2023 Best Value General Education Schools
435
Ranked Colleges
29,810
Degrees Awarded
$21,400
Avg Net Price*
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Best Value General Education Schools” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
General Education is the 31st most popular major in the country with 29,810 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.
This year’s “Best Value General Education Schools” ranking analyzed 435 colleges that offered a degree in general education. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality general education programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the general education program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
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” list to help you make the college decision.
One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Best Value General Education Schools
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value General Education Schools.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for General Education
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value General Education Schools. Winona, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s general education degrees to 262 students in 2020-2021.
SMU MN also claimed a top spot on our “Best General Education Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our “Best General Education Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is $21,101 for General Education students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full SMU MN General Education Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Walden University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value General Education Schools. Walden University is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,234 ’s general education degrees to qualified students.
Walden University also claimed a top spot on our “Best General Education Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in that analysis.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Education at Walden University
Out of the 435 schools in the Best Value General Education Schools that were part of this year’s ranking, La Salle University landed the #3 spot on the list. La Salle is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 128 ’s general education degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on this list, La Salle is in the top on our “Best General Education Schools” list. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. It costs about $25,819 for general education students per year to attend La Salle University.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Education at La Salle University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Martin Luther College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value General Education Schools list. Martin Luther College is a private not-for-profit institution located in New Ulm, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 9 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Martin Luther College is $22,205 for General Education students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Martin Luther College General Education Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Azusa Pacific University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value General Education Schools. Azusa Pacific is a private not-for-profit institution located in Azusa, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 259 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Azusa Pacific did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best General Education Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Azusa Pacific University is $30,744 for general education students.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Education at Azusa Pacific University
Whitworth University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value General Education Schools list. Whitworth is located in Spokane, Washington and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 22 ’s general education degrees to qualified students.
Whitworth also claimed a top spot on our “Best General Education Schools” list. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. The yearly cost to attend Whitworth University is $24,492 for General Education students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about General Education at Whitworth University
Winona State University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value General Education Schools list. This medium-sized school is located in Winona, Minnesota, and it awarded 32 ’s general education degrees in 2020-2021.
On top of its placing in this ranking, Winona State also did well on our “Best General Education Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $17,634 for general education students per year to attend Winona State University.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Education at Winona State University
Southwest Baptist University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value General Education Schools list. This small school is located in Bolivar, Missouri, and it awarded 75 ’s general education degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $17,291 for General Education students per year to attend Southwest Baptist University.
Read full report on General Education at Southwest Baptist University
Grand Canyon University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Education Schools ranking. Grand Canyon University is a large school located in Phoenix, Arizona that handed out 707 ’s general education degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Grand Canyon University is $20,585 for General Education students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 5.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on General Education at Grand Canyon University
Point Loma Nazarene University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Education Schools ranking, coming in at #10. San Diego, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s general education degrees to 140 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on this list, PLNU is in the top on our “Best General Education Schools” list. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. The yearly cost to attend PLNU is $34,575 for general education students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on General Education at Point Loma Nazarene University
Wilmington University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Education Schools ranking, coming in at #11. Wilmington University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in New Castle, Delaware. It awarded 123 ’s general education degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $15,186 for general education students per year to attend Wilmington University.
Read full report on General Education at Wilmington University
Southwest Minnesota State University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Education Schools ranking. Southwest Minnesota State University is a public institution located in Marshall, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 110 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $13,872 for general education students per year to attend Southwest Minnesota State University.
Full Southwest Minnesota State University General Education Report
Morningside College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Education Schools ranking, coming in at #13. Morningside College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Sioux City, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 140 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Morningside College is $22,350 for general education students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on General Education at Morningside
Calvin University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Education Schools ranking. Calvin University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The school has a small population, and it awarded 19 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Calvin is $26,082 for general education students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on General Education at Calvin University
Grand Valley State University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Education Schools ranking. Located in Allendale, Michigan, this large public school handed out 239 degrees to qualified ’s general education students in 2020-2021.
On top of its placing in this ranking, GVSU also did well on our “Best General Education Schools” list. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. The yearly cost to attend Grand Valley State University is $17,356 for general education students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full GVSU General Education Report
Messiah University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Education Schools ranking. Located in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 20 degrees to qualified ’s general education students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Messiah is $26,864 for General Education students.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Messiah University General Education Report
With a ranking of #17, Bethel University Minnesota did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Education Schools list. Bethel University Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 28 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Bethel University Minnesota is $28,178 for General Education students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Bethel University Minnesota General Education Report
Minnesota State University - Mankato ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value General Education Schools list. Minnesota State Mankato is a public institution located in Mankato, Minnesota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 23 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Minnesota State Mankato is $17,159 for general education students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on General Education at Minnesota State University - Mankato
Minot State University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Education Schools ranking. Minot State University is a public institution located in Minot, North Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 23 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for MSU is $12,205 for general education students.
Read more about General Education at Minot State University
With a ranking of #20, Northcentral University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Education Schools list. Northcentral University is a private not-for-profit institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 706 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Northcentral University also claimed a top spot on our “Best General Education Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best General Education Schools” list.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Northcentral University General Education Report
Goucher College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value General Education Schools list. Goucher College is a small school located in Baltimore, Maryland that handed out 126 ’s general education degrees in 2020-2021.
Goucher also claimed a top spot on our “Best General Education Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best General Education Schools” list. It costs about $25,366 for General Education students per year to attend Goucher.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Education at Goucher College
Montclair State University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value General Education Schools list. Located in Montclair, New Jersey, this large public school handed out 182 degrees to qualified ’s general education students in 2020-2021.
On top of its placing in this ranking, Montclair State also did well on our “Best General Education Schools” list. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. It costs about $17,381 for general education students per year to attend Montclair State.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Montclair State General Education Report
Worcester State University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Education Schools ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Worcester, Massachusetts, and it awarded 12 ’s general education degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Worcester State is $16,886 for general education students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Education at Worcester State
University of Delaware came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Education Schools ranking. UD is located in Newark, Delaware and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 10 ’s general education degrees to qualified students.
On top of its placing in this ranking, UD also did well on our “Best General Education Schools” list. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. It costs about $18,967 for general education students per year to attend UD.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on General Education at UD
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