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2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid

181 Ranked Colleges
4,798 Degrees Awarded
$14,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor's For Those Getting Aid

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2019-2020, 29,936 people earned their degree in general education, making the major the 35th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, general education graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $47,138 and had an average of $29,674 in loans still to pay off.

At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 4,798 general education graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,303 and $24,501 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid” ranking analyzed 181 colleges that offered a degree in general education. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent general education programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the general education program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank General Education Schools

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for bachelor’s degree education students with aid.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for General Education (With Aid)

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Washington - Seattle Campus. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid. UW Seattle is a public institution located in Seattle, Washington. The school has a large population, and it awarded 106 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UW Seattle also took the #2 spot in our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $13,297 for Bachelor’s Degree Education students with aid per year to attend University of Washington - Seattle Campus.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on General Education at UW Seattle

#2

Berea College

Berea, Kentucky

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Berea College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid. Located in Berea, Kentucky, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 15 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s education students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $5,184 for bachelor’s degree education students with aid per year to attend Berea College.

The low student loan default rate of 4.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Full Berea College General Education Report

#3

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida
#11 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Florida. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid. Gainesville, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s education degrees to 21 students in 2019-2020.

UF also made our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #11. It costs about $6,302 for Bachelor’s Degree Education students with aid per year to attend UF.

The low student loan default rate of 2.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Read more about General Education at University of Florida

#4

Heritage University

Toppenish, Washington

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Heritage University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid. This small school is located in Toppenish, Washington, and it awarded 14 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Heritage University is $10,056 for bachelor’s degree education students with aid.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on General Education at Heritage University

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Green Bay. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid. Green Bay, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s education degrees to 74 students in 2019-2020.

UW - Green Bay excels when it comes to education quality. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The yearly cost to attend UW - Green Bay is $14,395 for bachelor’s degree education students with aid.

Read more about General Education at University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

#15 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Champaign, Illinois, this large public school awarded 13 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s education students in 2019-2020.

UIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It costs about $15,880 for bachelor’s degree education students with aid per year to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Read more about General Education at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

University of California - Irvine came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. UC Irvine is a large school located in Irvine, California that handed out 367 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Irvine not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It costs about $14,783 for Bachelor’s Degree Education students with aid per year to attend UC Irvine.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Read more about General Education at UC Irvine

#8

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana

Purdue University - Main Campus came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. West Lafayette, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s education degrees to 12 students in 2019-2020.

Purdue also claimed a top spot on our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Purdue is $13,986 for Bachelor’s Degree Education students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Education at Purdue University - Main Campus

#9

Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, Florida

Florida Atlantic University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #9. Located in Boca Raton, Florida, this large public school handed out 65 degrees to qualified bachelors’s education students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $10,186 for Bachelor’s Degree Education students with aid per year to attend FAU.

Full FAU General Education Report

#10

Florida Gulf Coast University

Fort Myers, Florida

Florida Gulf Coast University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #10. Fort Myers, Florida is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s education degrees to 38 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Florida Gulf Coast University is $11,606 for bachelor’s degree education students with aid.

Read more about General Education at FGCU

#11

North Carolina State University

Raleigh, North Carolina
#20 in overall quality

North Carolina State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Raleigh, North Carolina, this large public school handed out 19 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s education students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at NC State, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for North Carolina State University is $16,458 for bachelor’s degree education students with aid.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full NC State General Education Report

#12

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan

Michigan State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Michigan State University is a large school located in East Lansing, Michigan that handed out 157 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Michigan State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Michigan State is $19,173 for Bachelor’s Degree Education students with aid.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Education at Michigan State

#13

SUNY Empire State College

Saratoga Springs, New York

SUNY Empire State College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. SUNY Empire State College is a public institution located in Saratoga Springs, New York. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 102 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend SUNY Empire State College is $12,142 for Bachelor’s Degree Education students with aid.

Read full report on General Education at SUNY Empire State College

University of Hawaii - West Oahu landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of Hawaii - West Oahu is a public institution located in Kapolei, Hawaii. The school has a small population, and it awarded 37 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $13,331 for Bachelor’s Degree Education students with aid per year to attend University of Hawaii - West Oahu.

Read full report on General Education at University of Hawaii - West Oahu

Top 20% in overall quality

University of California - San Diego did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #15. UCSD is a public institution located in La Jolla, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 11 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UCSD excels when it comes to education quality. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $14,232 for Bachelor’s Degree Education students with aid per year to attend UCSD.

The low student loan default rate of 1.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Read more about General Education at UCSD

#16

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. UWM is a large public school situated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It awarded 153 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is $17,876 for Bachelor’s Degree Education students with aid.

Read more about General Education at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

The University of Texas at San Antonio ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid list. Located in San Antonio, Texas, this large public school awarded 82 degrees to qualified bachelors’s education students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $13,853 for bachelor’s degree education students with aid per year to attend The University of Texas at San Antonio.

Read more about General Education at The University of Texas at San Antonio

#18

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan

Grand Valley State University landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Allendale, Michigan, and it awarded 221 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at GVSU, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $17,646 for bachelor’s degree education students with aid per year to attend GVSU.

The low student loan default rate of 3.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about General Education at GVSU

#19

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas
Top 20% in overall quality

Texas Tech University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #19. Lubbock, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s education degrees to 133 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on this list, Texas Tech is in the top on our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for Texas Tech is $17,571 for Bachelor’s Degree Education students with aid.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about General Education at Texas Tech

#20

Eastern Washington University

Cheney, Washington

Eastern Washington University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Eastern Washington University is a fairly large public school situated in Cheney, Washington. It awarded 14 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for EWU is $12,607 for Bachelor’s Degree Education students with aid.

Read full report on General Education at Eastern Washington University

#21

University of Missouri - St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri

With a ranking of #21, University of Missouri - St Louis did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid list. UMSL is a fairly large public school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 24 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend UMSL is $9,435 for bachelor’s degree education students with aid.

Read more about General Education at UMSL

#22

Bellevue University

Bellevue, Nebraska

With a ranking of #22, Bellevue University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid list. Bellevue University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bellevue, Nebraska. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 12 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Bellevue University is $15,616 for bachelor’s degree education students with aid.

Read more about General Education at Bellevue University

#23

Western Oregon University

Monmouth, Oregon

Western Oregon University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid list. Western Oregon University is a small public school situated in Monmouth, Oregon. It awarded 121 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Western Oregon University is $19,315 for Bachelor’s Degree Education students with aid.

Read full report on General Education at Western Oregon University

#24

Swarthmore College

Swarthmore, Pennsylvania
#10 in overall quality

Swarthmore College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Swarthmore, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s education degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Swarthmore, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $19,184 for bachelor’s degree education students with aid per year to attend Swarthmore College.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The low student loan default rate of 0.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Swarthmore College General Education Report

#25

Wilmington University

New Castle, Delaware

Wilmington University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #25. This fairly large school is located in New Castle, Delaware, and it awarded 48 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Wilmington University is $14,683 for Bachelor’s Degree Education students with aid.

Read full report on General Education at Wilmington University

Rest of the Best 28 in Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid

Not only did these schools make the top 28 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

#26

Colgate University

Hamilton, New York

Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to KOKUYO.

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