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2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid

301 Ranked Colleges
18,793 Degrees Awarded
$25,200 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value General Education Schools for a Master's For Those Getting Aid

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid” ranking.

General Education is the 28th most popular major in the country with 29,936 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 18,793 general education graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 301 colleges that offer a degree in general education. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great general education programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the general education program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank General Education Schools

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid” list to help you make the college decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for master’s degree general education students with aid.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for General Education (With Aid)

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Dominguez Hills. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. California State University - Dominguez Hills is a fairly large public school situated in Carson, California. It awarded 179 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at CSUDH are $17,884, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about General Education at CSUDH

Top 25% in overall quality

Out of the 301 schools in the Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Los Angeles landed the #2 spot on the list. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s general education degrees to 108 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Los Angeles are $17,723.

Full Cal State LA General Education Report

Top 15% in overall quality

Out of the 301 schools in the Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Fresno landed the #3 spot on the list. Fresno, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s general education degrees to 134 students in 2019-2020.

Fresno State excels when it comes to general education quality. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fresno are $17,581.

Read full report on General Education at Fresno State

Top 25% in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Fullerton. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid. Located in Fullerton, California, this large public school handed out 274 diplomas to qualified masters’s general education students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State Fullerton are $17,892.

Read more about General Education at Cal State Fullerton

Out of the 301 schools in the Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Bakersfield landed the #5 spot on the list. CSUB is a public institution located in Bakersfield, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 151 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Bakersfield are $18,437, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Education at CSUB

#6

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts
#2 in overall quality

Harvard University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and it awarded 596 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

Harvard also made our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #2. Average graduate tuition and fees at Harvard University are $50,654, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on General Education at Harvard

California State University - Stanislaus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #7. California State University - Stanislaus is located in Turlock, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 116 masters’s general education degrees to qualified students.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Stan State are $18,540.

Full California State University - Stanislaus General Education Report

California State University - Long Beach landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Long Beach, California, this large public school awarded 103 degrees to qualified masters’s general education students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Long Beach are $17,784.

Full CSULB General Education Report

Texas A & M University - Central Texas ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Texas A & M University - Central Texas is a small public school situated in Killeen, Texas. It awarded 5 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A & M University - Central Texas are $13,561, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on General Education at Texas A & M University - Central Texas

#10

Stanford University

Stanford, California
#3 in overall quality

Stanford University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Stanford, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s general education degrees to 81 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Stanford, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford are $55,011, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Stanford University General Education Report

#11

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Top 15% in overall quality

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a large school located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina that handed out 20 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on this list, UNC Chapel Hill is in the top on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. Average graduate tuition and fees at UNC Chapel Hill are $30,248, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about General Education at UNC Chapel Hill

California State University - Northridge landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. California State University - Northridge is a large school located in Northridge, California that handed out 74 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Northridge are $17,955, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on General Education at CSUN

#13

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#6 in overall quality

Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Purdue University - Main Campus is located in West Lafayette, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 186 masters’s general education degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our master’s degree general education students with aid list, Purdue has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue are $28,794.

Read more about General Education at Purdue University - Main Campus

#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large school located in Champaign, Illinois that handed out 169 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

UIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UIUC are $30,083.

Read more about General Education at UIUC

#15

University of California - Riverside

Riverside, California
Top 15% in overall quality

University of California - Riverside came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. UCR is a public institution located in Riverside, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 175 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

On top of its placing in this ranking, UCR also did well on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Riverside are $28,686.

Read full report on General Education at UCR

#16

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, University of California - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. University of California - Los Angeles is a public institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 176 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UCLA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCLA are $28,131, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of California - Los Angeles General Education Report

Top 25% in overall quality

California State University - Sacramento landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Sacramento, California, and it awarded 74 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Sacramento are $18,356, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on General Education at Sac State

#18

University of Wyoming

Laramie, Wyoming
Top 20% in overall quality

University of Wyoming landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. This fairly large school is located in Laramie, Wyoming, and it awarded 68 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UW is also in the top of our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW are $16,615, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on General Education at UW

#25 in overall quality

University of California - Irvine did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #19. Irvine, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s general education degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

UC Irvine not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Irvine are $28,456, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Education at University of California - Irvine

California State University - San Marcos landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. California State University - San Marcos is located in San Marcos, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 35 masters’s general education degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at CSUSM are $18,661, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full California State University - San Marcos General Education Report

#21

University of Alaska Fairbanks

Fairbanks, Alaska

University of Alaska Fairbanks landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Fairbanks, Alaska, this medium-sized public school handed out 29 diplomas to qualified masters’s general education students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UAF are $24,287.

Read more about General Education at University of Alaska Fairbanks

California State Polytechnic University - Pomona did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #22. Located in Pomona, California, this large public school awarded 23 degrees to qualified masters’s general education students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at California State Polytechnic University - Pomona are $18,377, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Education at Cal Poly Pomona

#16 in overall quality

University of California - San Diego did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #23. La Jolla, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s general education degrees to 61 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCSD, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - San Diego are $28,631.

Read more about General Education at UCSD

#24

San Jose State University

San Jose, California

San Jose State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #24. San Jose State is a large school located in San Jose, California that handed out 227 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at San Jose State University are $18,790.

Full San Jose State General Education Report

#25

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, Michigan
#11 in overall quality

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. U-M is a large school located in Ann Arbor, Michigan that handed out 119 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at U-M, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor are $49,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full U-M General Education Report

Rest of the Best 46 in Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid

Not only did these schools make the top 46 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

#27

Montclair State University

Montclair, New Jersey
#28

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#29

University of Central Florida

Orlando, Florida
#30

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#31

Eastern Washington University

Cheney, Washington
#32

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#33

California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino, California
#34

University of Wisconsin - Platteville

Platteville, Wisconsin
#35

University of Virginia - Main Campus

Charlottesville, Virginia
#36

Augusta University

Augusta, Georgia
#37

Minot State University

Minot, North Dakota
#38

University of Wisconsin - Stout

Menomonie, Wisconsin
#40

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, Maryland
#41

Marshall University

Huntington, West Virginia
#42

Purdue University Northwest

Hammond, Indiana
#43

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
#44

James Madison University

Harrisonburg, Virginia
#46

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

Stevens Point, Wisconsin

Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to KOKUYO.

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