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2027 Best General Education Schools in Virginia

14 Colleges in the United States
916 General Education Degrees Awarded
$53,157 Avg Early-Career Salary

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 14 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 Virginia

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall general education education in Virginia.

Top Schools in General Education

1

No school ranked higher than George Mason University this year for general education. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. George Mason University awarded about 53 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $89,993 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,529. See the full general education program report for George Mason University

2
James Madison University crest
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA

Students looking for a strong general education program will find one at James Madison University, which ranked #2. James Madison University is a very large public school located in the city of Harrisonburg. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. James Madison University awarded about 128 general education degrees in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of James Madison University earn a median of $55,195 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,218. More information about a degree in general education from James Madison University

3

A rank of #3 makes University Of Virginia Main Campus one of the top schools for general education. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Charlottesville. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 99 general education degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the general education program make about $72,080 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,627. More information about a degree in general education from University Of Virginia Main Campus

4

Northern Virginia Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general education, ranking #4. Located in the suburb of Annandale, Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public university. About 96 general education degrees were awarded at Northern Virginia Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Northern Virginia Community College generally make around $40,126. Northern Virginia Community College graduates carry a median of $14,413 in student loans. See the full general education program report for Northern Virginia Community College

5

A rank of #5 makes Virginia Commonwealth University one of the top schools for general education. Located in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public university. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 46 general education students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Commonwealth University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Virginia Commonwealth University earn around $65,654 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,813 to complete this degree. See the full general education program report for Virginia Commonwealth University

6
University Of Mary Washington crest
University Of Mary Washington
Fredericksburg, VA

University Of Mary Washington ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best general education schools. University Of Mary Washington is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Fredericksburg. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 20 general education degrees were awarded at University Of Mary Washington in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from University Of Mary Washington generally make around $53,665. Students borrow a median of $22,825 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general education from University Of Mary Washington

7
Shenandoah University crest
Shenandoah University
Winchester, VA

Shenandoah University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best general education schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Winchester. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. There were roughly 16 general education students who graduated with this degree at Shenandoah University in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Shenandoah University earn a median of $65,767 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,005 to complete this degree. Get the full general education details for Shenandoah University

8
Longwood University crest
Longwood University
Farmville, VA

Longwood University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best general education schools. Located in the town of Farmville, Longwood University is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. Longwood University awarded about 40 general education degrees in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Longwood University earn a median of $53,052 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,649. See the full general education program report for Longwood University

9
Radford University crest
Radford University
Radford, VA

Radford University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best general education schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Radford. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. Radford University awarded about 30 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $48,802 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,514 to complete this degree. See the full general education program report for Radford University

10

The University Of Virginias College At Wise came in at #10 for general education this year. The University Of Virginias College At Wise is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Wise. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. The University Of Virginias College At Wise awarded about 25 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from The University Of Virginias College At Wise earn around $39,659 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,714. More information about a degree in general education from The University Of Virginias College At Wise

11

John Tyler Community College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best general education schools. John Tyler Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Chester. There were roughly 10 general education students who graduated with this degree at John Tyler Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from John Tyler Community College earn around $36,623 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,262. More information about a degree in general education from John Tyler Community College

12
Liberty University crest
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA

Liberty University landed the #12 spot for general education this year. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. There were roughly 326 general education students who graduated with this degree at Liberty University in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Liberty University earn a median of $38,144 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $42,160 to complete this degree. Get the full general education details for Liberty University

13

Southwest Virginia Community College placed #13 among the best general education schools. Set in the rural area of Cedar Bluff, Southwest Virginia Community College is a mid-sized public institution. About 17 general education degrees were awarded at Southwest Virginia Community College in the most recent year. General Education graduates of Southwest Virginia Community College earn a median of $32,277 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general education from Southwest Virginia Community College

14

Dabney S Lancaster Community College earned the #14 position for general education this year. This small public university is located in the rural area of Clifton Forge. There were roughly 10 general education students who graduated with this degree at Dabney S Lancaster Community College in the most recent data year. More information about a degree in general education from Dabney S Lancaster Community College

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 · 14 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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