by our College Data Analytics Team
[General Education](/majors/education/general-education/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The schools below stand out for the salaries their general education graduates go on to command.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 54 schools on the early-career earnings of their general education graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose general education graduates go on to earn the most.
For graduate earnings in general education, no school beat California State University Bakersfield this year. Set in the city of Bakersfield, California State University Bakersfield is a public institution. General Education graduates of California State University Bakersfield earn a median of about $86,211 a year early in their careers.
California State University Sacramento came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general education schools. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a public institution. After graduating, general education degree recipients from California State University Sacramento typically earn about $90,404 annually.
Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general education schools. Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System is a public school located in the suburb of Aliso Viejo. General Education graduates of Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System earn a median of about $91,259 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Sonoma State University earned it the #4 place for general education. Sonoma State University is a public school located in the suburb of Rohnert Park. After graduating, general education degree recipients from Sonoma State University typically earn about $79,856 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Whitworth University earned it the #5 place for general education. Set in the suburb of Spokane, Whitworth University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career general education graduates from Whitworth University make a median of around $80,115 per year.
University Of Washington Bothell Campus ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general education schools. University Of Washington Bothell Campus is a public school located in the suburb of Bothell. Students who complete the general education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $84,621.
California State University San Marcos placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for general education. Set in the suburb of San Marcos, California State University San Marcos is a public institution. Early-career general education graduates from California State University San Marcos make a median of around $82,880 per year.
California State University Dominguez Hills came in at #8 for general education graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Carson, California State University Dominguez Hills is a public institution. Early-career general education graduates from California State University Dominguez Hills make a median of around $96,103 per year.
University Of San Diego earned the #9 position for general education graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of San Diego, University Of San Diego is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the general education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $87,081.
California State University Stanislaus earned the #10 position for general education graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Turlock, California State University Stanislaus is a public institution. General Education graduates of California State University Stanislaus earn a median of about $87,195 a year early in their careers.
University Of Washington Tacoma Campus earned the #11 position for general education graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Tacoma, University Of Washington Tacoma Campus is a public institution. Early-career general education graduates from University Of Washington Tacoma Campus make a median of around $96,028 per year.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for general education. California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a public school located in the suburb of Pomona. After graduating, general education degree recipients from California State Polytechnic University Pomona typically earn about $85,347 annually.
Stanford University placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for general education. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a private not-for-profit institution. General Education graduates of Stanford University earn a median of about $88,795 a year early in their careers.
Touro University Nevada landed the #14 spot for general education salaries this year. Located in the city of Henderson, Touro University Nevada is a private not-for-profit institution. General Education graduates of Touro University Nevada earn a median of about $76,479 a year early in their careers.
Notre Dame De Namur University landed the #15 spot for general education salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Belmont, Notre Dame De Namur University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the general education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $75,756.
California State University Monterey Bay earned the #16 position for general education graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Seaside, California State University Monterey Bay is a public institution. General Education graduates of California State University Monterey Bay earn a median of about $86,306 a year early in their careers.
San Francisco State University placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for general education. San Francisco State University is a public school located in the city of San Francisco. Students who complete the general education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $84,045.
California Baptist University came in at #18 for general education graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Riverside, California Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution. General Education graduates of California Baptist University earn a median of about $81,045 a year early in their careers.
California State University Fresno landed the #19 spot for general education salaries this year. Located in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a public institution. General Education graduates of California State University Fresno earn a median of about $95,011 a year early in their careers.
University Of Puget Sound placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for general education. Set in the city of Tacoma, University Of Puget Sound is a private not-for-profit institution. General Education graduates of University Of Puget Sound earn a median of about $74,326 a year early in their careers.
Claremont Graduate University came in at #21 for general education graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Claremont, Claremont Graduate University is a private not-for-profit institution. General Education graduates of Claremont Graduate University earn a median of about $121,403 a year early in their careers.
California State University Los Angeles placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for general education. Located in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a public institution. General Education graduates of California State University Los Angeles earn a median of about $73,525 a year early in their careers.
Azusa Pacific University earned the #23 position for general education graduate earnings this year. Azusa Pacific University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Azusa. General Education graduates of Azusa Pacific University earn a median of about $85,890 a year early in their careers.
Eastern Washington University landed the #24 spot for general education salaries this year. Located in the town of Cheney, Eastern Washington University is a public institution. Students who complete the general education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $74,244.
University Of California Berkeley came in at #25 for general education graduate earnings this year. University Of California Berkeley is a public school located in the city of Berkeley. General Education graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of about $85,998 a year early in their careers.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid general education ranking:
The ranking above is published 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 · 54 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.
