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2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid

160 Ranked Colleges
13,667 Degrees Awarded
$11,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor's For Those Getting Aid

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. 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 Getting Aid” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2019-2020, 133,583 general studies students received their degree, making the major the 5th most popular in the country.

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 Getting Aid” ranking looked at 160 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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 Getting Aid”.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for General Studies (With Aid)

#1

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 #1 on our 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid list. American Public University System is a large school located in Charles Town, West Virginia that handed out 118 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

American Military University also took the #1 spot in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for American Public University System is $10,222 for Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 98%.

Full American Military University General Studies Report

Top 20% in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Washington - Seattle Campus. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Seattle, Washington, this large public school awarded 15 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s general studies students in 2019-2020.

On top of its placing in this ranking, UW Seattle also did well 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. The yearly cost to attend UW Seattle is $13,297 for bachelor’s degree general studies students with aid.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on General Studies at UW Seattle

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Brigham Young University - Idaho. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid. Brigham Young University - Idaho is a large school located in Rexburg, Idaho that handed out 623 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Brigham Young University - Idaho is $7,167 for bachelor’s degree general studies students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 3.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full BYU - I General Studies Report

Top 25% in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Texas Woman’s University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid. 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.

It costs about $9,617 for bachelor’s degree general studies students with aid per year to attend TWU.

Read more about General Studies at Texas Woman’s University

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Southeastern Oklahoma State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid. Southeastern Oklahoma State University is located in Durant, Oklahoma and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 90 bachelors’s general studies degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $8,237 for Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students with aid per year to attend Southeastern Oklahoma State University.

Full Southeastern Oklahoma State University General Studies Report

#6

Middle Tennessee State University

Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Top 20% in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, Middle Tennessee State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid list. Murfreesboro, Tennessee is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s general studies degrees to 98 students 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 in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for Middle Tennessee State University is $12,464 for bachelor’s degree general studies students with aid.

Read more about General Studies at Middle Tennessee State University

#18 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, University of Nebraska at Omaha did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Omaha, Nebraska, and it awarded 318 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

UNOMAHA also made our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #18. It costs about $14,040 for Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students with aid per year to attend UNOMAHA.

Full University of Nebraska at Omaha General Studies Report

West Virginia University Institute of Technology did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #8. West Virginia University Tech is a small school located in Beckley, West Virginia that handed out 21 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for West Virginia University Institute of Technology is $10,569 for Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students with aid.

Read more about General Studies at West Virginia University Tech

#9

McNeese State University

Lake Charles, Louisiana

McNeese State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #9. McNeese State University is located in Lake Charles, Louisiana and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 124 bachelors’s general studies degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for McNeese State University is $12,267 for Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students with aid.

Read full report on General Studies at McNeese State University

With a ranking of #10, Potomac State College of West Virginia University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid list. WVU Potomac State College is a small school located in Keyser, West Virginia that handed out 21 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for WVU Potomac State College is $8,635 for Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students with aid.

Full Potomac State College of West Virginia University General Studies Report

#11

University of North Texas

Denton, Texas
#17 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, University of North Texas did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Denton, Texas, and it awarded 618 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

UNT did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend UNT is $15,086 for bachelor’s degree general studies students with aid.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about General Studies at University of North Texas

Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Portales, New Mexico, this medium-sized public school handed out 77 degrees to qualified bachelors’s general studies students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $9,516 for bachelor’s degree general studies students with aid per year to attend ENMU - Main Campus.

Full Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus General Studies Report

#13

Northeastern State University

Tahlequah, Oklahoma

Northeastern State University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. NSU is located in Tahlequah, Oklahoma and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 89 bachelors’s general studies degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Northeastern State University is $9,994 for Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students with aid.

Read more about General Studies at NSU

#14

West Virginia University

Morgantown, West Virginia
#25 in overall quality

West Virginia University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Morgantown, West Virginia, and it awarded 271 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

WVU also made our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #25. It costs about $12,983 for bachelor’s degree general studies students with aid per year to attend WVU.

Full WVU General Studies Report

With a ranking of #15, Louisiana State University - Alexandria did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid list. Louisiana State University - Alexandria is located in Alexandria, Louisiana and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 61 bachelors’s general studies degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $8,413 for bachelor’s degree general studies students with aid per year to attend Louisiana State University - Alexandria.

Read more about General Studies at Louisiana State University - Alexandria

#16

Marshall University

Huntington, West Virginia

Marshall University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #16. Marshall University is located in Huntington, West Virginia and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 189 bachelors’s general studies degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $8,370 for bachelor’s degree general studies students with aid per year to attend Marshall University.

Full Marshall University General Studies Report

The University of Texas at San Antonio ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid list. UTSA is located in San Antonio, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 158 bachelors’s general studies degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend UTSA is $13,853 for bachelor’s degree general studies students with aid.

Read more about General Studies at The University of Texas at San Antonio

#19 in overall quality

Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. 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.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at FDU, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend FDU is $15,147 for bachelor’s degree general studies students with aid.

Full FDU General Studies Report

Louisiana State University - Shreveport came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Louisiana State University - Shreveport is located in Shreveport, Louisiana and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 53 bachelors’s general studies degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Louisiana State University - Shreveport is $8,952 for bachelor’s degree general studies students with aid.

Read more about General Studies at Louisiana State University - Shreveport

#20

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, Michigan
#4 in overall quality

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a public institution located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 67 bachelors’s 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 $15,336 for Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Michigan - Ann Arbor General Studies Report

#21

Shepherd University

Shepherdstown, West Virginia

With a ranking of #21, Shepherd University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid list. Shepherd University is a small school located in Shepherdstown, West Virginia that handed out 85 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Shepherd University is $11,021 for bachelor’s degree general studies students with aid.

Read more about General Studies at Shepherd University

University of Louisiana at Monroe ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Monroe, Louisiana, this medium-sized public school handed out 68 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s general studies students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Louisiana at Monroe is $10,453 for bachelor’s degree general studies students with aid.

Full ULM General Studies Report

Southeastern Louisiana University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #23. Southeastern Louisiana University is a fairly large school located in Hammond, Louisiana that handed out 225 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Southeastern Louisiana University is $12,171 for Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students with aid.

Read more about General Studies at Southeastern

#16 in overall quality

The University of Texas at Arlington ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid list. Arlington, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s general studies degrees to 312 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our bachelor’s degree general studies students with aid list, UT Arlington has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $14,246 for bachelor’s degree general studies students with aid per year to attend UT Arlington.

Read more about General Studies at UT Arlington

#25

West Virginia University at Parkersburg

Parkersburg, West Virginia

West Virginia University at Parkersburg came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. West Virginia University at Parkersburg is located in Parkersburg, West Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 63 bachelors’s general studies degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $6,342 for bachelor’s degree general studies students with aid per year to attend West Virginia University at Parkersburg.

Read more about General Studies at West Virginia University at Parkersburg

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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