2027 Best General Education Schools in New York
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.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 15 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for general education students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for General Education in New York
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall general education education in New York.
Top Schools in General Education
Leading the list is New York University, our #1 school for general education. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 88% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 29 general education students who graduated with this degree at New York University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from New York University generally make around $60,354. Students borrow a median of $21,375 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong general education program will find one at Syracuse University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Syracuse University graduates 84% of students within six years. There were roughly 21 general education students who graduated with this degree at Syracuse University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Syracuse University generally make around $54,785. Syracuse University graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong general education program will find one at Colgate University, which ranked #3. Colgate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Hamilton. Colgate University graduates 91% of students within six years. About 13 general education degrees were awarded at Colgate University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general education degree from Colgate University earn around $52,924 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,286 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong general education program will find one at College Of Mount Saint Vincent, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Bronx, College Of Mount Saint Vincent is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 102 general education students who graduated with this degree at College Of Mount Saint Vincent in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from College Of Mount Saint Vincent earn around $58,239 in the first couple years of their career. College Of Mount Saint Vincent graduates carry a median of $26,385 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general education from College Of Mount Saint Vincent
A rank of #5 makes Barnard College one of the top schools for general education. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. Barnard College graduates 93% of students within six years. There were roughly 15 general education students who graduated with this degree at Barnard College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Barnard College earn around $50,790 in the first couple years of their career. Barnard College graduates carry a median of $17,609 in student loans.
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Adelphi University landed the #6 spot for general education this year. Adelphi University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Garden City. About 67% of students finish within six years. About 59 general education degrees were awarded at Adelphi University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general education program make about $26,228 in their early career. Adelphi University graduates carry a median of $25,487 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general education from Adelphi University
Niagara University earned the #7 position for general education this year. Located in the suburb of Niagara University, Niagara University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 74% of students finish within six years. Niagara University awarded about 181 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Niagara University generally make around $51,918. Niagara University graduates carry a median of $26,208 in student loans.
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Vassar College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best general education schools. Located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Vassar College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 general education students who graduated with this degree at Vassar College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Vassar College earn around $37,412 in the first couple years of their career. Vassar College graduates carry a median of $18,486 in student loans.
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Saint Thomas Aquinas College landed the #9 spot for general education this year. Located in the suburb of Sparkill, Saint Thomas Aquinas College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Saint Thomas Aquinas College graduates 54% of students within six years. Saint Thomas Aquinas College awarded about 31 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Saint Thomas Aquinas College generally make around $44,519. Typical student debt for the program is $24,700.
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Hobart William Smith Colleges ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best general education schools. Set in the town of Geneva, Hobart William Smith Colleges is a small private not-for-profit institution. Hobart William Smith Colleges graduates 77% of students within six years. Hobart William Smith Colleges awarded about 10 general education degrees in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Hobart William Smith Colleges earn a median of $41,384 early in their careers. Hobart William Smith Colleges graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general education from Hobart William Smith Colleges
Suny Empire State College came in at #11 for general education this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs. About 36% of students finish within six years. About 181 general education degrees were awarded at Suny Empire State College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Suny Empire State College generally make around $39,046. Students borrow a median of $21,422 to complete this degree.
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Mercy College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best general education schools. Located in the suburb of Dobbs Ferry, Mercy College is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 45% of students complete a degree within six years here. Mercy College awarded about 13 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $61,432 in their early career. Mercy College graduates carry a median of $28,304 in student loans.
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University At Buffalo came in at #13 for general education this year. University At Buffalo is a very large public school located in the suburb of Buffalo. University At Buffalo graduates 75% of students within six years. About 22 general education degrees were awarded at University At Buffalo in the most recent year. Students who receive their general education degree from University At Buffalo earn around $46,866 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,232.
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Cuny Laguardia Community College placed #14 among the best general education schools. Cuny Laguardia Community College is a large public school located in the city of Long Island City. There were roughly 110 general education students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Laguardia Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $31,437 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $8,858 to complete this degree.
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Cuny Bronx Community College landed the #15 spot for general education this year. Set in the city of Bronx, Cuny Bronx Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 34 general education students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Bronx Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $35,768 in their early career. Cuny Bronx Community College graduates carry a median of $8,224 in student loans.
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More General Education Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 15 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.