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2026 Best Value General Schools

[General](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/economics-and-computer-science/general/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general education at a price that pays off.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 11 schools to find the best return on investment for general students.

What’s on this page:

• Customize Your Rankings
• Best Value General Schools List
• Narrow by Region

Finding the Best Value General School for You

Where you study general affects both what you pay and what you earn. 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.

Read more about our methodology

Customizing Your List

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.

See how we build our rankings

2026 Best Value General Schools in the United States

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value General Schools

1

Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
Cambridge, MA

$62,396 In-State Tuition & Fees

$13,516 Avg Student Debt

$143,372 Median Earnings (10yr)

Leading the list is Massachusetts Institute Of Technology, our #1 best value for general in the United States. Located in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,396. Students borrow a median of $13,516 to complete the general program here. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Massachusetts Institute Of Technology generally make around $113,129. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology admits about 4% of applicants.

2

Washington University In St Louis
St. Louis, MO

$65,790 In-State Tuition & Fees

$17,553 Avg Student Debt

$86,182 Median Earnings (10yr)

A rank of #2 makes Washington University In St Louis one of the best values for general. Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of St. Louis. Students from in state pay about $65,790 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general graduates is $17,553. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Washington University In St Louis generally make around $68,303. That is a strong return on a $17,553 median debt. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.

3

Duke University
Durham, NC

$68,758 In-State Tuition & Fees

$13,296 Avg Student Debt

$97,800 Median Earnings (10yr)

Duke University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $68,758. Typical student debt for general graduates is $13,296. Early-career general graduates make about $83,388. That is a strong return on a $13,296 median debt. Duke University admits about 6% of applicants.

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General Related Rankings by Major

Explore other best-value rankings in majors related to General. See all related rankings.

Notes and References

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 · 11 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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).

More about our data sources and methodologies.