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2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k

158 Ranked Colleges
13,667 Degrees Awarded
$9,500 Avg Net Price*
Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor's For Those Making $30-$48k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

With 133,583 degrees handed out in 2019-2020, general studies is the 5th most popular major in the United States.

At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 13,667 general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,303 and $24,501 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 158 colleges that offered a degree in general studies. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality general studies programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the general studies program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The general studies school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k”.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for General Studies (Income $30-$48k)

#4 in overall quality

Out of the 158 schools in the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #1 spot on the list. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a large school located in Ann Arbor, Michigan that handed out 67 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

U-M not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is $5,887 for bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about General Studies at U-M

#17 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of North Texas. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of North Texas is a large public school situated in Denton, Texas. It awarded 618 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $30-$48k list, UNT has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UNT is $9,082 for Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about General Studies at UNT

Top 20% in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Washington - Seattle Campus. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k. Seattle, Washington is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s general studies degrees to 15 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on this list, UW Seattle is in the top on our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It costs about $7,467 for Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Washington - Seattle Campus.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about General Studies at University of Washington - Seattle Campus

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Brigham Young University - Idaho. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Rexburg, Idaho is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s general studies degrees to 623 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $3,595 for Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend BYU - I.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Studies at BYU - I

#5

American Public University System

Charles Town, West Virginia
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend American Public University System. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. American Public University System is located in Charles Town, West Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 118 bachelors’s general studies degrees to qualified students.

American Military University also took the #1 spot in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend American Military University is $10,917 for Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 98%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on General Studies at American Public University System

Top 25% in overall quality

Texas Woman’s University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Texas Woman’s University is a fairly large public school situated in Denton, Texas. It awarded 238 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Texas Woman’s University is $7,050 for bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full TWU General Studies Report

#24 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, Oklahoma State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. OSU is a large public school situated in Stillwater, Oklahoma. It awarded 238 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

OSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend OSU is $9,962 for bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read more about General Studies at OSU

#19 in overall quality

Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Teaneck, New Jersey, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 344 degrees to qualified bachelors’s general studies students in 2019-2020.

FDU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It costs about $13,409 for bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend FDU.

Read more about General Studies at Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus

The University of Texas at San Antonio ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. San Antonio, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s general studies degrees to 158 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for The University of Texas at San Antonio is $11,109 for Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on General Studies at The University of Texas at San Antonio

Southeastern Oklahoma State University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Durant, Oklahoma, this medium-sized public school handed out 90 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s general studies students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $6,704 for bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Southeastern Oklahoma State University.

Full Southeastern Oklahoma State University General Studies Report

#11

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas
#20 in overall quality

Texas Tech University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Texas Tech is located in Lubbock, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 232 bachelors’s general studies degrees to qualified students.

Texas Tech also took the #20 spot in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Texas Tech University is $13,326 for Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about General Studies at Texas Tech

#14 in overall quality

University of Missouri - Columbia did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #12. This large school is located in Columbia, Missouri, and it awarded 100 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Mizzou also took the #14 spot in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Missouri - Columbia is $11,595 for bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on General Studies at University of Missouri - Columbia

#13

Marshall University

Huntington, West Virginia

Marshall University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #13. Marshall University is a fairly large public school situated in Huntington, West Virginia. It awarded 189 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Marshall University is $6,741 for bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about General Studies at Marshall University

#14

West Virginia University

Morgantown, West Virginia
#25 in overall quality

West Virginia University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Morgantown, West Virginia, and it awarded 271 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

WVU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #25 on our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend West Virginia University is $10,486 for Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about General Studies at WVU

With a ranking of #15, West Virginia University Institute of Technology did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. This small school is located in Beckley, West Virginia, and it awarded 21 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for West Virginia University Tech is $8,753 for bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full West Virginia University Institute of Technology General Studies Report

Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus is a public institution located in Portales, New Mexico. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 77 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $8,219 for Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend ENMU - Main Campus.

Full Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus General Studies Report

#18 in overall quality

With a ranking of #17, University of Nebraska at Omaha did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. UNOMAHA is a fairly large school located in Omaha, Nebraska that handed out 318 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNOMAHA, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UNOMAHA is $11,460 for Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on General Studies at UNOMAHA

#18

Middle Tennessee State University

Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Top 20% in overall quality

Middle Tennessee State University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Middle Tennessee State University is a large school located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee that handed out 98 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Middle Tennessee State University is also in the top of our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It costs about $10,637 for Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Middle Tennessee State University.

Read more about General Studies at Middle Tennessee State University

#19

Northeastern State University

Tahlequah, Oklahoma

Northeastern State University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Tahlequah, Oklahoma is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s general studies degrees to 89 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $7,543 for bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend NSU.

Read more about General Studies at NSU

Louisiana State University - Alexandria landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Louisiana State University - Alexandria is a public institution located in Alexandria, Louisiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 61 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Louisiana State University - Alexandria is $6,709 for Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on General Studies at Louisiana State University - Alexandria

#21

McNeese State University

Lake Charles, Louisiana

McNeese State University landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. McNeese State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Lake Charles, Louisiana. It awarded 124 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for McNeese State University is $16,492 for Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on General Studies at McNeese

Northwestern Oklahoma State University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. NWOSU is a small public school situated in Alva, Oklahoma. It awarded 31 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $7,767 for Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Northwestern Oklahoma State University.

Full NWOSU General Studies Report

#23

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota
#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #23, University of North Dakota did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of North Dakota is a fairly large public school situated in Grand Forks, North Dakota. It awarded 110 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UND, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UND is $11,916 for Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UND General Studies Report

#24

University of Mississippi

University, Mississippi

University of Mississippi did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #24. Ole Miss is a public institution located in University, Mississippi. The school has a large population, and it awarded 126 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Mississippi is $11,566 for Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Full University of Mississippi General Studies Report

#25

University of North Georgia

Dahlonega, Georgia

University of North Georgia landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UNG is located in Dahlonega, Georgia and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 41 bachelors’s general studies degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend UNG is $8,707 for Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about General Studies at University of North Georgia

Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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