by our College Data Analytics Team
[General](/majors/engineering/electrical-and-computer-engineering/general/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 45 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general students.
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The right general school can pay off for years to come. That is why we developed our Best Value General Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
Learn more about our methodology
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value General Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Read more about College Factual’s methodology
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general, balancing cost against outcomes.
Rice University tops our 2026 list of the best value general schools in the United States. Set in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $61,247 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $11,904 to complete the general program here. Early-career general graduates make about $75,299. That is a strong return on a $11,904 median debt. Rice University admits about 8% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Washington Seattle Campus one of the best values for general. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. Students from in state pay about $12,973 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. General graduates carry a median of $16,481 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $65,681. Set against $16,481 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Washington Seattle Campus admits about 39% of applicants.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value general schools. Set in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,092. General graduates carry a median of $23,917 in student loans. General graduates of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn a median of $54,302 early in their careers. Set against $23,917 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville admits about 98% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in general will find it at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. General graduates carry a median of $19,137 in student loans. Early-career general graduates make about $66,254. That is a strong return on a $19,137 median debt. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in general will find it at University Of Missouri Kansas City, which ranked #5. University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public school located in the city of Kansas City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,371, with out-of-state students paying around $32,271. Typical student debt for general graduates is $23,741. General graduates of University Of Missouri Kansas City earn a median of $60,324 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
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Portland State University earned the #6 position for value in general this year. Portland State University is a very large public school located in the city of Portland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,118, while out-of-state students pay about $29,136. General graduates carry a median of $26,475 in student loans. General graduates of Portland State University earn a median of $47,717 early in their careers. Set against $26,475 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Brigham Young University Provo came in at #7 for value in general this year. Set in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $6,688 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general graduates is $12,184. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Brigham Young University Provo generally make around $54,507. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Wichita State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value general schools. Located in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,684 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,869. General graduates carry a median of $24,262 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Wichita State University generally make around $49,278. Set against $24,262 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Michigan Technological University placed #9 among the best values for general. Set in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $20,532, compared with $44,807 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general graduates is $25,800. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Michigan Technological University generally make around $64,652. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Eastern Michigan University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value general schools. Located in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $16,990 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general graduates is $28,781. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Eastern Michigan University generally make around $47,887. Set against $28,781 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Eastern Michigan University admits about 80% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Stout came in at #11 for value in general this year. Set in the town of Menomonie, University Of Wisconsin Stout is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,701, compared with $19,265 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,821 to complete the general program here. General graduates of University Of Wisconsin Stout earn a median of $54,235 early in their careers. Set against $25,821 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Stout admits about 88% of applicants.
Suny College At Oswego landed the #12 spot for general value this year. Located in the town of Oswego, Suny College At Oswego is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,825 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,735. Typical student debt for general graduates is $25,163. Early-career general graduates make about $41,899. Set against $25,163 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Suny College At Oswego admits about 80% of applicants.
University Of Alabama At Birmingham earned the #13 position for value in general this year. Set in the city of Birmingham, University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,098 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,562 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,162 to complete the general program here. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from University Of Alabama At Birmingham generally make around $55,413. Set against $26,162 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Vanderbilt University came in at #14 for value in general this year. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,498. General graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $77,997. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Vanderbilt University admits about 6% of applicants.
Suny At Albany came in at #15 for value in general this year. Set in the city of Albany, Suny At Albany is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,601, while out-of-state students pay about $30,991. General graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans. General graduates of Suny At Albany earn a median of $44,736 early in their careers. Set against $23,521 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At Austin placed #16 among the best values for general. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,688, with out-of-state students paying around $44,908. General graduates carry a median of $21,275 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $57,819. That is a strong return on a $21,275 median debt. The University Of Texas At Austin admits about 27% of applicants.
Western Washington University placed #17 among the best values for general. Located in the city of Bellingham, Western Washington University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,582, with out-of-state students paying around $28,707. General graduates carry a median of $20,361 in student loans. General graduates of Western Washington University earn a median of $41,118 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,361 median debt. Western Washington University admits about 93% of applicants.
University Of Colorado Boulder earned the #18 position for value in general this year. University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public school located in the city of Boulder. In-state tuition and fees average $15,214, compared with $42,970 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,373 to complete the general program here. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from University Of Colorado Boulder generally make around $55,861. That is a strong return on a $20,373 median debt. University Of Colorado Boulder admits about 78% of applicants.
Suny At Binghamton earned the #19 position for value in general this year. Located in the suburb of Vestal, Suny At Binghamton is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,567, with out-of-state students paying around $30,447. Typical student debt for general graduates is $20,691. Early-career general graduates make about $51,766. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Suny At Binghamton admits about 39% of applicants.
California Baptist University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value general schools. California Baptist University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Riverside. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,228. Typical student debt for general graduates is $28,169. General graduates of California Baptist University earn a median of $51,999 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California Baptist University admits about 85% of applicants.
Rochester Institute Of Technology landed the #21 spot for general value this year. Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rochester. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $59,210. Typical student debt for general graduates is $27,491. General graduates of Rochester Institute Of Technology earn a median of $63,515 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,491 median debt. Roughly 67% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Southern California landed the #22 spot for general value this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $71,647 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general graduates is $15,625. General graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $75,677 early in their careers. Set against $15,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 10% of applicants are accepted.
Baylor University landed the #23 spot for general value this year. Located in the city of Waco, Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,100. Students borrow a median of $23,928 to complete the general program here. Early-career general graduates make about $49,888. Set against $23,928 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 51% of applicants are accepted.
Explore other best-value rankings in majors related to General. See all related rankings.
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 45 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.