by our College Data Analytics Team
[General Education](/majors/education/general-education/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 58 schools to find where general education graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send general education graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Bellevue University tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying general education schools in the United States. Set in the suburb of Bellevue, Bellevue University is a private not-for-profit institution. General Education graduates of Bellevue University earn a median of about $68,730 a year early in their careers.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general education schools. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a public school located in the city of Amherst. General Education graduates of University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn a median of about $65,277 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at City University Of Seattle earned it the #3 place for general education. Set in the city of Seattle, City University Of Seattle is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the general education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $62,337.
Vanguard University Of Southern California came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general education schools. Set in the city of Costa Mesa, Vanguard University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the general education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $60,138.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Houston Clear Lake one of the highest-paying schools for general education. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston Clear Lake is a public institution. Students who complete the general education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $58,497.
The University Of Texas At Arlington came in at #6 for general education graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Arlington, The University Of Texas At Arlington is a public institution. Students who complete the general education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $57,410.
Oregon State University landed the #7 spot for general education salaries this year. Located in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a public institution. After graduating, general education degree recipients from Oregon State University typically earn about $56,237 annually.
University Of Hawaii West Oahu ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general education schools. Located in the suburb of Kapolei, University Of Hawaii West Oahu is a public institution. Early-career general education graduates from University Of Hawaii West Oahu make a median of around $57,924 per year.
Brown University earned the #9 position for general education graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Providence, Brown University is a private not-for-profit institution. General Education graduates of Brown University earn a median of about $79,577 a year early in their careers.
Southwestern University came in at #10 for general education graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Georgetown, Southwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution. General Education graduates of Southwestern University earn a median of about $50,984 a year early in their careers.
Bay Path College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general education schools. Set in the suburb of Longmeadow, Bay Path College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, general education degree recipients from Bay Path College typically earn about $49,257 annually.
Chapman University landed the #12 spot for general education salaries this year. Set in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career general education graduates from Chapman University make a median of around $65,859 per year.
Michigan State University came in at #13 for general education graduate earnings this year. Michigan State University is a public school located in the city of East Lansing. Early-career general education graduates from Michigan State University make a median of around $52,112 per year.
Denison University came in at #14 for general education graduate earnings this year. Denison University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Granville. Early-career general education graduates from Denison University make a median of around $47,475 per year.
Southern New Hampshire University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general education schools. Set in the suburb of Manchester, Southern New Hampshire University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, general education degree recipients from Southern New Hampshire University typically earn about $47,290 annually.
Southwestern Assemblies Of God University landed the #16 spot for general education salaries this year. Southwestern Assemblies Of God University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Waxahachie. General Education graduates of Southwestern Assemblies Of God University earn a median of about $46,333 a year early in their careers.
Springfield College came in at #17 for general education graduate earnings this year. Springfield College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Springfield. Students who complete the general education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $45,906.
Flagler College St Augustine placed #18 among the highest-paying schools for general education. Flagler College St Augustine is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Augustine. General Education graduates of Flagler College St Augustine earn a median of about $46,571 a year early in their careers.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee landed the #19 spot for general education salaries this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a public institution. General Education graduates of University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earn a median of about $47,785 a year early in their careers.
Massachusetts College Of Liberal Arts came in at #20 for general education graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of North Adams, Massachusetts College Of Liberal Arts is a public institution. After graduating, general education degree recipients from Massachusetts College Of Liberal Arts typically earn about $54,503 annually.
Corban University placed #21 among the highest-paying schools for general education. Set in the city of Salem, Corban University is a private not-for-profit institution. General Education graduates of Corban University earn a median of about $47,984 a year early in their careers.
Midland University came in at #22 for general education graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Fremont, Midland University is a private not-for-profit institution. General Education graduates of Midland University earn a median of about $48,420 a year early in their careers.
Suny Empire State College came in at #23 for general education graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Suny Empire State College is a public institution. After graduating, general education degree recipients from Suny Empire State College typically earn about $53,283 annually.
Walden University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general education schools. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Walden University is a private for-profit institution. General Education graduates of Walden University earn a median of about $44,458 a year early in their careers.
University Of Washington Bothell Campus landed the #25 spot for general education salaries this year. University Of Washington Bothell Campus is a public school located in the suburb of Bothell. General Education graduates of University Of Washington Bothell Campus earn a median of about $44,201 a year early in their careers.
These schools also send general education graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
Explore the highest-paying general education schools at other degree levels:
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries general education graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 58 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.