2027 Best General Education Schools in the The Plains States Region
General Education degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 37 schools to find the best for general education students.
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Best Schools for General Education in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall general education education in the The Plains States Region.
Top Schools in General Education
Our analysis ranked Washington University In St Louis the best school in the country for a degree in general education. Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of St. Louis. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 37 general education degrees were awarded at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent year. Graduates of the general education program make about $68,303 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,553 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #2 makes Missouri University Of Science And Technology one of the top schools for general education. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Rolla. Missouri University Of Science And Technology graduates 64% of students within six years. About 14 general education degrees were awarded at Missouri University Of Science And Technology in the most recent year. General Education graduates of Missouri University Of Science And Technology earn a median of $74,532 early in their careers. Missouri University Of Science And Technology graduates carry a median of $25,187 in student loans.
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A rank of #3 makes University Of Missouri Columbia one of the top schools for general education. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. University Of Missouri Columbia awarded about 50 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $53,134 in their early career. University Of Missouri Columbia graduates carry a median of $21,818 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong general education program will find one at Saint Marys University Of Minnesota, which ranked #4. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Winona. About 66% of students finish within six years. Saint Marys University Of Minnesota awarded about 177 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Saint Marys University Of Minnesota generally make around $59,959. Typical student debt for the program is $27,081.
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A rank of #5 makes University Of Iowa one of the top schools for general education. This very large public university is located in the city of Iowa City. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 24 general education degrees were awarded at University Of Iowa in the most recent year. General Education graduates of University Of Iowa earn a median of $58,049 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,463.
More information about a degree in general education from University Of Iowa
Gustavus Adolphus College landed the #6 spot for general education this year. Gustavus Adolphus College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Saint Peter. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 22 general education students who graduated with this degree at Gustavus Adolphus College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $44,396 in their early career. Gustavus Adolphus College graduates carry a median of $26,197 in student loans.
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Martin Luther College placed #7 among the best general education schools. Located in the town of New Ulm, Martin Luther College is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. Martin Luther College awarded about 13 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Martin Luther College earn around $31,016 in the first couple years of their career. Martin Luther College graduates carry a median of $20,224 in student loans.
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University Of Missouri Kansas City ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best general education schools. University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public school located in the city of Kansas City. University Of Missouri Kansas City graduates 54% of students within six years. About 14 general education degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri Kansas City in the most recent year. Graduates of the general education program make about $60,324 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,741.
More information about a degree in general education from University Of Missouri Kansas City
Augustana College South Dakota placed #9 among the best general education schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Sioux Falls. About 73% of students finish within six years. About 27 general education degrees were awarded at Augustana College South Dakota in the most recent year. Students who receive their general education degree from Augustana College South Dakota earn around $61,581 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,217 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general education from Augustana College South Dakota
Grand View University landed the #10 spot for general education this year. Set in the city of Des Moines, Grand View University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. About 29 general education degrees were awarded at Grand View University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general education program make about $45,180 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,941.
More information about a degree in general education from Grand View University
Hamline University earned the #11 position for general education this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Saint Paul. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 47 general education degrees were awarded at Hamline University in the most recent year. General Education graduates of Hamline University earn a median of $52,452 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
See the full general education program report for Hamline University
Bethel University Minnesota came in at #12 for general education this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Saint Paul. About 71% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 16 general education students who graduated with this degree at Bethel University Minnesota in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Bethel University Minnesota generally make around $57,694. Bethel University Minnesota graduates carry a median of $25,639 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general education from Bethel University Minnesota
Kansas State University landed the #13 spot for general education this year. Located in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public university. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 30 general education degrees were awarded at Kansas State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general education program make about $51,543 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,546.
Read more about the general education program at Kansas State University
Minot State University landed the #14 spot for general education this year. Located in the city of Minot, Minot State University is a mid-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 45%. There were roughly 10 general education students who graduated with this degree at Minot State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $50,645 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,788 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general education from Minot State University
Mayville State University earned the #15 position for general education this year. This small public university is located in the rural area of Mayville. Roughly 40% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 32 general education students who graduated with this degree at Mayville State University in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Mayville State University earn a median of $49,971 early in their careers. Mayville State University graduates carry a median of $27,464 in student loans.
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Tabor College placed #16 among the best general education schools. Set in the rural area of Hillsboro, Tabor College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Tabor College graduates 34% of students within six years. There were roughly 26 general education students who graduated with this degree at Tabor College in the most recent data year.
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Winona State University earned the #17 position for general education this year. Located in the town of Winona, Winona State University is a moderately-sized public university. Winona State University graduates 56% of students within six years. Winona State University awarded about 15 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Winona State University earn around $52,019 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,551 to complete this degree.
See the full general education program report for Winona State University
Iowa State University landed the #18 spot for general education this year. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 41 general education degrees were awarded at Iowa State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Iowa State University generally make around $64,634. Students borrow a median of $23,496 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general education from Iowa State University
Minnesota State University Mankato landed the #19 spot for general education this year. This large public university is located in the city of Mankato. About 54% of students finish within six years. About 19 general education degrees were awarded at Minnesota State University Mankato in the most recent year. General Education graduates of Minnesota State University Mankato earn a median of $51,118 early in their careers. Minnesota State University Mankato graduates carry a median of $25,260 in student loans.
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Capella University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best general education schools. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Capella University is a very large private for-profit institution. About 20% of students finish within six years. Capella University awarded about 58 general education degrees in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Capella University earn a median of $74,309 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $35,998 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general education from Capella University
Bemidji State University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best general education schools. Located in the town of Bemidji, Bemidji State University is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 11 general education degrees were awarded at Bemidji State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general education program make about $48,984 in their early career. Bemidji State University graduates carry a median of $25,819 in student loans.
See the full general education program report for Bemidji State University
Saint Louis University Main Campus earned the #22 position for general education this year. Located in the city of Saint Louis, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit university. Saint Louis University Main Campus graduates 80% of students within six years. Saint Louis University Main Campus awarded about 35 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $36,244 in their early career. Saint Louis University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full general education program report for Saint Louis University Main Campus
Walden University ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best general education schools. Walden University is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. About 632 general education degrees were awarded at Walden University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Walden University generally make around $70,272. Students borrow a median of $49,361 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general education from Walden University
Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College earned the #24 position for general education this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Hibbing. There were roughly 11 general education students who graduated with this degree at Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College generally make around $44,387. Typical student debt for the program is $17,029.
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Fort Hays State University placed #25 among the best general education schools. This large public university is located in the town of Hays. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 170 general education degrees were awarded at Fort Hays State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general education program make about $50,872 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,967 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 37 General Education Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s general education ranking:
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Notes and References
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 · 37 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.
