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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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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 programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

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

University Of Pennsylvania is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in general education. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 160 general education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data 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. Read more about the general education program at University Of Pennsylvania

2
Bucknell University crest
Bucknell University
Lewisburg, PA

Students looking for a strong general education program will find one at Bucknell University, which ranked #2. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Lewisburg. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. Bucknell University awarded about 15 general education degrees in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Bucknell University earn a median of $64,331 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,951 to complete this degree. Get the full general education details 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. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Bethlehem. Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary graduates 72% of students within six years. 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. General Education graduates of Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary earn a median of $48,472 early in their careers. 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

A rank of #4 makes Pennsylvania Western University one of the top schools for general education. This large public university is located in the town of California. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. Pennsylvania Western University awarded about 103 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Read more about the general education program at 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. Located in the city of Philadelphia, La Salle University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 58% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 72 general education students who graduated with this degree at La Salle University in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of La Salle University earn a median of $63,073 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,462 to complete this degree. See the full general education program report for La Salle University

6

Pennsylvania State University World Campus landed the #6 spot for general education this year. Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public school located in the city of University Park. Pennsylvania State University World Campus graduates 34% of students within six years. Pennsylvania State University World Campus awarded about 12 general education degrees in the most recent data year. More information about a degree in general education from Pennsylvania State University World Campus

7

York College Pennsylvania landed the #7 spot for general education this year. Set in the suburb of York, York College Pennsylvania is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. 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. York College Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $26,537 in student loans. More information about a degree in general education from York College Pennsylvania

8

Millersville University Of Pennsylvania earned the #8 position for general education this year. Millersville University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Millersville. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 32 general education degrees were awarded at Millersville University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Millersville University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $47,049. Millersville University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $26,486 in student loans. Get the full general education details for Millersville University Of Pennsylvania

9
Holy Family University crest
Holy Family University
Philadelphia, PA

Holy Family University landed the #9 spot for general education this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Holy Family University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. Holy Family University awarded about 34 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Holy Family University earn around $58,924 in the first couple years of their career. Holy Family University graduates carry a median of $26,562 in student loans. More information about a degree in general education from Holy Family University

10
Messiah College crest
Messiah College
Mechanicsburg, PA

Messiah College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. 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. Students who receive their general education degree from Messiah College earn around $54,508 in the first couple years of their career. Messiah College graduates carry a median of $26,195 in student loans. Read more about the general education program at 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. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Lehigh Carbon Community College generally make around $39,957. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the general education program at Lehigh Carbon Community College

12
Albright College crest
Albright College
Reading, PA

Albright College earned the #12 position for general education this year. Albright College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Reading. About 51% of students finish within six years. Albright College awarded about 12 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $38,075 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $28,958 to complete this degree. Get the full general education details for Albright College

13

University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earned the #13 position for general education this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public institution. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 26 general education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $59,841. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus graduates carry a median of $24,958 in student loans. See the full general education program report for University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus

14
Wilson College crest
Wilson College
Chambersburg, PA

Wilson College landed the #14 spot for general education this year. Located in the city of Chambersburg, Wilson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. Wilson College awarded about 29 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $58,020 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $34,814 to complete this degree. Read more about the general education program at Wilson College

15
Cedar Crest College crest
Cedar Crest College
Allentown, PA

Cedar Crest College earned the #15 position for general education this year. Located in the city of Allentown, Cedar Crest College is a small private not-for-profit university. About 60% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 11 general education students who graduated with this degree at Cedar Crest College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Cedar Crest College earn around $59,798 in the first couple years of their career. Cedar Crest College graduates carry a median of $30,759 in student loans. See the full general education program report for Cedar Crest College

16

Saint Francis University landed the #16 spot for general education this year. Located in the rural area of Loretto, Saint Francis University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. 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. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Saint Francis University generally make around $63,097. Students borrow a median of $30,729 to complete this degree. Read more about the general education program at Saint Francis University

17

Butler County Community College placed #17 among the best general education schools. Set in the town of Butler, Butler County Community College is a mid-sized public institution. About 13 general education degrees were awarded at Butler County Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their general education degree from Butler County Community College earn around $41,492 in the first couple years of their career. Butler County Community College graduates carry a median of $10,836 in student loans. Read more about the general education program at Butler County Community College

18

Reading Area Community College placed #18 among the best general education schools. Located in the city of Reading, Reading Area Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 10 general education degrees were awarded at Reading Area Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their general education degree from Reading Area Community College earn around $49,248 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,979 to complete this degree. 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. Set in the rural area of Johnstown, Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Pennsylvania Highlands Community College awarded about 17 general education degrees in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Pennsylvania Highlands Community College earn a median of $40,014 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,732. See the full general education program report 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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