2027 Best General Education Schools in the New England Region
General Education is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their general education programs.
College Factual analyzed 41 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best general education schools.
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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
Leading the list is University Of Massachusetts Amherst, our #1 school for general education. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. There were roughly 77 general education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Massachusetts Amherst in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn a median of $58,304 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,195.
See the full general education program report for University Of Massachusetts Amherst
Students looking for a strong general education program will find one at Harvard University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 98% of students finish within six years. Harvard University awarded about 34 general education degrees 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.
More information about a degree in general education from Harvard University
University Of Connecticut is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general education, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Connecticut is a very large public school located in the town of Storrs. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 general education degrees were awarded at University Of Connecticut in the most recent year. General Education graduates of University Of Connecticut earn a median of $58,784 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,637.
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Students looking for a strong general education program will find one at Endicott College, which ranked #4. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Beverly. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 55 general education degrees were awarded at Endicott College in the most recent year. Students who receive their general education degree from Endicott College earn around $55,361 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,973.
See the full general education program report for Endicott College
A rank of #5 makes Brandeis University one of the top schools for general education. Brandeis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Waltham. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Brandeis University awarded about 14 general education degrees in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Brandeis University earn a median of $47,783 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,653 to complete this degree.
See the full general education program report for Brandeis University
Brown University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best general education schools. Located in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. Brown University awarded about 20 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Brown University generally make around $33,866. Brown University graduates carry a median of $13,025 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general education from Brown University
College Of Our Lady Of The Elms placed #7 among the best general education schools. Set in the suburb of Chicopee, College Of Our Lady Of The Elms is a small private not-for-profit institution. College Of Our Lady Of The Elms graduates 68% of students within six years. College Of Our Lady Of The Elms awarded about 14 general education degrees in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of College Of Our Lady Of The Elms earn a median of $44,875 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
More information about a degree in general education from College Of Our Lady Of The Elms
Tufts University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best general education schools. Located in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 19 general education degrees were awarded at Tufts University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general education program make about $68,154 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,074 to complete this degree.
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Northeastern University Global Network ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best general education schools. Northeastern University Global Network is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Northeastern University Global Network awarded about 196 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $65,668 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,331 to complete this degree.
See the full general education program report for Northeastern University Global Network
University Of Rhode Island earned the #10 position for general education this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Kingston. About 72% of students finish within six years. About 35 general education degrees were awarded at University Of Rhode Island in the most recent year. General Education graduates of University Of Rhode Island earn a median of $52,214 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,432 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general education program at University Of Rhode Island
Stonehill College landed the #11 spot for general education this year. Located in the suburb of Easton, Stonehill College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 76% of students finish within six years. About 10 general education degrees were awarded at Stonehill College in the most recent year. Graduates of the general education program make about $45,704 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
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Boston University earned the #12 position for general education this year. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Boston University graduates 89% of students within six years. There were roughly 61 general education students who graduated with this degree at Boston University in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Boston University earn a median of $27,891 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general education from Boston University
Saint Michaels College earned the #13 position for general education this year. Located in the suburb of Colchester, Saint Michaels College is a small private not-for-profit university. About 73% of students finish within six years. Saint Michaels College awarded about 56 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Saint Michaels College earn around $57,410 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,640 to complete this degree.
Get the full general education details for Saint Michaels College
Lesley University earned the #14 position for general education this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. Lesley University graduates 58% of students within six years. There were roughly 19 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. Lesley University graduates carry a median of $24,818 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general education from Lesley University
Emmanuel College Massachusetts came in at #15 for general education this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 24 general education degrees were awarded at Emmanuel College Massachusetts in the most recent year. General Education graduates of Emmanuel College Massachusetts earn a median of $58,542 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,866 to complete this degree.
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Capital Community College earned the #16 position for general education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of New Britain. Capital Community College awarded about 51 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Capital Community College earn around $43,086 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,059 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general education program at Capital Community College
Sacred Heart University landed the #17 spot for general education this year. Set in the suburb of Fairfield, Sacred Heart University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Sacred Heart University graduates 74% of students within six years. Sacred Heart University awarded about 107 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Sacred Heart University earn around $52,356 in the first couple years of their career. Sacred Heart University graduates carry a median of $25,831 in student loans.
See the full general education program report for Sacred Heart University
Clark University placed #18 among the best general education schools. Located in the city of Worcester, Clark University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. About 27 general education degrees were awarded at Clark University in the most recent 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.
Read more about the general education program at Clark University
Smith College earned the #19 position for general education this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Northampton. About 89% of students finish within six years. About 19 general education degrees were awarded at Smith College in the most recent 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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Salem State University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best general education schools. Set in the suburb of Salem, Salem State University is a moderately-sized public institution. About 50% of students finish within six years. Salem State University awarded about 94 general education degrees in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Salem State University earn a median of $33,065 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
See the full general education program report for Salem State University
Nhti Concords Community College came in at #21 for general education this year. Located in the town of Concord, Nhti Concords Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 13 general education degrees were awarded at Nhti Concords Community College in the most recent year. General Education graduates of Nhti Concords Community College earn a median of $50,550 early in their careers. Nhti Concords Community College graduates carry a median of $18,046 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general education from Nhti Concords Community College
Springfield College came in at #22 for general education this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Springfield. About 74% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 39 general education students who graduated with this degree at Springfield College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Springfield College generally make around $51,117. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general education program at Springfield College
University Of Maine came in at #23 for general education this year. Located in the suburb of Orono, University Of Maine is a large public university. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 17 general education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maine in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from University Of Maine earn around $47,975 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,984.
Get the full general education details for University Of Maine
Saint Josephs College Of Maine placed #24 among the best general education schools. Set in the rural area of Standish, Saint Josephs College Of Maine is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Saint Josephs College Of Maine graduates 66% of students within six years. Saint Josephs College Of Maine awarded about 22 general education degrees in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Saint Josephs College Of Maine earn a median of $58,894 early in their careers. Saint Josephs College Of Maine graduates carry a median of $26,625 in student loans.
See the full general education program report for Saint Josephs College Of Maine
Cambridge College ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best general education schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. About 12% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 22 general education students who graduated with this degree at Cambridge College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Cambridge College generally make around $76,955. Cambridge College graduates carry a median of $29,776 in student loans.
Read more about the general education program at Cambridge College
Rest of the Top 41 General Education Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s general education ranking:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 41 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.