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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best General Education Schools in Massachusetts

8 Colleges in the United States
814 General Education Degrees Awarded
$56,299 Avg Early-Career Salary

General Education is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their general education programs.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 34 schools to find the best for general education students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for General Education in Massachusetts

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

No school ranked higher than University Of Massachusetts Amherst this year for general education. 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. 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. See the full general education program report for University Of Massachusetts Amherst

2
Harvard University crest
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA

A rank of #2 makes Harvard University one of the top schools for general education. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. About 98% of students finish within six years. Harvard University awarded about 11 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Harvard University earn around $96,581 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616. More information about a degree in general education from Harvard University

3

Worcester State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Worcester. Worcester State University graduates 62% of students within six years. About 19 general education degrees were awarded at Worcester State University in the most recent year. General Education graduates of Worcester State University earn a median of $45,297 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,451 to complete this degree. Read more about the general education program at Worcester State University

4

College Of Our Lady Of The Elms is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general education, ranking #4. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Chicopee. College Of Our Lady Of The Elms graduates 68% of students within six years. College Of Our Lady Of The Elms awarded about 14 general education degrees in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of College Of Our Lady Of The Elms earn a median of $44,875 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000. See the full general education program report for College Of Our Lady Of The Elms

5
Endicott College crest
Endicott College
Beverly, MA

Endicott College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general education, landing the #5 spot this year. Endicott College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Beverly. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 27 general education degrees were awarded at Endicott College in the most recent year. Graduates of the general education program make about $55,361 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,973 to complete this degree. See the full general education program report for Endicott College

6

Fitchburg State University placed #6 among the best general education schools. Located in the suburb of Fitchburg, Fitchburg State University is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. There were roughly 31 general education students who graduated with this degree at Fitchburg State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Fitchburg State University generally make around $48,965. Students borrow a median of $25,840 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general education from Fitchburg State University

7

University Of Massachusetts Boston came in at #7 for general education this year. University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public school located in the city of Boston. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 16 general education degrees were awarded at University Of Massachusetts Boston in the most recent year. Graduates of the general education program make about $52,885 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,236 to complete this degree. Get the full general education details for University Of Massachusetts Boston

8
Tufts University crest
Tufts University
Medford, MA

Tufts University came in at #8 for general education this year. Located in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 general education degrees were awarded at Tufts University in the most recent year. General Education graduates of Tufts University earn a median of $68,154 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,074 to complete this degree. Get the full general education details for Tufts University

9

Northeastern University Global Network earned the #9 position for general education this year. Northeastern University Global Network is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. There were roughly 213 general education students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern University Global Network in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Northeastern University Global Network earn a median of $65,668 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,055 to complete this degree. See the full general education program report for Northeastern University Global Network

10
Lesley University crest
Lesley University
Cambridge, MA

Lesley University came in at #10 for general education this year. Lesley University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 28 general education students who graduated with this degree at Lesley University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $85,360 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,818 to complete this degree. Get the full general education details for Lesley University

11

Emmanuel College Massachusetts came in at #11 for general education this year. Located in the city of Boston, Emmanuel College Massachusetts is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 22 general education students who graduated with this degree at Emmanuel College Massachusetts in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Emmanuel College Massachusetts earn around $58,542 in the first couple years of their career. Emmanuel College Massachusetts graduates carry a median of $26,866 in student loans. Read more about the general education program at Emmanuel College Massachusetts

12
Clark University crest
Clark University
Worcester, MA

Clark University earned the #12 position for general education this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Worcester. About 77% of students finish within six years. About 32 general education degrees were awarded at Clark University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Clark University generally make around $55,421. Typical student debt for the program is $26,153. Read more about the general education program at Clark University

13
Smith College crest
Smith College
Northampton, MA

Smith College placed #13 among the best general education schools. Set in the city of Northampton, Smith College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Smith College graduates 89% of students within six years. Smith College awarded about 19 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Smith College generally make around $41,033. Smith College graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in general education from Smith College

14

Salem State University earned the #14 position for general education this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Salem. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. About 115 general education degrees were awarded at Salem State University in the most recent year. General Education graduates of Salem State University earn a median of $33,065 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the general education program at Salem State University

15
Boston University crest
Boston University
Boston, MA

Boston University came in at #15 for general education this year. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. About 89% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 39 general education students who graduated with this degree at Boston University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $27,891 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. See the full general education program report for Boston University

16
Springfield College crest
Springfield College
Springfield, MA

Springfield College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. Set in the city of Springfield, Springfield College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. There were roughly 34 general education students who graduated with this degree at Springfield College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Springfield College earn around $51,117 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. See the full general education program report for Springfield College

17
Cambridge College crest
Cambridge College
Boston, MA

Cambridge College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. Cambridge College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. About 12% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 24 general education students who graduated with this degree at Cambridge College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Cambridge College earn around $76,955 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $29,776. Get the full general education details for Cambridge College

18
Bay Path College crest
Bay Path College
Longmeadow, MA

Bay Path College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Longmeadow. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 62 general education degrees were awarded at Bay Path College in the most recent year. Students who receive their general education degree from Bay Path College earn around $55,271 in the first couple years of their career. Bay Path College graduates carry a median of $29,811 in student loans. See the full general education program report for Bay Path College

19

Massachusetts College Of Liberal Arts came in at #19 for general education this year. Located in the town of North Adams, Massachusetts College Of Liberal Arts is a small public university. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. Massachusetts College Of Liberal Arts awarded about 26 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Massachusetts College Of Liberal Arts generally make around $48,940. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000. Get the full general education details for Massachusetts College Of Liberal Arts

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 34 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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