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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best General Education Schools in Pennsylvania

10 Colleges in the United States
682 General Education Degrees Awarded
$54,704 Avg Early-Career Salary

General Education is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 48 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for general education students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for General Education in Pennsylvania

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the general education degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in General Education

1
University Of Pennsylvania crest
University Of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA

Leading the list is University Of Pennsylvania, our #1 school for general education. 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 160 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from University Of Pennsylvania earn around $80,997 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $16,155 in student loans. More information about a degree in general education from University Of Pennsylvania

2
Bucknell University crest
Bucknell University
Lewisburg, PA

Bucknell University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general education, landing the #2 spot this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Lewisburg. About 86% of students finish 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. Bucknell University graduates carry a median of $25,951 in student loans. See the full general education program report for Bucknell University

3

Students looking for a strong general education program will find one at Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Bethlehem, Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. 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. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary generally make around $48,472. Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary graduates carry a median of $26,857 in student loans. More information about a degree in general education from Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary

4

Students looking for a strong general education program will find one at Pennsylvania Western University, which ranked #4. Located in the town of California, Pennsylvania Western University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. About 103 general education degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania Western University in the most recent year. More information about a degree in general education from Pennsylvania Western University

5
La Salle University crest
La Salle University
Philadelphia, PA

La Salle University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general education, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, La Salle University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 72 general education students who graduated with this degree at La Salle University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from La Salle University earn around $63,073 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,462. More information about a degree in general education from La Salle University

6

Pennsylvania State University World Campus came in at #6 for general education this year. This large public university is located in the city of University Park. About 34% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 12 general education students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University World Campus in the most recent data year. Read more about the general education program at Pennsylvania State University World Campus

7

York College Pennsylvania earned the #7 position for general education this year. Set in the suburb of York, York College Pennsylvania is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 64% of students finish within six years. York College Pennsylvania awarded about 63 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $63,072 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,537. More information about a degree in general education from York College Pennsylvania

8

Millersville University Of Pennsylvania ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Millersville. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. Millersville University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 32 general education degrees in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Millersville University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $47,049 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,486 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general education from Millersville University Of Pennsylvania

9
Holy Family University crest
Holy Family University
Philadelphia, PA

Holy Family University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Holy Family University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 34 general education degrees were awarded at Holy Family University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Holy Family University generally make around $58,924. Students borrow a median of $26,562 to complete this degree. See the full general education program report for Holy Family University

10
Messiah College crest
Messiah College
Mechanicsburg, PA

Messiah College came in at #10 for general education this year. Located in the suburb of Mechanicsburg, Messiah College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. Messiah College awarded about 19 general education degrees in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Messiah College earn a median of $54,508 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,195 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general education from Messiah College

11

Lehigh Carbon Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Schnecksville. There were roughly 22 general education students who graduated with this degree at Lehigh Carbon Community College in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Lehigh Carbon Community College earn a median of $39,957 early in their careers. Lehigh Carbon Community College graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. See the full general education program report for Lehigh Carbon Community College

12
Albright College crest
Albright College
Reading, PA

Albright College earned the #12 position for general education this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Reading. About 51% of students finish within six years. About 12 general education degrees were awarded at Albright College in the most recent year. General Education graduates of Albright College earn a median of $38,075 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $28,958. Get the full general education details for Albright College

13

University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus placed #13 among the best general education schools. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 26 general education degrees were awarded at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the general education program make about $59,841 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,958. See the full general education program report for University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus

14
Wilson College crest
Wilson College
Chambersburg, PA

Wilson College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. Set in the city of Chambersburg, Wilson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 48%. There were roughly 29 general education students who graduated with this degree at Wilson College in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Wilson College earn a median of $58,020 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $34,814. See the full general education program report for Wilson College

15
Cedar Crest College crest
Cedar Crest College
Allentown, PA

Cedar Crest College came in at #15 for general education this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Allentown. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. About 11 general education degrees were awarded at Cedar Crest College in the most recent year. Students who receive their general education degree from Cedar Crest College earn around $59,798 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $30,759. More information about a degree in general education from Cedar Crest College

16

Saint Francis University landed the #16 spot for general education this year. Saint Francis University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Loretto. About 74% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 13 general education students who graduated with this degree at Saint Francis University in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Saint Francis University earn a median of $63,097 early in their careers. Saint Francis University graduates carry a median of $30,729 in student loans. Get the full general education details for Saint Francis University

17

Butler County Community College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Butler. About 13 general education degrees were awarded at Butler County Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the general education program make about $41,492 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,836. See the full general education program report for Butler County Community College

18

Reading Area Community College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Reading. There were roughly 10 general education students who graduated with this degree at Reading Area Community College in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Reading Area Community College earn a median of $49,248 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,979. Get the full general education details for Reading Area Community College

19

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College came in at #19 for general education this year. Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Johnstown. There were roughly 17 general education students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Pennsylvania Highlands Community College earn around $40,014 in the first couple years of their career. Pennsylvania Highlands Community College graduates carry a median of $11,732 in student loans. Get the full general education details for Pennsylvania Highlands Community College

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 48 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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