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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best General Studies Schools in Arizona

16 Colleges in the United States
3,275 General Studies Degrees Awarded
$38,105 Avg Early-Career Salary

General Studies degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. 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 22 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for general studies students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for General Studies in Arizona

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 studies degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in General Studies

1

Chandler Gilbert Community College tops our 2026 ranking of the best general studies schools. This large public university is located in the city of Chandler. Chandler Gilbert Community College awarded about 16 general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general studies program make about $33,709 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $6,625. Read more about the general studies program at Chandler Gilbert Community College

2

Mesa Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best general studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Mesa. There were roughly 54 general studies students who graduated with this degree at Mesa Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general studies degree from Mesa Community College earn around $46,084 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,500 to complete this degree. Get the full general studies details for Mesa Community College

3

Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Glendale, Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a very large public institution. About 30 general studies degrees were awarded at Glendale Community College Glendale Az in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from Glendale Community College Glendale Az generally make around $27,548. Typical student debt for the program is $7,250. See the full general studies program report for Glendale Community College Glendale Az

4

Estrella Mountain Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general studies, ranking #4. Located in the suburb of Avondale, Estrella Mountain Community College is a large public university. About 79 general studies degrees were awarded at Estrella Mountain Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their general studies degree from Estrella Mountain Community College earn around $78,359 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete this degree. Get the full general studies details for Estrella Mountain Community College

5

Pima Community College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general studies, landing the #5 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Tucson. There were roughly 93 general studies students who graduated with this degree at Pima Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from Pima Community College generally make around $31,002. Pima Community College graduates carry a median of $8,939 in student loans. More information about a degree in general studies from Pima Community College

6

Rio Salado College came in at #6 for general studies this year. Rio Salado College is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. There were roughly 102 general studies students who graduated with this degree at Rio Salado College in the most recent data year. General Studies graduates of Rio Salado College earn a median of $48,564 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,750 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general studies from Rio Salado College

7

Arizona Western College came in at #7 for general studies this year. Arizona Western College is a large public school located in the city of Yuma. About 1,346 general studies degrees were awarded at Arizona Western College in the most recent year. Students who receive their general studies degree from Arizona Western College earn around $44,895 in the first couple years of their career. More information about a degree in general studies from Arizona Western College

8

Paradise Valley Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best general studies schools. Paradise Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Phoenix. Paradise Valley Community College awarded about 18 general studies degrees in the most recent data year. General Studies graduates of Paradise Valley Community College earn a median of $71,136 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $10,986. More information about a degree in general studies from Paradise Valley Community College

9

Central Arizona College placed #9 among the best general studies schools. Central Arizona College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Coolidge. About 56 general studies degrees were awarded at Central Arizona College in the most recent year. General Studies graduates of Central Arizona College earn a median of $29,819 early in their careers. Central Arizona College graduates carry a median of $10,680 in student loans. Get the full general studies details for Central Arizona College

10
Yavapai College crest
Yavapai College
Prescott, AZ

Yavapai College placed #10 among the best general studies schools. Located in the city of Prescott, Yavapai College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 723 general studies students who graduated with this degree at Yavapai College in the most recent data year. General Studies graduates of Yavapai College earn a median of $32,786 early in their careers. Yavapai College graduates carry a median of $10,154 in student loans. More information about a degree in general studies from Yavapai College

11

Eastern Arizona College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best general studies schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Thatcher. There were roughly 189 general studies students who graduated with this degree at Eastern Arizona College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general studies degree from Eastern Arizona College earn around $26,145 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $5,500. See the full general studies program report for Eastern Arizona College

12

Coconino Community College placed #12 among the best general studies schools. Located in the rural area of Flagstaff, Coconino Community College is a mid-sized public university. About 335 general studies degrees were awarded at Coconino Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from Coconino Community College generally make around $26,862. Typical student debt for the program is $11,750. Read more about the general studies program at Coconino Community College

13
Cochise College crest
Cochise College
Sierra Vista, AZ

Cochise College earned the #13 position for general studies this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Sierra Vista. About 167 general studies degrees were awarded at Cochise College in the most recent year. General Studies graduates of Cochise College earn a median of $22,982 early in their careers. Cochise College graduates carry a median of $9,957 in student loans. Get the full general studies details for Cochise College

14

South Mountain Community College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best general studies schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Phoenix. About 21 general studies degrees were awarded at South Mountain Community College in the most recent year. See the full general studies program report for South Mountain Community College

15

Northland Pioneer College earned the #15 position for general studies this year. Set in the rural area of Holbrook, Northland Pioneer College is a mid-sized public institution. About 18 general studies degrees were awarded at Northland Pioneer College in the most recent year. General Studies graduates of Northland Pioneer College earn a median of $17,129 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $5,759. See the full general studies program report for Northland Pioneer College

16

Mohave Community College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best general studies schools. Mohave Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Kingman. Mohave Community College awarded about 28 general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from Mohave Community College generally make around $34,557. Mohave Community College graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in general studies from Mohave Community College

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 22 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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