by our College Data Analytics Team
[General Education](/majors/education/general-education/education-general/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general education education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 39 schools to find the best return on investment for general education students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Capital Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value general education schools in the New England Region. Capital Community College is a very large public school located in the city of New Britain. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,338, compared with $15,596 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $12,059. Early-career general education graduates make about $43,086. That is a strong return on a $12,059 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southern Maine Community College earned it the #2 place for general education. Located in the city of South Portland, Southern Maine Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,156, compared with $7,036 for out-of-state students. General Education graduates carry a median of $12,987 in student loans. Early-career general education graduates make about $28,061. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Eastern Maine Community College earned it the #3 place for general education. Located in the city of Bangor, Eastern Maine Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,156, compared with $7,036 for out-of-state students. General Education graduates carry a median of $17,741 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Eastern Maine Community College generally make around $52,263. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Central Maine Community College earned it the #4 place for general education. Located in the city of Auburn, Central Maine Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,140 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,020. General Education graduates carry a median of $14,700 in student loans. Early-career general education graduates make about $43,934. Set against $14,700 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at York County Community College earned it the #5 place for general education. Set in the suburb of Wells, York County Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,156 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,036. Students borrow a median of $12,757 to complete the general education program here. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from York County Community College generally make around $35,803. Set against $12,757 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Salem State University earned the #6 position for value in general education this year. Salem State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Salem. Students from in state pay about $12,338 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,531 for out-of-state students. General Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Salem State University generally make around $33,065. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Salem State University admits about 96% of applicants.
College Of Our Lady Of The Elms came in at #7 for value in general education this year. Located in the suburb of Chicopee, College Of Our Lady Of The Elms is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $43,325 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the general education program here. Early-career general education graduates make about $44,875. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Bay Path College earned the #8 position for value in general education this year. Located in the suburb of Longmeadow, Bay Path College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $38,302 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $29,811 to complete the general education program here. Early-career general education graduates make about $55,271. That is a strong return on a $29,811 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
White Mountains Community College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value general education schools. Set in the town of Berlin, White Mountains Community College is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,050, with out-of-state students paying around $15,300. General Education graduates carry a median of $18,250 in student loans. Early-career general education graduates make about $60,162. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Harvard University earned the #10 position for value in general education this year. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. In-state tuition and fees average $61,676. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $16,616. General Education graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $96,581 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Harvard University admits about 4% of applicants.
Great Bay Community College earned the #11 position for value in general education this year. Set in the suburb of Portsmouth, Great Bay Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,200, with out-of-state students paying around $15,450. General Education graduates carry a median of $17,639 in student loans. General Education graduates of Great Bay Community College earn a median of $48,692 early in their careers. Set against $17,639 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Maine placed #12 among the best values for general education. Located in the suburb of Orono, University Of Maine is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,326, compared with $36,756 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,984 to complete the general education program here. Early-career general education graduates make about $47,975. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Massachusetts College Of Liberal Arts earned the #13 position for value in general education this year. Massachusetts College Of Liberal Arts is a small public school located in the town of North Adams. In-state tuition and fees average $12,436, while out-of-state students pay about $21,381. General Education graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Massachusetts College Of Liberal Arts generally make around $48,940. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Massachusetts College Of Liberal Arts admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst came in at #14 for value in general education this year. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. Students from in state pay about $17,772 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,449 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,195 to complete the general education program here. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Amherst generally make around $58,304. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Nhti Concords Community College placed #15 among the best values for general education. Set in the town of Concord, Nhti Concords Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,200, while out-of-state students pay about $15,450. Students borrow a median of $18,046 to complete the general education program here. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Nhti Concords Community College generally make around $50,550. That is a strong return on a $18,046 median debt.
Vermont Technical College placed #16 among the best values for general education. Set in the rural area of Randolph, Vermont Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,952, compared with $22,296 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,208 to complete the general education program here. Early-career general education graduates make about $41,822. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Vermont Technical College admits about 82% of applicants.
University Of Rhode Island ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value general education schools. University Of Rhode Island is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kingston. Students from in state pay about $16,942 in tuition and fees, compared with $37,146 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $23,432. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from University Of Rhode Island generally make around $52,214. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Rhode Island admits about 72% of applicants.
Southern Connecticut State University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value general education schools. Located in the city of New Haven, Southern Connecticut State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,442, while out-of-state students pay about $16,942. General Education graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Southern Connecticut State University generally make around $46,068. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
University Of Connecticut came in at #19 for value in general education this year. Located in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $21,044, with out-of-state students paying around $43,712. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $23,637. Early-career general education graduates make about $58,784. Set against $23,637 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Connecticut admits about 52% of applicants.
Post University placed #20 among the best values for general education. Post University is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Waterbury. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,922. Students borrow a median of $35,364 to complete the general education program here. Early-career general education graduates make about $58,543. That is a strong return on a $35,364 median debt.
Boston University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value general education schools. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,102. General Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Boston University generally make around $27,891. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Brown University came in at #22 for value in general education this year. Set in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $71,312. General Education graduates carry a median of $13,025 in student loans. General Education graduates of Brown University earn a median of $33,866 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Michaels College ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value general education schools. Set in the suburb of Colchester, Saint Michaels College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,450. General Education graduates carry a median of $26,640 in student loans. Early-career general education graduates make about $57,410. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Emmanuel College Massachusetts earned the #24 position for value in general education this year. Set in the city of Boston, Emmanuel College Massachusetts is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,550. General Education graduates carry a median of $26,866 in student loans. Early-career general education graduates make about $58,542. Set against $26,866 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Smith College placed #25 among the best values for general education. Smith College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Northampton. In-state tuition and fees average $65,178. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete the general education program here. General Education graduates of Smith College earn a median of $41,033 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,000 median debt. Smith College admits about 21% of applicants.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s general education value ranking:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 39 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 39 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.