General Education is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 408 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for general education students pursuing a degree.
The general education program you select can have a big impact on your future. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for General Education rankings. For our Best Overall General Education School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best General Education Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this 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.
Our analysis ranked University Of Wisconsin Madison the best school in the country for a degree in general education. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. About 90% of students finish within six years. About 87 general education degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Graduates of the general education program make about $59,877 in their early career. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans.
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A rank of #2 makes Texas A And M University College Station one of the top schools for general education. Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public school located in the city of College Station. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. Texas A And M University College Station awarded about 302 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Texas A And M University College Station earn around $64,891 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,031 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong general education program will find one at University Of Massachusetts Amherst, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public university. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Massachusetts Amherst awarded about 77 general education degrees in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn a median of $58,304 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,195 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general education from University Of Massachusetts Amherst
The University Of Texas At Austin is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general education, ranking #4. This very large public university is located in the city of Austin. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates 89% of students within six years. About 60 general education degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent year. Students who receive their general education degree from The University Of Texas At Austin earn around $57,819 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,275 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #5 makes University Of Georgia one of the top schools for general education. University Of Georgia is a very large public school located in the city of Athens. About 90% of students finish within six years. About 54 general education degrees were awarded at University Of Georgia in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $69,003. Typical student debt for the program is $21,792.
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Johns Hopkins University earned the #6 position for general education this year. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. Johns Hopkins University awarded about 295 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University generally make around $63,838. Students borrow a median of $13,426 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general education from Johns Hopkins University
Auburn University landed the #7 spot for general education this year. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. About 32 general education degrees were awarded at Auburn University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general education degree from Auburn University earn around $55,422 in the first couple years of their career. Auburn University graduates carry a median of $22,803 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general education from Auburn University
Harvard University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best general education schools. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 34 general education students who graduated with this degree at Harvard University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Harvard University earn around $96,581 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
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University Of Connecticut placed #9 among the best general education schools. This very large public university is located in the town of Storrs. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Connecticut awarded about 10 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from University Of Connecticut generally make around $58,784. Students borrow a median of $23,637 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general education from University Of Connecticut
University Of California Los Angeles ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best general education schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 197 general education degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Graduates of the general education program make about $67,010 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,097.
Read more about the general education program at University Of California Los Angeles
University Of California Berkeley landed the #11 spot for general education this year. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. University Of California Berkeley graduates 93% of students within six years. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 117 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $70,847. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $14,238 in student loans.
Read more about the general education program at University Of California Berkeley
California State University Sacramento earned the #12 position for general education this year. Set in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public institution. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State University Sacramento awarded about 102 general education degrees in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of California State University Sacramento earn a median of $77,526 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,492.
More information about a degree in general education from California State University Sacramento
University Of Florida came in at #13 for general education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Gainesville. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Florida awarded about 79 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $58,388 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,669 to complete this degree.
See the full general education program report for University Of Florida
University Of Pennsylvania placed #14 among the best general education schools. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 140 general education degrees were awarded at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $80,997. Typical student debt for the program is $16,155.
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Endicott College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best general education schools. Set in the suburb of Beverly, Endicott College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. Endicott College awarded about 55 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Endicott College generally make around $55,361. Typical student debt for the program is $25,973.
More information about a degree in general education from Endicott College
New York University landed the #16 spot for general education this year. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. About 29 general education degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general education program make about $60,354 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,375 to complete this degree.
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Texas Tech University came in at #17 for general education this year. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public institution. About 69% of students finish within six years. About 253 general education degrees were awarded at Texas Tech University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general education program make about $50,332 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,271 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general education from Texas Tech University
University Of California San Diego earned the #18 position for general education this year. Located in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 133 general education degrees were awarded at University Of California San Diego in the most recent year. Students who receive their general education degree from University Of California San Diego earn around $91,736 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,101 to complete this degree.
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Stanford University ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best general education schools. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. Stanford University graduates 92% of students within six years. There were roughly 132 general education students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Stanford University earn around $85,162 in the first couple years of their career. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.
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California State Polytechnic University Pomona came in at #20 for general education this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Pomona. About 68% of students finish within six years. California State Polytechnic University Pomona awarded about 69 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from California State Polytechnic University Pomona generally make around $70,724. Students borrow a median of $17,226 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general education from California State Polytechnic University Pomona
California State University Long Beach placed #21 among the best general education schools. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State University Long Beach awarded about 72 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from California State University Long Beach earn around $51,087 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,732.
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University Of California Riverside ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best general education schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Riverside. University Of California Riverside graduates 76% of students within six years. About 151 general education degrees were awarded at University Of California Riverside in the most recent year. Students who receive their general education degree from University Of California Riverside earn around $61,108 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,187.
More information about a degree in general education from University Of California Riverside
George Mason University placed #23 among the best general education schools. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. George Mason University graduates 68% of students within six years. George Mason University awarded about 53 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $89,993 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete this degree.
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Syracuse University earned the #24 position for general education this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Syracuse. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 21 general education students who graduated with this degree at Syracuse University in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Syracuse University earn a median of $54,785 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
More information about a degree in general education from Syracuse University
University Of Hawaii At Manoa came in at #25 for general education this year. Set in the city of Honolulu, University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a very large public institution. About 64% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 38 general education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Hawaii At Manoa in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $60,288 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,577 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 General Education Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong general education education:
General Education is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. See all related rankings.
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 408 schools evaluated.
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).
