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. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 6 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.
Leading the list is University Of Michigan Flint, our #1 for general education graduate salaries in Michigan. University Of Michigan Flint is a public school located in the city of Flint. After graduating, general education degree recipients from University Of Michigan Flint typically earn about $86,560 annually.
University Of Michigan Dearborn came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general education schools. University Of Michigan Dearborn is a public school located in the city of Dearborn. Early-career general education graduates from University Of Michigan Dearborn make a median of around $70,671 per year.
Michigan State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general education schools. Michigan State University is a public school located in the city of East Lansing. Students who complete the general education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $53,652.
Aquinas College Michigan came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general education schools. Set in the city of Grand Rapids, Aquinas College Michigan is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, general education degree recipients from Aquinas College Michigan typically earn about $62,596 annually.
Grand Valley State University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in general education, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a public institution. Students who complete the general education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $60,194.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for general education. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. General Education graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of about $62,114 a year early in their careers.
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 · 6 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.