2027 Best General Education Schools in New York
General Education degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their general education programs.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 15 schools to find the best for general education students.
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Best Schools for General Education in New York
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall general education education in New York.
Top Schools in General Education
Our analysis ranked New York University the best school in the country for a degree in general education. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. New York University awarded about 29 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from New York University earn around $60,354 in the first couple years of their career. New York University graduates carry a median of $21,375 in student loans.
Read more about the general education program at New York University
Syracuse University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general education, ranking #2. Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. About 84% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 21 general education students who graduated with this degree at Syracuse University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Syracuse University earn around $54,785 in the first couple years of their career. Syracuse University graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general education from Syracuse University
A rank of #3 makes Colgate University one of the top schools for general education. Colgate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Hamilton. Colgate University graduates 91% of students within six years. About 13 general education degrees were awarded at Colgate University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general education program make about $52,924 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,286 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general education from Colgate University
College Of Mount Saint Vincent is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general education, ranking #4. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Bronx. About 57% of students finish within six years. College Of Mount Saint Vincent awarded about 102 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from College Of Mount Saint Vincent earn around $58,239 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,385.
See the full general education program report for College Of Mount Saint Vincent
Barnard College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general education, ranking #5. Barnard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 15 general education students who graduated with this degree at Barnard College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Barnard College earn around $50,790 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,609 to complete this degree.
See the full general education program report for Barnard College
Adelphi University placed #6 among the best general education schools. Adelphi University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Garden City. About 67% of students finish within six years. Adelphi University awarded about 59 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Adelphi University earn around $26,228 in the first couple years of their career. Adelphi University graduates carry a median of $25,487 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general education from Adelphi University
Niagara University placed #7 among the best general education schools. Located in the suburb of Niagara University, Niagara University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. About 181 general education degrees were awarded at Niagara University in the most recent year. General Education graduates of Niagara University earn a median of $51,918 early in their careers. Niagara University graduates carry a median of $26,208 in student loans.
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Vassar College earned the #8 position for general education this year. Located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Vassar College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. There were roughly 12 general education students who graduated with this degree at Vassar College in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Vassar College earn a median of $37,412 early in their careers. Vassar College graduates carry a median of $18,486 in student loans.
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Saint Thomas Aquinas College placed #9 among the best general education schools. Saint Thomas Aquinas College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Sparkill. About 54% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 31 general education students who graduated with this degree at Saint Thomas Aquinas College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $44,519 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,700 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general education from Saint Thomas Aquinas College
Hobart William Smith Colleges came in at #10 for general education this year. Located in the town of Geneva, Hobart William Smith Colleges is a small private not-for-profit university. Hobart William Smith Colleges graduates 77% of students within six years. About 10 general education degrees were awarded at Hobart William Smith Colleges in the most recent year. Graduates of the general education program make about $41,384 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in general education from Hobart William Smith Colleges
Suny Empire State College came in at #11 for general education this year. Set in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Suny Empire State College is a large public institution. Suny Empire State College graduates 36% of students within six years. Suny Empire State College awarded about 181 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Suny Empire State College earn around $39,046 in the first couple years of their career. Suny Empire State College graduates carry a median of $21,422 in student loans.
Get the full general education details for Suny Empire State College
Mercy College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best general education schools. Located in the suburb of Dobbs Ferry, Mercy College is a large private not-for-profit university. About 45% of students finish within six years. Mercy College awarded about 13 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Mercy College earn around $61,432 in the first couple years of their career. Mercy College graduates carry a median of $28,304 in student loans.
Get the full general education details for Mercy College
University At Buffalo landed the #13 spot for general education this year. Set in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. University At Buffalo awarded about 22 general education degrees in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of University At Buffalo earn a median of $46,866 early in their careers. University At Buffalo graduates carry a median of $22,232 in student loans.
Read more about the general education program at University At Buffalo
Cuny Laguardia Community College placed #14 among the best general education schools. Set in the city of Long Island City, Cuny Laguardia Community College is a large public institution. About 110 general education degrees were awarded at Cuny Laguardia Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their general education degree from Cuny Laguardia Community College earn around $31,437 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,858.
See the full general education program report for Cuny Laguardia Community College
Cuny Bronx Community College landed the #15 spot for general education this year. Located in the city of Bronx, Cuny Bronx Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Cuny Bronx Community College awarded about 34 general education degrees in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Cuny Bronx Community College earn a median of $35,768 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $8,224 to complete this degree.
See the full general education program report for Cuny Bronx Community College
More General Education Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 15 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.