by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 740 U.S. colleges awarded 26,982 degrees and certificates in General Education. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 54% of graduates. College Factual ranks 408 schools in its 2027 Best General Education Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $56,771 one year after completing, rising to $65,504 after four years.
Educators get the chance to inspire and motivate the future by working with students of all ages and backgrounds. This major could prepare you for a career teaching or in another educational field such as administrator, counselor or public worker. Students will learn basic principles in educational psychology, and the art of teaching which includes planning, grading, and paper work. As a teacher you will learn how to handle school safety and health issues. This is a job that allows you to work with students of all ages from pre-k to 12th grade, from all different backgrounds and walks of life.
Although programs from different schools will vary you could be required to take an educational psychology, issues in contemporary education, foundations of language and literacy, exceptional and at-risk learners and along with your other core classes required by your school. Also, in order to get your certification you will be required to do a certain number of field experience hours as well as complete at least one semester of student teaching.
Studying General Education involves the study of Education, General.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., general education is a widely-pursued major, with 26,982 degrees awarded annually. 740 colleges award general education degrees, an average of 36 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 1,131.
By level, the 26,982 awards include 432 certificates, 2,073 associate degrees, 7,612 bachelor’s degrees, 14,563 master’s degrees and 2,300 doctorates.
Women earned 79% of general education degrees and certificates in the latest year (21,351 of 26,982). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (13,908) and Hispanic or Latino (5,740), and international students earned 1,152.
College Factual ranks 408 schools in its 2027 Best General Education Schools ranking, including 58 for associate degrees, 120 for bachelor’s degrees, 222 for master’s degrees and 50 for doctorates. It also ranks general education schools within 50 states. In all, 740 colleges offer general education programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value General Education Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common general education credential is the master’s degree: 14,563 of the 26,982 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to general education call most for Speaking, Active Listening and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of English Language, Education and Training and Psychology, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Speech Clarity and Oral Comprehension.
In order to be comfortable as a teacher it is necessary for students to become familiar with public speaking. As a teacher you will be required to talk in front of a classroom full of students, but you will also talk to administrators, other school staff, and parents and guardians. Public speaking is a skill that you will want to be well versed in. You should also enjoy working with children and with other people. This is not a job where you will sit in a cubicle all day.
You should also be creative and passionate about learning. As a teacher you need to differentiate instruction and get your students excited about the material so that they are willing to learn from you. You will also acquire skills to help sell your subject. You will be responsible for motivating your students and ensuring that they are giving you their best work. Patience is an important trait to have as an educator. Teaching and re-teaching will happen often to ensure that all students understand. Organization is key in order to be prepared, effective, and to use time efficiently.
Most schools require field experience hours before you can get into the education program. This allows you to see what it is like to be a teacher from the other side of the desk. Also, in order to get certified you will be required to complete a certain number of student teaching hours.
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How long a general education degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 432 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 2,073 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 7,612 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 14,563 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 2,300 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to general education, at 50.9%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 50.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 12.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 11.1% |
| Master’s degree | 9.1% |
| Some college courses | 7.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.8% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.1% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to General Education, with an average median salary of $94,822; the strongest outlook belongs to Teaching Assistants, Preschool, Elementary, Middle, and Secondary School, Except Special Education, at 9.8% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Lecturer, Special Education Professor, Literacy Education Professor and Physical Education Instructor.
There are many different career paths that you can take with a degree in education. Many people start as classroom teachers and work their way up to principle or administrators. Other people will work as a classroom teacher for their entire career. It depends what focus you decide to take.
Most states now require you to get your master's degree in order to be certified. You will usually have a year before it is necessary to pursue your master's degree, giving you time to get a job and work on getting your master's at the same time. For most states, there is currently a surplus of teachers making it hard to find a job in certain areas. Math and science teachers tend to be more in demand.
The occupation related to general education with the most projected jobs is Education Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,441,246.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,441,246 | 2.4% |
| Teaching Assistants, Special Education | 656,798 | 9.5% |
| Teaching Assistants, Preschool, Elementary, Middle, and Secondary School, Except Special Education | 520,090 | 9.8% |
General Education graduates earn a median $56,771 one year after completing their program, $65,504 after four years and $63,842 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $56,771 |
| 4 years | $65,504 |
| 5 years | $63,842 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to general education, with a median salary of $98,329.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,329 |
| Teaching Assistants, Special Education | $96,801 |
| Teaching Assistants, Preschool, Elementary, Middle, and Secondary School, Except Special Education | $89,337 |
General Education includes 1 concentration; by graduates, the largest is Education, General (26,982). It has 14 similar majors in the Education field, which together award 298,852 degrees a year; the largest are Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (108,824), Educational Administration and Supervision (44,746) and Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (40,395). Browse all Education majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Education, General | 26,982 |
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