #19 among the best general education schools. University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. University Of San Diego graduates 84% of students within six years. There were roughly 53 general education students who graduated with this degree at University Of San Diego in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of University Of San Diego earn a median of $73,028 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,795 to complete this degree.
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Sonoma State University earned the #20 position for general education this year. Set in the suburb of Rohnert Park, Sonoma State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 22 general education students who graduated with this degree at Sonoma State University in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Sonoma State University earn a median of $80,657 early in their careers. Sonoma State University graduates carry a median of $18,031 in student loans.
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California Baptist University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Riverside. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. California Baptist University awarded about 176 general education degrees in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of California Baptist University earn a median of $67,260 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $28,169 to complete this degree.
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California State University Northridge earned the #22 position for general education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Northridge. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 29 general education degrees were awarded at California State University Northridge in the most recent year. General Education graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of $48,437 early in their careers. California State University Northridge graduates carry a median of $16,202 in student loans.
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Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary placed #23 among the best general education schools. Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bethlehem. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 19 general education students who graduated with this degree at Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $48,472 in their early career. Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary graduates carry a median of $26,857 in student loans.
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University Of San Francisco earned the #24 position for general education this year. University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. University Of San Francisco awarded about 55 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from University Of San Francisco generally make around $62,201. Students borrow a median of $23,935 to complete this degree.
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Whitworth University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. Set in the suburb of Spokane, Whitworth University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. About 14 general education degrees were awarded at Whitworth University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general education program make about $80,115 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,051.
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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).
