[General Studies](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/liberal-arts-and-general-studies/general-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 1069 schools to find the best return on investment for general studies students.
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For return on investment in general studies, no school beat City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College this year. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,590, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. General Studies graduates carry a median of $6,550 in student loans. Early-career general studies graduates make about $31,322. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Golden West College earned it the #2 place for general studies. Located in the suburb of Huntington Beach, Golden West College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,380 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,628. General Studies graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from Golden West College generally make around $82,984. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College one of the best values for general studies. Located in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,590, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. General Studies graduates carry a median of $8,100 in student loans. General Studies graduates of City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College earn a median of $29,168 early in their careers. Set against $8,100 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Northeast Alabama Community College one of the best values for general studies. Northeast Alabama Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Rainsville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,040, with out-of-state students paying around $8,910. Typical student debt for general studies graduates is $7,987. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from Northeast Alabama Community College generally make around $24,228. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Canada College earned it the #5 place for general studies. Set in the suburb of Redwood City, Canada College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,332, with out-of-state students paying around $11,384. Typical student debt for general studies graduates is $15,000. General Studies graduates of Canada College earn a median of $106,691 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of The Sequoias ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value general studies schools. College Of The Sequoias is a large public school located in the city of Visalia. Students from in state pay about $1,394 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,038. Typical student debt for general studies graduates is $5,500. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from College Of The Sequoias generally make around $23,856. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Middlesex Community College Bedford earned the #7 position for value in general studies this year. Set in the suburb of Bedford, Middlesex Community College Bedford is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,098, with out-of-state students paying around $12,170. General Studies graduates carry a median of $7,928 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from Middlesex Community College Bedford generally make around $31,451. Set against $7,928 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pima Community College earned the #8 position for value in general studies this year. Located in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,442 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,758 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general studies graduates is $8,939. Early-career general studies graduates make about $31,002. That is a strong return on a $8,939 median debt.
Moraine Valley Community College landed the #9 spot for general studies value this year. Moraine Valley Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Palos Hills. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,822, with out-of-state students paying around $9,846. General Studies graduates carry a median of $8,750 in student loans. General Studies graduates of Moraine Valley Community College earn a median of $23,372 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College earned the #10 position for value in general studies this year. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,590, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. Students borrow a median of $6,750 to complete the general studies program here. Early-career general studies graduates make about $32,568. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
El Centro College earned the #11 position for value in general studies this year. El Centro College is a very large public school located in the city of Dallas. Students from in state pay about $2,730 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,900. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the general studies program here. General Studies graduates of El Centro College earn a median of $33,060 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
Suffolk County Community College came in at #12 for value in general studies this year. Located in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,630 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,460 for out-of-state students. General Studies graduates carry a median of $8,000 in student loans. Early-career general studies graduates make about $26,874. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Piedmont Community College landed the #13 spot for general studies value this year. Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. In-state tuition and fees average $2,792, with out-of-state students paying around $8,936. Students borrow a median of $7,104 to complete the general studies program here. Early-career general studies graduates make about $40,629. That is a strong return on a $7,104 median debt.
City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College placed #14 among the best values for general studies. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,590, with out-of-state students paying around $15,150. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the general studies program here. General Studies graduates of City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College earn a median of $32,380 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Hartnell College landed the #15 spot for general studies value this year. Hartnell College is a large public school located in the city of Salinas. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,404, with out-of-state students paying around $10,398. Typical student debt for general studies graduates is $5,500. General Studies graduates of Hartnell College earn a median of $22,681 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Brazosport College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value general studies schools. Located in the suburb of Lake Jackson, Brazosport College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,388, with out-of-state students paying around $4,711. Typical student debt for general studies graduates is $6,625. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from Brazosport College generally make around $26,792. Set against $6,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Alvin Community College earned the #17 position for value in general studies this year. Set in the suburb of Alvin, Alvin Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,906 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $4,402. Typical student debt for general studies graduates is $8,081. General Studies graduates of Alvin Community College earn a median of $35,306 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Carl Sandburg College placed #18 among the best values for general studies. Carl Sandburg College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Galesburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,390, while out-of-state students pay about $8,900. Typical student debt for general studies graduates is $6,000. Early-career general studies graduates make about $27,529. Set against $6,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of The Mainland landed the #19 spot for general studies value this year. College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Texas City. In-state tuition and fees average $2,310, compared with $4,140 for out-of-state students. General Studies graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. General Studies graduates of College Of The Mainland earn a median of $27,368 early in their careers. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Triton College came in at #20 for value in general studies this year. Triton College is a large public school located in the suburb of River Grove. Students from in state pay about $5,070 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,330. General Studies graduates carry a median of $8,500 in student loans. General Studies graduates of Triton College earn a median of $27,342 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,500 median debt.
Kankakee Community College earned the #21 position for value in general studies this year. Located in the city of Kankakee, Kankakee Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,220, with out-of-state students paying around $25,830. General Studies graduates carry a median of $5,900 in student loans. General Studies graduates of Kankakee Community College earn a median of $60,509 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $5,900 median debt.
George C Wallace State Community College Dothan came in at #22 for value in general studies this year. George C Wallace State Community College Dothan is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Dothan. Students from in state pay about $4,980 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,850 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,942 to complete the general studies program here. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from George C Wallace State Community College Dothan generally make around $26,004. Set against $9,942 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Harper College came in at #23 for value in general studies this year. Located in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,894, with out-of-state students paying around $11,874. Students borrow a median of $7,500 to complete the general studies program here. General Studies graduates of Harper College earn a median of $27,619 early in their careers. Set against $7,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central New Mexico Community College landed the #24 spot for general studies value this year. Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Albuquerque. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,060, while out-of-state students pay about $8,684. Students borrow a median of $6,625 to complete the general studies program here. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from Central New Mexico Community College generally make around $31,097. That is a strong return on a $6,625 median debt.
Danville Area Community College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value general studies schools. Set in the town of Danville, Danville Area Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,440, while out-of-state students pay about $7,440. Typical student debt for general studies graduates is $7,912. Early-career general studies graduates make about $28,045. Set against $7,912 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value General Studies Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s general studies value ranking:
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 · 1069 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 379 ranked schools only.
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).
[General Studies](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/liberal-arts-and-general-studies/general-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
