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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 9 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.
Our analysis ranked Shenandoah University the top school for general education graduate earnings in Virginia. Set in the city of Winchester, Shenandoah University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the general education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $69,756.
George Mason University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general education schools. George Mason University is a public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. After graduating, general education degree recipients from George Mason University typically earn about $95,728 annually.
University Of Mary Washington came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general education schools. University Of Mary Washington is a public school located in the suburb of Fredericksburg. Early-career general education graduates from University Of Mary Washington make a median of around $59,799 per year.
James Madison University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general education schools. Located in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a public institution. Early-career general education graduates from James Madison University make a median of around $54,694 per year.
Longwood University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general education schools. Set in the town of Farmville, Longwood University is a public institution. Early-career general education graduates from Longwood University make a median of around $53,281 per year.
Virginia Commonwealth University landed the #6 spot for general education salaries this year. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a public institution. Early-career general education graduates from Virginia Commonwealth University make a median of around $53,087 per year.
Liberty University earned the #7 position for general education graduate earnings this year. Liberty University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. Early-career general education graduates from Liberty University make a median of around $45,913 per year.
Radford University came in at #8 for general education graduate earnings this year. Radford University is a public school located in the town of Radford. After graduating, general education degree recipients from Radford University typically earn about $51,349 annually.
University Of Virginia Main Campus placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for general education. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. Students who complete the general education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $76,511.
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 · 9 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.