2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for General Education
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s” ranking.
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 master’s degree level specifically, there were 18,793 general education graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s” ranking, we looked at 285 colleges that offer a degree in general education. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great general education programs and 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.
Featured schools near , edit
One Size Does Not Fit All
The education school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s”.
To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. 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 Master’s
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s.
Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for General Education
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Winona, Minnesota. It awarded 206 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
SMU MN also took the #23 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota are $10,260.
Out of the 285 schools in the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Martin Luther College landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in New Ulm, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 19 diplomas to qualified masters’s education students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at MLC are $5,400, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Azusa Pacific University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s. Azusa Pacific is a medium-sized school located in Azusa, California that handed out 279 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
Azusa Pacific also took the #9 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Azusa Pacific are $16,571.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Saint Michael’s College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s. Saint Michael’s is a private not-for-profit institution located in Colchester, Vermont. The school has a small population, and it awarded 59 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Saint Michael’s did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Saint Michael’s College are $11,160, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Hamline University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s list. This small school is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and it awarded 24 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
Hamline excels when it comes to education quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Hamline University are $11,577.
Walden University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s list. Walden University is a large private for-profit school situated in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It awarded 1,153 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Walden University is also in the top of our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Walden University are $10,716.
Whitworth University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s ranking. This small school is located in Spokane, Washington, and it awarded 37 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
Whitworth did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Whitworth are $12,312, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on General Education at Whitworth University
Goucher College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #8. Goucher is a private not-for-profit institution located in Baltimore, Maryland. The school has a small population, and it awarded 97 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on this list, Goucher is in the top on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category. Average graduate tuition and fees at Goucher are $9,047, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Cabrini University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s list. Cabrini University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Radnor, Pennsylvania. It awarded 50 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Cabrini University are $2,250.
Southwest Minnesota State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #10. This medium-sized school is located in Marshall, Minnesota, and it awarded 124 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Southwest Minnesota State University are $8,526.
Full Southwest Minnesota State University General Education Report
Wilmington University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #11. Wilmington University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in New Castle, Delaware. It awarded 58 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Wilmington University are $8,834.
Point Loma Nazarene University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s ranking. PLNU is located in San Diego, California and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 174 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, PLNU is also in the top of our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Point Loma Nazarene University are $11,880, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Southwest Baptist University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #13. Located in Bolivar, Missouri, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 73 degrees to qualified masters’s education students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Southwest Baptist University are $5,423, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on General Education at Southwest Baptist University
Liberty University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s list. Liberty University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lynchburg, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 97 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Liberty University are $8,349, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Harding University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s list. Harding University is located in Searcy, Arkansas and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Harding University are $11,928.
With a ranking of #16, Winona State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s list. Located in Winona, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school handed out 17 degrees to qualified masters’s education students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Winona State University are $12,378, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Bethel University Minnesota ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s list. Bethel University Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 31 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Bethel University Minnesota are $11,700.
Read full report on General Education at Bethel University Minnesota
Minnesota State University - Mankato ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s list. Minnesota State Mankato is a fairly large public school situated in Mankato, Minnesota. It awarded 18 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Minnesota State Mankato are $8,788, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on General Education at Minnesota State Mankato
Messiah University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #19. Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s education degrees to 23 students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Messiah are $12,780, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Notre Dame of Maryland University landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s ranking. Notre Dame of Maryland University is a small school located in Baltimore, Maryland that handed out 170 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Notre Dame of Maryland University are $11,046, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Worcester State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #21. Worcester State is a medium-sized public school situated in Worcester, Massachusetts. It awarded 20 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Worcester State University are $5,796, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about General Education at Worcester State University
With a ranking of #22, Aquinas College Michigan did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s list. Located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 20 degrees to qualified masters’s education students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Aquinas College Michigan are $11,184, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on General Education at Aquinas College Michigan
University of Wisconsin - Stout landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s ranking. University of Wisconsin - Stout is a medium-sized public school situated in Menomonie, Wisconsin. It awarded 63 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Stout are $16,851.
Grand Canyon University landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s ranking. Grand Canyon University is a private for-profit institution located in Phoenix, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 648 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Grand Canyon University are $11,436, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Mount Saint Mary’s University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s list. MSMU is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 31 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at MSMU are $12,612.
Rest of the Best 43 in Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s
Not only did these schools make the top 43 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
Narrow Results by Region
Southeast
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for General Education in the Southeast Region
Rocky Mountains
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for General Education in the Rocky Mountains Region
Middle Atlantic
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for General Education in the Middle Atlantic Region
Southwest
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for General Education in the Southwest Region
New England
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for General Education in the New England Region
Plains States
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for General Education in the Plains States Region
Far Western US
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for General Education in the Far Western US Region
Great Lakes
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for General Education in the Great Lakes Region
Switch to a More General Major
Switch to a Similar Major
Multilingual Education
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Multilingual Education
Educational Administration
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Educational Administration
Educational Assessment
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Educational Assessment
Education Philosophy
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Education Philosophy
Student Counseling
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Student Counseling
Teacher Education Subject Specific
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Teacher Education Subject Specific
Teaching Assistants
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Teaching Assistants
Curriculum & Instruction
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Curriculum & Instruction
Instructional Media Design
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Instructional Media Design
International Education
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for International Education
Special Education
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Special Education
Teacher Education Grade Specific
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Teacher Education Grade Specific
Teaching English or French
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Teaching English or French
Other Education
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Other Education
Switch to a More Focused Major
Switch to a Different Ranking Method
Best General Education Master's Degree Schools
General Education students
Most Focused Master's Degree Colleges for General Education
General Education students
Most Popular Master's Degree Online General Education Schools
General Education students
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for General Education (Income $0-$30k)
General Education students with family income less than $30k
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for General Education (Income $48-$75k)
General Education students with family income $48-$75k
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for General Education (Income Over $110k)
General Education students with family income exceeding $110k
Highest Paid Master's Degree General Education Graduates
General Education students
Most Popular Master's Degree Colleges for General Education
General Education students
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for General Education (With Aid)
General Education students getting aid
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for General Education (Income $30-$48k)
General Education students with family income $30-$48k
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for General Education (Income $75-$110k)
General Education students with family income $75-$110k
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for General Education
General Education students
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.
Featured Schools
Request Info
|
Southern New Hampshire University
You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs ... Learn More > |
College Factual provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© College Factual – All Rights Reserved.
