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 highest-paying schools turn a general education degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
College Factual analyzed 100 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying general education schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose general education graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is California State University Bakersfield, our #1 for general education graduate salaries in the United States. Set in the city of Bakersfield, California State University Bakersfield is a public institution. Early-career general education graduates from California State University Bakersfield make a median of around $86,211 per year.
California State University Sacramento came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general education schools. California State University Sacramento is a public school located in the city of Sacramento. Early-career general education graduates from California State University Sacramento make a median of around $90,404 per year.
Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general education schools. Set in the suburb of Aliso Viejo, Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System is a public institution. Students who complete the general education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $91,259.
Sonoma State University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in general education, landing the #4 spot this year. Sonoma State University is a public school located in the suburb of Rohnert Park. Early-career general education graduates from Sonoma State University make a median of around $79,856 per year.
Whitworth University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general education schools. Located in the suburb of Spokane, Whitworth University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the general education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $80,115.
University Of Washington Bothell Campus placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for general education. University Of Washington Bothell Campus is a public school located in the suburb of Bothell. Early-career general education graduates from University Of Washington Bothell Campus make a median of around $84,621 per year.
University Of Washington Tacoma Campus ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general education schools. University Of Washington Tacoma Campus is a public school located in the city of Tacoma. Early-career general education graduates from University Of Washington Tacoma Campus make a median of around $84,621 per year.
California State University San Marcos came in at #8 for general education graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of San Marcos, California State University San Marcos is a public institution. General Education graduates of California State University San Marcos earn a median of about $82,880 a year early in their careers.
California State University Dominguez Hills ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general education schools. Set in the city of Carson, California State University Dominguez Hills is a public institution. After graduating, general education degree recipients from California State University Dominguez Hills typically earn about $96,103 annually.
Stanford University came in at #10 for general education graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the general education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $88,795.
University Of San Diego came in at #11 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 came in at #12 for general education graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Turlock, California State University Stanislaus is a public institution. After graduating, general education degree recipients from California State University Stanislaus typically earn about $87,195 annually.
University Of Pennsylvania landed the #13 spot for general education salaries this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career general education graduates from University Of Pennsylvania make a median of around $76,962 per year.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general education schools. Located in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a public institution. After graduating, general education degree recipients from California State Polytechnic University Pomona typically earn about $85,347 annually.
Touro University Nevada placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for general education. Located in the city of Henderson, Touro University Nevada is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career general education graduates from Touro University Nevada make a median of around $76,479 per year.
Southern Utah University landed the #16 spot for general education salaries this year. Set in the town of Cedar City, Southern Utah University is a public institution. General Education graduates of Southern Utah University earn a median of about $83,779 a year early in their careers.
University Of California Berkeley landed the #17 spot for general education salaries this year. University Of California Berkeley is a public school located in the city of Berkeley. Early-career general education graduates from University Of California Berkeley make a median of around $76,186 per year.
Notre Dame De Namur University came in at #18 for general education graduate earnings this year. Notre Dame De Namur University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Belmont. Early-career general education graduates from Notre Dame De Namur University make a median of around $75,756 per year.
California State University Monterey Bay earned the #19 position for general education graduate earnings this year. California State University Monterey Bay is a public school located in the suburb of Seaside. After graduating, general education degree recipients from California State University Monterey Bay typically earn about $86,306 annually.
Cambridge College placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for general education. Cambridge College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Early-career general education graduates from Cambridge College make a median of around $72,586 per year.
Grand Canyon University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general education schools. Grand Canyon University is a private for-profit school located in the city of Phoenix. General Education graduates of Grand Canyon University earn a median of about $77,342 a year early in their careers.
Harvard University landed the #22 spot for general education salaries this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a private not-for-profit institution. General Education graduates of Harvard University earn a median of about $84,569 a year early in their careers.
San Francisco State University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general education schools. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a public institution. General Education graduates of San Francisco State University earn a median of about $84,045 a year early in their careers.
California Baptist University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general education schools. Set in the city of Riverside, California Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career general education graduates from California Baptist University make a median of around $81,045 per year.
California State University Fresno came in at #25 for general education graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a public institution. After graduating, general education degree recipients from California State University Fresno typically earn about $95,011 annually.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid general education ranking:
Looking for a different degree level? Compare highest-paid General Education rankings across degree levels:
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their general education graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 100 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.
