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.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 903 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for general education students pursuing a degree.
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Choosing a Great General Education School
The general education program you select can have a big impact on your future. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for General Education rankings. For our Best Overall General Education School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best General Education Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Our analysis ranked University Of Wisconsin Madison the best school in the country for a degree in general education. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. About 90% of students finish within six years. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 72 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $59,877 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete this degree.
See the full general education program report for University Of Wisconsin Madison
A rank of #2 makes Texas A And M University College Station one of the top schools for general education. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. Texas A And M University College Station graduates 84% of students within six years. About 308 general education degrees were awarded at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent year. General Education graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $64,891 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,031.
Read more about the general education program at Texas A And M University College Station
Students looking for a strong general education program will find one at Vanderbilt University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Vanderbilt University awarded about 15 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Vanderbilt University earn around $77,997 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general education from Vanderbilt University
A rank of #4 makes The University Of Texas At Austin one of the top schools for general education. This very large public university is located in the city of Austin. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates 89% of students within six years. About 24 general education degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent year. Students who receive their general education degree from The University Of Texas At Austin earn around $57,819 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,275.
Get the full general education details for The University Of Texas At Austin
University Of Massachusetts Amherst is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general education, ranking #5. Located in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public university. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Massachusetts Amherst awarded about 67 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn around $58,304 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Massachusetts Amherst graduates carry a median of $25,234 in student loans.
Get the full general education details for University Of Massachusetts Amherst
Johns Hopkins University placed #6 among the best general education schools. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. About 293 general education degrees were awarded at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent year. General Education graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of $63,838 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,426.
See the full general education program report for Johns Hopkins University
Auburn University earned the #7 position for general education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Auburn. Auburn University graduates 82% of students within six years. About 41 general education degrees were awarded at Auburn University in the most recent year. General Education graduates of Auburn University earn a median of $55,422 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,803.
Read more about the general education program at Auburn University
Southern Methodist University landed the #8 spot for general education this year. Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dallas. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 14 general education students who graduated with this degree at Southern Methodist University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Southern Methodist University earn around $70,632 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,712 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general education program at Southern Methodist University
University Of Connecticut placed #9 among the best general education schools. This very large public university is located in the town of Storrs. University Of Connecticut graduates 83% of students within six years. University Of Connecticut awarded about 21 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from University Of Connecticut earn around $58,784 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,637.
Read more about the general education program at University Of Connecticut
University Of California Los Angeles earned the #10 position for general education this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. University Of California Los Angeles graduates 93% of students within six years. University Of California Los Angeles awarded about 224 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $67,010. Students borrow a median of $16,097 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general education from University Of California Los Angeles
University Of Georgia came in at #11 for general education this year. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 53 general education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Georgia in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of $69,003 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,792.
See the full general education program report for University Of Georgia
California State University Sacramento came in at #12 for general education this year. California State University Sacramento is a very large public school located in the city of Sacramento. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 151 general education degrees were awarded at California State University Sacramento in the most recent year. Students who receive their general education degree from California State University Sacramento earn around $77,526 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,492.
See the full general education program report for California State University Sacramento
Stanford University earned the #13 position for general education this year. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. Stanford University awarded about 137 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $85,162. Typical student debt for the program is $10,492.
Read more about the general education program at Stanford University
New York University earned the #14 position for general education this year. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. New York University graduates 88% of students within six years. New York University awarded about 17 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from New York University earn around $60,354 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,375 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general education from New York University
University Of Pennsylvania landed the #15 spot for general education this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 160 general education degrees were awarded at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. General Education graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $80,997 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,155.
See the full general education program report for University Of Pennsylvania
Texas Tech University landed the #16 spot for general education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Lubbock. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. Texas Tech University awarded about 278 general education degrees in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Texas Tech University earn a median of $50,332 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,271.
Get the full general education details for Texas Tech University
University Of California Berkeley ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Berkeley. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 107 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.
Get the full general education details for University Of California Berkeley
California State University Fullerton ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fullerton. About 70% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 36 general education students who graduated with this degree at California State University Fullerton in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $54,471. California State University Fullerton graduates carry a median of $15,525 in student loans.
Get the full general education details for California State University Fullerton
California State University Long Beach landed the #19 spot for general education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Long Beach. California State University Long Beach graduates 69% of students within six years. There were roughly 68 general education students who graduated with this degree at California State University Long Beach in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $50,982. Typical student debt for the program is $15,671.
See the full general education program report for California State University Long Beach
University Of Florida ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Florida awarded about 84 general education degrees in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $58,388 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,669.
Read more about the general education program at University Of Florida
The University Of Texas At Arlington ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. Set in the city of Arlington, The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public institution. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. The University Of Texas At Arlington awarded about 127 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $56,784 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,250.
Read more about the general education program at The University Of Texas At Arlington
University Of California San Diego came in at #22 for general education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of La Jolla. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 125 general education students who graduated with this degree at University Of California San Diego in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of $91,736 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,101 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general education from University Of California San Diego
University Of California Riverside earned the #23 position for general education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Riverside. University Of California Riverside graduates 76% of students within six years. There were roughly 154 general education students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Riverside in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from University Of California Riverside generally make around $61,108. Typical student debt for the program is $19,187.
Get the full general education details for University Of California Riverside
George Mason University came in at #24 for general education this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fairfax. George Mason University graduates 68% of students within six years. About 37 general education degrees were awarded at George Mason University in the most recent year. General Education graduates of George Mason University earn a median of $89,993 early in their careers. George Mason University graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general education from George Mason University
Washington University In St Louis earned the #25 position for general education this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of St. Louis. Washington University In St Louis graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 33 general education students who graduated with this degree at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $68,303 in their early career. Washington University In St Louis graduates carry a median of $17,553 in student loans.
Read more about the general education program at Washington University In St Louis
Rest of the Top 50 General Education Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong general education education:
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).
