2027 Best General Education Associate’s Degree Schools
General Education is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their general education programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 58 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for general education students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for General Education in the United States
See the highest-ranked general education schools offering a associate’s degree below.
Top Schools in General Education
Leading the list is West Texas A And M University, our #1 school for general education. Located in the town of Canyon, West Texas A And M University is a large public university. About 48% of students finish within six years. West Texas A And M University awarded about 15 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from West Texas A And M University generally make around $43,515. Typical student debt for the program is $22,333.
More information about a degree in general education from West Texas A And M University
Capital Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general education, ranking #2. Capital Community College is a very large public school located in the city of New Britain. Capital Community College awarded about 51 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Capital Community College earn around $43,086 in the first couple years of their career. Capital Community College graduates carry a median of $12,059 in student loans.
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Northern Virginia Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general education, ranking #3. Located in the suburb of Annandale, Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public university. About 56 general education degrees were awarded at Northern Virginia Community College in the most recent year. General Education graduates of Northern Virginia Community College earn a median of $40,126 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,413 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general education from Northern Virginia Community College
A rank of #4 makes University Of The District Of Columbia one of the top schools for general education. Located in the city of Washington, University Of The District Of Columbia is a moderately-sized public university. University Of The District Of Columbia graduates 44% of students within six years. There were roughly 144 general education students who graduated with this degree at University Of The District Of Columbia in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from University Of The District Of Columbia earn around $57,060 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,200.
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A rank of #5 makes Suny Empire State College one of the top schools for general education. Set in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Suny Empire State College is a large public institution. Suny Empire State College graduates 36% of students within six years. There were roughly 29 general education students who graduated with this degree at Suny Empire State College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Suny Empire State College earn around $39,046 in the first couple years of their career. Suny Empire State College graduates carry a median of $21,422 in student loans.
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Touro University Worldwide came in at #6 for general education this year. Set in the suburb of Los Alamitos, Touro University Worldwide is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Touro University Worldwide graduates 29% of students within six years. Touro University Worldwide awarded about 10 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Touro University Worldwide earn around $55,346 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $32,289 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general education from Touro University Worldwide
Middlesex County College placed #7 among the best general education schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Edison. There were roughly 54 general education students who graduated with this degree at Middlesex County College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $16,846 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $7,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general education from Middlesex County College
Hagerstown Community College landed the #8 spot for general education this year. Set in the suburb of Hagerstown, Hagerstown Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Hagerstown Community College awarded about 14 general education degrees in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Hagerstown Community College earn a median of $46,478 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,126.
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Nhti Concords Community College landed the #9 spot for general education this year. Set in the town of Concord, Nhti Concords Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 11 general education students who graduated with this degree at Nhti Concords Community College in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Nhti Concords Community College earn a median of $50,550 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,046 to complete this degree.
See the full general education program report for Nhti Concords Community College
The University Of Montana Western earned the #10 position for general education this year. Set in the town of Dillon, The University Of Montana Western is a small public institution. The University Of Montana Western graduates 54% of students within six years. There were roughly 35 general education students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Montana Western in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $36,924 in their early career. The University Of Montana Western graduates carry a median of $22,484 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general education from The University Of Montana Western
Lehigh Carbon Community College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best general education schools. Set in the rural area of Schnecksville, Lehigh Carbon Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 17 general education degrees were awarded at Lehigh Carbon Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the general education program make about $39,957 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general education from Lehigh Carbon Community College
Snow College earned the #12 position for general education this year. Snow College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Ephraim. About 22 general education degrees were awarded at Snow College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Snow College generally make around $42,776. Students borrow a median of $10,440 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general education from Snow College
Volunteer State Community College earned the #13 position for general education this year. Volunteer State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Gallatin. There were roughly 29 general education students who graduated with this degree at Volunteer State Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Volunteer State Community College generally make around $40,137. Volunteer State Community College graduates carry a median of $12,462 in student loans.
See the full general education program report for Volunteer State Community College
Cumberland University earned the #14 position for general education this year. Cumberland University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Lebanon. The six-year graduation rate is 42%. Cumberland University awarded about 21 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $50,607 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,902 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general education from Cumberland University
Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College landed the #15 spot for general education this year. Located in the town of Hibbing, Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public university. Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College awarded about 11 general education degrees in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College earn a median of $44,387 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,029.
Read more about the general education program at Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College
Motlow State Community College came in at #16 for general education this year. Motlow State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Tullahoma. There were roughly 12 general education students who graduated with this degree at Motlow State Community College in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Motlow State Community College earn a median of $43,750 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $6,470 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general education program at Motlow State Community College
The Community College Of Baltimore County landed the #17 spot for general education this year. The Community College Of Baltimore County is a very large public school located in the suburb of Baltimore. The Community College Of Baltimore County awarded about 20 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from The Community College Of Baltimore County earn around $52,440 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,804.
Get the full general education details for The Community College Of Baltimore County
Harford Community College earned the #18 position for general education this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Bel Air. There were roughly 11 general education students who graduated with this degree at Harford Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Harford Community College generally make around $50,636. Typical student debt for the program is $12,624.
Read more about the general education program at Harford Community College
Ivy Tech Community College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best general education schools. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public institution. About 163 general education degrees were awarded at Ivy Tech Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the general education program make about $26,848 in their early career. Ivy Tech Community College graduates carry a median of $10,874 in student loans.
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Pellissippi State Community College landed the #20 spot for general education this year. Pellissippi State Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Knoxville. Pellissippi State Community College awarded about 22 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Pellissippi State Community College generally make around $43,816. Students borrow a median of $8,951 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general education program at Pellissippi State Community College
Brookdale Community College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best general education schools. Set in the suburb of Lincroft, Brookdale Community College is a large public institution. About 94 general education degrees were awarded at Brookdale Community College in the most recent year. General Education graduates of Brookdale Community College earn a median of $19,157 early in their careers. Brookdale Community College graduates carry a median of $8,750 in student loans.
See the full general education program report for Brookdale Community College
Columbia State Community College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best general education schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Columbia. There were roughly 29 general education students who graduated with this degree at Columbia State Community College in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Columbia State Community College earn a median of $44,481 early in their careers. Columbia State Community College graduates carry a median of $12,674 in student loans.
Get the full general education details for Columbia State Community College
New Mexico State University Dona Ana earned the #23 position for general education this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Las Cruces. New Mexico State University Dona Ana awarded about 27 general education degrees in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of New Mexico State University Dona Ana earn a median of $39,399 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $10,284.
More information about a degree in general education from New Mexico State University Dona Ana
Southern Maine Community College earned the #24 position for general education this year. Southern Maine Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of South Portland. About 19 general education degrees were awarded at Southern Maine Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their general education degree from Southern Maine Community College earn around $28,061 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,987.
See the full general education program report for Southern Maine Community College
Roane State Community College came in at #25 for general education this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Harriman. Roane State Community College awarded about 11 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Roane State Community College earn around $36,933 in the first couple years of their career. Roane State Community College graduates carry a median of $9,408 in student loans.
See the full general education program report for Roane State Community College
Rest of the Top 50 General Education Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s general education ranking:
Other General Education Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare General Education rankings across degree levels:
View All General Education Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 58 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
