Best Schools for General Education in the New England Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall general education education in the New England Region.
Top Schools in General Education
Our analysis ranked University Of Massachusetts Amherst the best school in the country for a degree in general education. Located in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public university. About 83% of students finish within six years. About 67 general education degrees were awarded at University Of Massachusetts Amherst in the most recent year. Graduates of the general education program make about $58,304 in their early career. University Of Massachusetts Amherst graduates carry a median of $25,234 in student loans.
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University Of Connecticut came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. This very large public university is located in the town of Storrs. University Of Connecticut graduates 83% of students within six years. University Of Connecticut awarded about 21 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $58,784 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,637 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #3 makes Trinity College one of the top schools for general education. Set in the city of Hartford, Trinity College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 84% of students finish within six years. Trinity College awarded about 11 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $52,927 in their early career. Trinity College graduates carry a median of $23,667 in student loans.
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Harvard University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Harvard University graduates 98% of students within six years. There were roughly 11 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. Harvard University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
See the full general education program report for Harvard University
A rank of #5 makes Brown University one of the top schools for general education. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Providence. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 14 general education students who graduated with this degree at Brown University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $33,866 in their early career. Brown University graduates carry a median of $13,025 in student loans.
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Worcester State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Worcester. Worcester State University graduates 62% of students within six years. There were roughly 19 general education students who graduated with this degree at Worcester State University in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Worcester State University earn a median of $45,297 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,451 to complete this degree.
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College Of Our Lady Of The Elms earned the #7 position for 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. College Of Our Lady Of The Elms graduates 68% of students within six years. About 14 general education degrees were awarded at College Of Our Lady Of The Elms in the most recent year. Students who receive their general education degree from College Of Our Lady Of The Elms earn around $44,875 in the first couple years of their career. College Of Our Lady Of The Elms graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general education from College Of Our Lady Of The Elms
Endicott College earned the #8 position for general education this year. Located in the suburb of Beverly, Endicott College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. Endicott College awarded about 27 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $55,361 in their early career. Endicott College graduates carry a median of $25,973 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general education from Endicott College
Fitchburg State University earned the #9 position for general education this year. Located in the suburb of Fitchburg, Fitchburg State University is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 31 general education degrees were awarded at Fitchburg State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Fitchburg State University generally make around $48,965. Students borrow a median of $25,840 to complete this degree.
See the full general education program report for Fitchburg State University
University Of Massachusetts Boston came in at #10 for general education this year. Located in the city of Boston, University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public university. University Of Massachusetts Boston graduates 49% of students within six years. There were roughly 16 general education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Massachusetts Boston in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of University Of Massachusetts Boston earn a median of $52,885 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,236 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general education from University Of Massachusetts Boston
Tufts University came in at #11 for general education this year. Set in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 15 general education students who graduated with this degree at Tufts University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Tufts University earn around $68,154 in the first couple years of their career. Tufts University graduates carry a median of $17,074 in student loans.
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Northeastern University Global Network came in at #12 for general education this year. Northeastern University Global Network is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. There were roughly 213 general education students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern University Global Network in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Northeastern University Global Network earn a median of $65,668 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,055 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general education from Northeastern University Global Network
Saint Michaels College placed #13 among the best general education schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Colchester. Roughly 73% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 32 general education students who graduated with this degree at Saint Michaels College in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Saint Michaels College earn a median of $57,410 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,640 to complete this degree.
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University Of Rhode Island ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Kingston. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 24 general education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Rhode Island in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of University Of Rhode Island earn a median of $52,214 early in their careers. University Of Rhode Island graduates carry a median of $23,432 in student loans.
See the full general education program report for University Of Rhode Island
Sacred Heart University placed #15 among the best general education schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Fairfield. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. Sacred Heart University awarded about 128 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $52,356 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,831.
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Lesley University came in at #16 for general education this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. There were roughly 28 general education students who graduated with this degree at Lesley University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $85,360 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,818.
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Emmanuel College Massachusetts ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. Set in the city of Boston, Emmanuel College Massachusetts is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Emmanuel College Massachusetts graduates 68% of students within six years. About 22 general education degrees were awarded at Emmanuel College Massachusetts in the most recent year. Students who receive their general education degree from Emmanuel College Massachusetts earn around $58,542 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,866 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general education from Emmanuel College Massachusetts
Capital Community College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. Located in the city of New Britain, Capital Community College is a very large public university. Capital Community College awarded about 34 general education degrees in the most recent data 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.
More information about a degree in general education from Capital Community College
Clark University landed the #19 spot for general education this year. Located in the city of Worcester, Clark University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. There were roughly 32 general education students who graduated with this degree at Clark University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Clark University generally make around $55,421. Clark University graduates carry a median of $26,153 in student loans.
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Smith College came in at #20 for general education this year. Set in the city of Northampton, Smith College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. There were roughly 19 general education students who graduated with this degree at Smith College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Smith College earn around $41,033 in the first couple years of their career. Smith College graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans.
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Southern Maine Community College landed the #21 spot for general education this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of South Portland. About 13 general education degrees were awarded at Southern Maine Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Southern Maine Community College generally make around $28,061. Southern Maine Community College graduates carry a median of $12,987 in student loans.
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Salem State University placed #22 among the best general education schools. Salem State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Salem. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 115 general education degrees were awarded at Salem State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general education degree from Salem State University earn around $33,065 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
See the full general education program report for Salem State University
Boston University placed #23 among the best general education schools. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. Boston University awarded about 39 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Boston University earn around $27,891 in the first couple years of their career. Boston University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Springfield College came in at #24 for general education this year. Springfield College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Springfield. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. There were roughly 34 general education students who graduated with this degree at Springfield College in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Springfield College earn a median of $51,117 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of New England came in at #25 for general education this year. Set in the suburb of Biddeford, University Of New England is a large private not-for-profit institution. University Of New England graduates 70% of students within six years. About 97 general education degrees were awarded at University Of New England in the most recent year. Graduates of the general education program make about $57,478 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,838.
See the full general education program report for University Of New England
Rest of the Top 40 General Education Schools
These schools also placed among the best for general education this year:
Narrow General Education Schools by State
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 78 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.
