2027 Best General Education Schools in the The Plains States Region
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 37 schools to find the best for general education students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for General Education in the The Plains States Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the general education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in General Education
Our analysis ranked Washington University In St Louis the best school in the country for a degree in general education. Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of St. Louis. About 94% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 37 general education students who graduated with this degree at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Washington University In St Louis earn around $68,303 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,553 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general education from Washington University In St Louis
Students looking for a strong general education program will find one at Missouri University Of Science And Technology, which ranked #2. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Rolla. About 64% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 14 general education students who graduated with this degree at Missouri University Of Science And Technology in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $74,532 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,187 to complete this degree.
See the full general education program report for Missouri University Of Science And Technology
University Of Missouri Columbia is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general education, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. University Of Missouri Columbia graduates 75% of students within six years. University Of Missouri Columbia awarded about 50 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from University Of Missouri Columbia earn around $53,134 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,818 to complete this degree.
See the full general education program report for University Of Missouri Columbia
A rank of #4 makes Saint Marys University Of Minnesota one of the top schools for general education. Saint Marys University Of Minnesota is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Winona. About 66% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 177 general education students who graduated with this degree at Saint Marys University Of Minnesota in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $59,959 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,081.
See the full general education program report for Saint Marys University Of Minnesota
A rank of #5 makes University Of Iowa one of the top schools for general education. This very large public university is located in the city of Iowa City. About 75% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 24 general education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Iowa in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of University Of Iowa earn a median of $58,049 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,463.
See the full general education program report for University Of Iowa
Gustavus Adolphus College earned the #6 position for general education this year. Set in the town of Saint Peter, Gustavus Adolphus College is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 77% of students finish within six years. About 22 general education degrees were awarded at Gustavus Adolphus College in the most recent year. Students who receive their general education degree from Gustavus Adolphus College earn around $44,396 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,197.
See the full general education program report for Gustavus Adolphus College
Martin Luther College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best general education schools. Located in the town of New Ulm, Martin Luther College is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 general education students who graduated with this degree at Martin Luther College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Martin Luther College generally make around $31,016. Students borrow a median of $20,224 to complete this degree.
See the full general education program report for Martin Luther College
University Of Missouri Kansas City earned the #8 position for general education this year. Set in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. About 14 general education degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri Kansas City in the most recent year. General Education graduates of University Of Missouri Kansas City earn a median of $60,324 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,741.
More information about a degree in general education from University Of Missouri Kansas City
Augustana College South Dakota earned the #9 position for general education this year. Located in the city of Sioux Falls, Augustana College South Dakota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 73% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 27 general education students who graduated with this degree at Augustana College South Dakota in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Augustana College South Dakota earn around $61,581 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,217.
Read more about the general education program at Augustana College South Dakota
Grand View University placed #10 among the best general education schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Des Moines. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. Grand View University awarded about 29 general education degrees in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Grand View University earn a median of $45,180 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,941.
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Hamline University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best general education schools. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Hamline University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Hamline University graduates 60% of students within six years. About 47 general education degrees were awarded at Hamline University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general education degree from Hamline University earn around $52,452 in the first couple years of their career. Hamline University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general education from Hamline University
Bethel University Minnesota earned the #12 position for general education this year. Set in the suburb of Saint Paul, Bethel University Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Bethel University Minnesota graduates 71% of students within six years. There were roughly 16 general education students who graduated with this degree at Bethel University Minnesota in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Bethel University Minnesota earn around $57,694 in the first couple years of their career. Bethel University Minnesota graduates carry a median of $25,639 in student loans.
Read more about the general education program at Bethel University Minnesota
Kansas State University earned the #13 position for general education this year. Kansas State University is a very large public school located in the city of Manhattan. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. There were roughly 30 general education students who graduated with this degree at Kansas State University in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Kansas State University earn a median of $51,543 early in their careers. Kansas State University graduates carry a median of $23,546 in student loans.
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Minot State University placed #14 among the best general education schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Minot. Minot State University graduates 45% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 general education students who graduated with this degree at Minot State University in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Minot State University earn a median of $50,645 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,788 to complete this degree.
See the full general education program report for Minot State University
Mayville State University landed the #15 spot for general education this year. Mayville State University is a small public school located in the rural area of Mayville. The six-year graduation rate is 40%. There were roughly 32 general education students who graduated with this degree at Mayville State University in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Mayville State University earn a median of $49,971 early in their careers. Mayville State University graduates carry a median of $27,464 in student loans.
Read more about the general education program at Mayville State University
Tabor College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best general education schools. Located in the rural area of Hillsboro, Tabor College is a small private not-for-profit university. Tabor College graduates 34% of students within six years. About 26 general education degrees were awarded at Tabor College in the most recent year.
See the full general education program report for Tabor College
Winona State University earned the #17 position for general education this year. Located in the town of Winona, Winona State University is a moderately-sized public university. Winona State University graduates 56% of students within six years. About 15 general education degrees were awarded at Winona State University in the most recent year. General Education graduates of Winona State University earn a median of $52,019 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,551 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general education from Winona State University
Iowa State University earned the #18 position for general education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Ames. Iowa State University graduates 75% of students within six years. About 41 general education degrees were awarded at Iowa State University in the most recent year. General Education graduates of Iowa State University earn a median of $64,634 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,496 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general education from Iowa State University
Minnesota State University Mankato earned the #19 position for general education this year. This large public university is located in the city of Mankato. Minnesota State University Mankato graduates 54% of students within six years. There were roughly 19 general education students who graduated with this degree at Minnesota State University Mankato in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Minnesota State University Mankato earn around $51,118 in the first couple years of their career. Minnesota State University Mankato graduates carry a median of $25,260 in student loans.
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Capella University came in at #20 for general education this year. Capella University is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. About 20% of students finish within six years. About 58 general education degrees were awarded at Capella University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general education program make about $74,309 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $35,998.
More information about a degree in general education from Capella University
Bemidji State University landed the #21 spot for general education this year. Bemidji State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Bemidji. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. Bemidji State University awarded about 11 general education degrees in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Bemidji State University earn a median of $48,984 early in their careers. Bemidji State University graduates carry a median of $25,819 in student loans.
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Saint Louis University Main Campus landed the #22 spot for general education this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Saint Louis. About 80% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 35 general education students who graduated with this degree at Saint Louis University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Saint Louis University Main Campus generally make around $36,244. Saint Louis University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full general education program report for Saint Louis University Main Campus
Walden University earned the #23 position for general education this year. This very large private for-profit university is located in the city of Minneapolis. There were roughly 632 general education students who graduated with this degree at Walden University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Walden University earn around $70,272 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $49,361.
Get the full general education details for Walden University
Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College landed the #24 spot for general education this year. Set in the town of Hibbing, Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public institution. About 11 general education degrees were awarded at Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College generally make around $44,387. Typical student debt for the program is $17,029.
Get the full general education details for Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College
Fort Hays State University landed the #25 spot for general education this year. This large public university is located in the town of Hays. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. Fort Hays State University awarded about 170 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Fort Hays State University generally make around $50,872. Typical student debt for the program is $25,967.
More information about a degree in general education from Fort Hays State University
Rest of the Top 37 General Education Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s general education ranking:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 37 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.
