by our College Data Analytics Team
[General](/majors/health-care-professions/rehab-and-therapeutic-professions/general/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 3 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value general schools.
What’s on this page:
The right general school can pay off for years to come. That is why we built our Best Value General Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value General Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this 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.
Learn more about our methodology
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general, balancing cost against outcomes.
Troy University tops our 2027 list of the best value general schools in the United States. Located in the town of Troy, Troy University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,176 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,352 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general graduates is $29,500. Early-career general graduates make about $30,184. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
A rank of #2 makes Prescott College one of the best values for general. Located in the city of Prescott, Prescott College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,490. Typical student debt for general graduates is $27,230. Early-career general graduates make about $42,966. That is a strong return on a $27,230 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Merrimack College one of the best values for general. Set in the suburb of North Andover, Merrimack College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,962. General graduates carry a median of $26,913 in student loans. Early-career general graduates make about $50,506. Set against $26,913 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 70%.
General is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. Browse the parent area of study.
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.