General Education is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 408 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best general education schools.
Where you study general education matters for your future. That is why we built our Best General Education Schools rankings. For our Best Overall General Education School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best General Education Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Best Schools for General Education in the United States
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the general education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is University Of Wisconsin Madison, our #1 school for general education. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 87 general education degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. General Education graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $59,877 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete this degree.
Get the full general education details for University Of Wisconsin Madison
Texas A And M University College Station came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best general education schools. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. Texas A And M University College Station awarded about 302 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $64,891 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,031.
Read more about the general education program at Texas A And M University College Station
University Of Massachusetts Amherst is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general education, ranking #3. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. About 77 general education degrees were awarded at University Of Massachusetts Amherst in the most recent year. Graduates of the general education program make about $58,304 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,195 to complete this degree.
Get the full general education details for University Of Massachusetts Amherst
The University Of Texas At Austin is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general education, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates 89% of students within six years. About 60 general education degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $57,819. Students borrow a median of $21,275 to complete this degree.
See the full general education program report for The University Of Texas At Austin
University Of Georgia is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general education, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. About 90% of students finish within six years. University Of Georgia awarded about 54 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $69,003 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,792.
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Johns Hopkins University earned the #6 position for general education this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Baltimore. Johns Hopkins University graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 295 general education students who graduated with this degree at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University generally make around $63,838. Typical student debt for the program is $13,426.
Read more about the general education program at Johns Hopkins University
Auburn University earned the #7 position for general education this year. Auburn University is a very large public school located in the city of Auburn. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 32 general education degrees were awarded at Auburn University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general education program make about $55,422 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,803 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general education program at Auburn University
Harvard University earned the #8 position for general education this year. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. Harvard University awarded about 34 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $96,581. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
Get the full general education details for Harvard University
University Of Connecticut came in at #9 for general education this year. This very large public university is located in the town of Storrs. University Of Connecticut graduates 83% of students within six years. About 10 general education degrees were awarded at University Of Connecticut in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from University Of Connecticut generally make around $58,784. University Of Connecticut graduates carry a median of $23,637 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general education from University Of Connecticut
University Of California Los Angeles ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best general education schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 197 general education degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $67,010. University Of California Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $16,097 in student loans.
See the full general education program report for University Of California Los Angeles
University Of California Berkeley landed the #11 spot for general education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Berkeley. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 117 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $70,847. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $14,238 in student loans.
Get the full general education details for University Of California Berkeley
California State University Sacramento landed the #12 spot for general education this year. Set in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. California State University Sacramento awarded about 102 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from California State University Sacramento earn around $77,526 in the first couple years of their career. California State University Sacramento graduates carry a median of $17,492 in student loans.
Read more about the general education program at California State University Sacramento
University Of Florida earned the #13 position for general education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Gainesville. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 79 general education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Florida in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $58,388. Typical student debt for the program is $17,669.
Get the full general education details for University Of Florida
University Of Pennsylvania placed #14 among the best general education schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 140 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $80,997. Typical student debt for the program is $16,155.
See the full general education program report for University Of Pennsylvania
Endicott College earned the #15 position for general education this year. Endicott College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Beverly. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 55 general education students who graduated with this degree at Endicott College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $55,361 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,973 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general education program at Endicott College
New York University placed #16 among the best general education schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 29 general education degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from New York University generally make around $60,354. Typical student debt for the program is $21,375.
See the full general education program report for New York University
Texas Tech University earned the #17 position for general education this year. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. Texas Tech University awarded about 253 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Texas Tech University generally make around $50,332. Students borrow a median of $24,271 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general education from Texas Tech University
University Of California San Diego earned the #18 position for general education this year. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 133 general education degrees were awarded at University Of California San Diego in the most recent year. Graduates of the general education program make about $91,736 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,101 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general education program at University Of California San Diego
Stanford University placed #19 among the best general education schools. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. About 132 general education degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $85,162. Typical student debt for the program is $10,492.
See the full general education program report for Stanford University
California State Polytechnic University Pomona placed #20 among the best general education schools. Set in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public institution. California State Polytechnic University Pomona graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 69 general education students who graduated with this degree at California State Polytechnic University Pomona in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of California State Polytechnic University Pomona earn a median of $70,724 early in their careers. California State Polytechnic University Pomona graduates carry a median of $17,226 in student loans.
See the full general education program report for California State Polytechnic University Pomona
California State University Long Beach landed the #21 spot for general education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Long Beach. California State University Long Beach graduates 69% of students within six years. About 72 general education degrees were awarded at California State University Long Beach in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $51,087. Typical student debt for the program is $15,732.
More information about a degree in general education from California State University Long Beach
University Of California Riverside earned the #22 position for general education this year. Set in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a very large public institution. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 151 general education degrees were awarded at University Of California Riverside in the most recent year. Students who receive their general education degree from University Of California Riverside earn around $61,108 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Riverside graduates carry a median of $19,187 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general education from University Of California Riverside
George Mason University ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best general education schools. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. George Mason University awarded about 53 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from George Mason University earn around $89,993 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete this degree.
Get the full general education details for George Mason University
Syracuse University ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best general education schools. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. Syracuse University awarded about 21 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Syracuse University earn around $54,785 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
See the full general education program report for Syracuse University
University Of Hawaii At Manoa landed the #25 spot for general education this year. Located in the city of Honolulu, University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a very large public university. University Of Hawaii At Manoa graduates 64% of students within six years. There were roughly 38 general education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Hawaii At Manoa in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of University Of Hawaii At Manoa earn a median of $60,288 early in their careers. University Of Hawaii At Manoa graduates carry a median of $20,577 in student loans.
See the full general education program report for University Of Hawaii At Manoa
Rest of the Top 50 General Education Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong general education education:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 408 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
