2027 Best General Education Associate’s Degree Schools
General Education programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their general education programs.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 58 schools to find the best for general education students.
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Best Schools for General Education in the United States
These are the top schools for a associate’s degree in general education, based on student outcomes and program quality.
Top Schools in General Education
Our analysis ranked West Texas A And M University the best school in the country for a degree in general education. Set in the town of Canyon, West Texas A And M University is a large public institution. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 general education degrees were awarded at West Texas A And M University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general education program make about $43,515 in their early career. West Texas A And M University graduates carry a median of $22,333 in student loans.
Read more about the general education program at West Texas A And M University
Capital Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best general education schools. Located in the city of New Britain, Capital Community College is a very large public university. About 51 general education degrees were awarded at Capital Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Capital Community College generally make around $43,086. Typical student debt for the program is $12,059.
Get the full general education details for Capital Community College
Northern Virginia Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general education, ranking #3. Located in the suburb of Annandale, Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public university. About 56 general education degrees were awarded at Northern Virginia Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Northern Virginia Community College generally make around $40,126. Northern Virginia Community College graduates carry a median of $14,413 in student loans.
Read more about the general education program at Northern Virginia Community College
Students looking for a strong general education program will find one at University Of The District Of Columbia, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Washington, University Of The District Of Columbia is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. About 144 general education degrees were awarded at University Of The District Of Columbia in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from University Of The District Of Columbia generally make around $57,060. Students borrow a median of $11,200 to complete this degree.
See the full general education program report for University Of The District Of Columbia
Students looking for a strong general education program will find one at Suny Empire State College, which ranked #5. Suny Empire State College is a large public school located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs. The six-year graduation rate is 36%. About 29 general education degrees were awarded at Suny Empire State College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Suny Empire State College generally make around $39,046. Students borrow a median of $21,422 to complete this degree.
See the full general education program report for Suny Empire State College
Touro University Worldwide came in at #6 for general education this year. Set in the suburb of Los Alamitos, Touro University Worldwide is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 29% of students finish within six years. About 10 general education degrees were awarded at Touro University Worldwide in the most recent year. Graduates of the general education program make about $55,346 in their early career. Touro University Worldwide graduates carry a median of $32,289 in student loans.
Read more about the general education program at Touro University Worldwide
Middlesex County College landed the #7 spot for general education this year. Located in the suburb of Edison, Middlesex County College is a large public university. Middlesex County College awarded about 54 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $16,846 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $7,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general education program at Middlesex County College
Hagerstown Community College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best general education schools. Located in the suburb of Hagerstown, Hagerstown Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 14 general education degrees were awarded at Hagerstown Community College in the most recent year. General Education graduates of Hagerstown Community College earn a median of $46,478 early in their careers. Hagerstown Community College graduates carry a median of $15,126 in student loans.
See the full general education program report for Hagerstown Community College
Nhti Concords Community College earned the #9 position for general education this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Concord. There were roughly 11 general education students who graduated with this degree at Nhti Concords Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $50,550 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,046 to complete this degree.
Get the full general education details for Nhti Concords Community College
The University Of Montana Western earned the #10 position for general education this year. This small public university is located in the town of Dillon. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. The University Of Montana Western awarded about 35 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from The University Of Montana Western earn around $36,924 in the first couple years of their career. The University Of Montana Western graduates carry a median of $22,484 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general education from The University Of Montana Western
Lehigh Carbon Community College placed #11 among the best general education schools. Located in the rural area of Schnecksville, Lehigh Carbon Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Lehigh Carbon Community College awarded about 17 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Lehigh Carbon Community College generally make around $39,957. Lehigh Carbon Community College graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans.
Read more about the general education program at Lehigh Carbon Community College
Snow College earned the #12 position for general education this year. Set in the town of Ephraim, Snow College is a moderately-sized public institution. Snow College awarded about 22 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Snow College earn around $42,776 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,440.
Get the full general education details for Snow College
Volunteer State Community College landed the #13 spot for general education this year. Set in the suburb of Gallatin, Volunteer State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 29 general education degrees were awarded at Volunteer State Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the general education program make about $40,137 in their early career. Volunteer State Community College graduates carry a median of $12,462 in student loans.
Read more about the general education program at Volunteer State Community College
Cumberland University earned the #14 position for general education this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Lebanon. The six-year graduation rate is 42%. About 21 general education degrees were awarded at Cumberland University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Cumberland University generally make around $50,607. Cumberland University graduates carry a median of $21,902 in student loans.
Read more about the general education program at Cumberland University
Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best general education schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Hibbing. There were roughly 11 general education students who graduated with this degree at Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $44,387 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,029 to complete this degree.
See the full general education program report for Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College
Motlow State Community College earned the #16 position for general education this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Tullahoma. There were roughly 12 general education students who graduated with this degree at Motlow State Community College in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Motlow State Community College earn a median of $43,750 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $6,470 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general education from Motlow State Community College
The Community College Of Baltimore County placed #17 among the best general education schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Baltimore. About 20 general education degrees were awarded at The Community College Of Baltimore County in the most recent year. Graduates of the general education program make about $52,440 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,804 to complete this degree.
See the full general education program report for The Community College Of Baltimore County
Harford Community College placed #18 among the best general education schools. Harford Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Bel Air. There were roughly 11 general education students who graduated with this degree at Harford Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Harford Community College generally make around $50,636. Typical student debt for the program is $12,624.
See the full general education program report for Harford Community College
Ivy Tech Community College placed #19 among the best general education schools. Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. There were roughly 163 general education students who graduated with this degree at Ivy Tech Community College in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Ivy Tech Community College earn a median of $26,848 early in their careers. Ivy Tech Community College graduates carry a median of $10,874 in student loans.
Read more about the general education program at Ivy Tech Community College
Pellissippi State Community College placed #20 among the best general education schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Knoxville. About 22 general education degrees were awarded at Pellissippi State Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Pellissippi State Community College generally make around $43,816. Typical student debt for the program is $8,951.
See the full general education program report for Pellissippi State Community College
Brookdale Community College landed the #21 spot for general education this year. Brookdale Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Lincroft. About 94 general education degrees were awarded at Brookdale Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Brookdale Community College generally make around $19,157. Brookdale Community College graduates carry a median of $8,750 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general education from Brookdale Community College
Columbia State Community College placed #22 among the best general education schools. Located in the town of Columbia, Columbia State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 29 general education students who graduated with this degree at Columbia State Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Columbia State Community College generally make around $44,481. Students borrow a median of $12,674 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general education from Columbia State Community College
New Mexico State University Dona Ana landed the #23 spot for general education this year. New Mexico State University Dona Ana is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Las Cruces. About 27 general education degrees were awarded at New Mexico State University Dona Ana in the most recent year. Students who receive their general education degree from New Mexico State University Dona Ana earn around $39,399 in the first couple years of their career. New Mexico State University Dona Ana graduates carry a median of $10,284 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general education from New Mexico State University Dona Ana
Southern Maine Community College earned the #24 position for general education this year. Set in the city of South Portland, Southern Maine Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Southern Maine Community College awarded about 19 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $28,061 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,987 to complete this degree.
See the full general education program report for Southern Maine Community College
Roane State Community College came in at #25 for general education this year. Set in the town of Harriman, Roane State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 11 general education students who graduated with this degree at Roane State Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Roane State Community College earn around $36,933 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,408.
See the full general education program report for Roane State Community College
Rest of the Top 50 General Education Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s general education ranking:
Other General Education Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare General Education rankings across degree levels:
View All General Education Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 58 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
