by our College Data Analytics Team
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on General Studies Major” ranking - to help you make that decision.
General Studies is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 5th of all the majors we analyze. In 2020-2021, 129,869 degrees were awarded to students with this major.
At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 13,266 general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,682 and $26,217 respectively.
For this year’s “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on General Studies Major” ranking, we looked at 420 colleges that offer a degree in general studies. That schools that top this list have a program in general studies in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.
See our ranking methodology to learn more.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on General Studies Major” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
The colleges and universities below are the best for bachelor’s degree general studies students.
Out of the 420 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on General Studies Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Arlington Baptist University landed the #1 spot on the list. This small school is located in Arlington, Texas, and it awarded 13 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about General Studies at Arlington Baptist University
Out of the 420 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on General Studies Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Randall University landed the #2 spot on the list. This small school is located in Moore, Oklahoma, and it awarded 16 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on General Studies Major list. Located in Teaneck, New Jersey, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 307 degrees to qualified bachelors’s general studies students in 2020-2021.
Out of the 420 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on General Studies Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Kuyper College landed the #4 spot on the list. Kuyper College is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 6 bachelors’s general studies degrees to qualified students.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% 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%.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Oakwood University. The school came in at #5 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on General Studies Major. Oakwood University is located in Huntsville, Alabama and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 37 bachelors’s general studies degrees to qualified students.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Concord University landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on General Studies Major ranking. Concord University is located in Athens, West Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 59 bachelors’s general studies degrees to qualified students.
Columbia College landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on General Studies Major ranking. Columbia, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s general studies degrees to 356 students in 2020-2021.
University of Arkansas System eVersity did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on General Studies Major ranking, coming in at #8. University of Arkansas System eVersity is a small public school situated in Little Rock, Arkansas. It awarded 29 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.
Full University of Arkansas System eVersity General Studies Report
Shepherd University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on General Studies Major ranking, coming in at #9. Shepherd University is located in Shepherdstown, West Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 69 bachelors’s general studies degrees to qualified students.
West Virginia University Institute of Technology ranked #10 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on General Studies Major list. West Virginia University Tech is a public institution located in Beckley, West Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 23 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Full West Virginia University Institute of Technology General Studies Report
With a ranking of #11, West Virginia State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on General Studies Major list. West Virginia State University is a small school located in Institute, West Virginia that handed out 44 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.
Louisiana State University - Alexandria landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on General Studies Major ranking. Louisiana State University - Alexandria is located in Alexandria, Louisiana and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 60 bachelors’s general studies degrees to qualified students.
Read more about General Studies at Louisiana State University - Alexandria
University of Nebraska at Omaha came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on General Studies Major ranking. This fairly large school is located in Omaha, Nebraska, and it awarded 346 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% 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%.
Read full report on General Studies at University of Nebraska at Omaha
Mayville State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on General Studies Major ranking, coming in at #14. Mayville State University is a public institution located in Mayville, North Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 25 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about General Studies at Mayville State University
With a ranking of #15, Southeastern Louisiana University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on General Studies Major list. Hammond, Louisiana is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s general studies degrees to 206 students in 2020-2021.
Morehead State University ranked #16 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on General Studies Major list. Morehead State University is a public institution located in Morehead, Kentucky. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 145 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #17, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on General Studies Major list. This small school is located in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and it awarded 36 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #18, McNeese State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on General Studies Major list. McNeese State University is a public institution located in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 122 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.
University of Louisiana at Lafayette landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on General Studies Major ranking. University of Louisiana at Lafayette is a public institution located in Lafayette, Louisiana. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 315 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Bluefield State College landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on General Studies Major ranking. Bluefield, West Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s general studies degrees to 23 students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on General Studies at Bluefield State College
West Virginia University at Parkersburg did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on General Studies Major ranking, coming in at #21. West Virginia University at Parkersburg is a public institution located in Parkersburg, West Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 59 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on General Studies at West Virginia University at Parkersburg
With a ranking of #22, Fisk University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on General Studies Major list. Nashville, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s general studies degrees to 8 students in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #23, University of Central Oklahoma did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on General Studies Major list. University of Central Oklahoma is a fairly large school located in Edmond, Oklahoma that handed out 220 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.
Mississippi Valley State University ranked #24 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on General Studies Major list. Itta Bena, Mississippi is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s general studies degrees to 26 students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on General Studies at Mississippi Valley State University
Marshall University ranked #25 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on General Studies Major list. Marshall University is located in Huntington, West Virginia and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 183 bachelors’s general studies degrees to qualified students.
Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
While not in the ‘top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Eastern Kentucky University | Richmond, KY |
| 52 | Youngstown State University | Youngstown, OH |
| 53 | University of St. Thomas | Houston, TX |
| 54 | Murray State University | Murray, KY |
| 55 | Texas A&M University - Texarkana | Texarkana, TX |
| 56 | Central Baptist College | Conway, AR |
| 57 | Southern New Hampshire University | Manchester, NH |
| 58 | Fontbonne University | Saint Louis, MO |
| 59 | Washington Adventist University | Takoma Park, MD |
| 60 | Life University | Marietta, GA |
| 61 | Arkansas State University - Main Campus | Jonesboro, AR |
| 62 | Winston - Salem State University | Winston-Salem, NC |
| 63 | Universidad del Turabo | Gurabo, PR |
| 64 | Ohio Christian University | Circleville, OH |
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
