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2024 Best General Studies Schools

456 Colleges in the United States
129,869 General Studies Degrees Awarded
Ranked #5 in popularity, general studies is one of the most sought-after degree programs in the nation. So, there are lots of possibilities to explore when you're trying to determine where you want to get your degree.

In 2024, College Factual analyzed 456 schools in order to identify the top ones for its Best General Studies Schools ranking. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 129,869 degrees in general studies during the 2020-2021 academic year.

What's on this page: * Degree-Level Rankings

Choosing a Great General Studies School

Best General Studies Schools Your choice of general studies school matters, so we have put together these rankings to help you make your decision. In order to come up with a best overall ranking for general studies schools, we combine our degree-level rankings, weighting them by the number of degrees awarded at each level.

In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.

General Studies Rankings by Degree Level

Associate Degrees in General Studies
Bachelor's Degrees in General Studies
Master's Degrees in General Studies
Doctor's Degrees in General Studies

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we've developed the Best General Studies Schools ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.

To further help you make the college decision, we've developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Read more about College Factual's methodology.


 

Best Schools for General Studies in the United States

If you aren't interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the general studies degrees they offer, see the list below. Only those schools that rank in the top 15% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.

25 Top Schools in General Studies

1
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
36th Most Popular In IL

It is difficult to beat University of Chicago if you want to pursue a degree in general studies. UChicago is a large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Chicago. A Best Colleges rank of #2 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means UChicago is a great university overall.

There were roughly 12 general studies students who graduated with this degree at UChicago in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in general studies from University of Chicago

2
Villanova crest
Villanova University
Villanova, PA
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
11th Most Popular In PA
37.5% Growth in Graduates

Villanova University is a good option for students pursuing a degree in general studies. Villanova is a large private not-for-profit university located in the suburb of Villanova. A Best Colleges rank of #70 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means Villanova is a great university overall.

There were roughly 8 general studies students who graduated with this degree at Villanova in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in general studies from Villanova University

3
DePaul crest
DePaul University
Chicago, IL
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
12th Most Popular In IL
93 General Studies Degrees Awarded

DePaul University is one of the best schools in the United States for getting a degree in general studies. DePaul is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Chicago. A Best Colleges rank of #203 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means DePaul is a great university overall.

There were approximately 93 general studies students who graduated with this degree at DePaul in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in general studies from DePaul University

4
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
1st Most Popular In WV
1,815 General Studies Degrees Awarded

It is hard to beat American Public University System if you want to pursue a degree in general studies. American Military University is a very large private for-profit university located in the town of Charles Town. A Best Colleges rank of #144 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means American Military University is a great university overall.

There were roughly 1815 general studies students who graduated with this degree at American Military University in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in general studies from American Public University System

5
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
4th Most Popular In CT
97 General Studies Degrees Awarded

UCONN is a very large public university located in the suburb of Storrs. A Best Colleges rank of #86 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means UCONN is a great university overall.

There were approximately 97 general studies students who graduated with this degree at UCONN in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in general studies from University of Connecticut

6
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
1st Most Popular In NH
1,679 General Studies Degrees Awarded

SNHU is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the suburb of Manchester. A Best Colleges rank of #245 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means SNHU is a great university overall.

There were about 1679 general studies students who graduated with this degree at SNHU in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in general studies from Southern New Hampshire University

7
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
7th Most Popular In VA
44 General Studies Degrees Awarded

Located in the large suburb of Fairfax, GMU is a public university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #117 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means GMU is a great university overall.

There were roughly 44 general studies students who graduated with this degree at GMU in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in general studies from George Mason University

8
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
1st Most Popular In UT
4,249 General Studies Degrees Awarded

UVU is a very large public university located in the small city of Orem. This university ranks 4th out of 13 schools for overall quality in the state of Utah.

There were about 4249 general studies students who graduated with this degree at UVU in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in general studies from Utah Valley University

9
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
18th Most Popular In MI
65 General Studies Degrees Awarded

Located in the midsize city of Ann Arbor, U-M is a public university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #29 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means U-M is a great university overall.

There were approximately 65 general studies students who graduated with this degree at U-M in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in general studies from University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

10
U Miami crest
University of Miami
Coral Gables, FL
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
4th Most Popular In FL

U Miami is a large private not-for-profit university located in the small city of Coral Gables. A Best Colleges rank of #91 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means U Miami is a great university overall.

There were roughly 26 general studies students who graduated with this degree at U Miami in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in general studies from University of Miami

11
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
2nd Most Popular In TN
132 General Studies Degrees Awarded

Located in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a public university with a very large student population. This university ranks 12th out of 45 schools for overall quality in the state of Tennessee.

There were approximately 132 general studies students who graduated with this degree at Middle Tennessee State University in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in general studies from Middle Tennessee State University

12
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
1st Most Popular In VA
1,351 General Studies Degrees Awarded

Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public college located in the suburb of Annandale. This college ranks 13th out of 63 schools for overall quality in the state of Virginia.

There were roughly 1351 general studies students who graduated with this degree at Northern Virginia Community College in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in general studies from Northern Virginia Community College

13
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
61st Most Popular In TX
44 General Studies Degrees Awarded

Located in the large city of Houston, UST is a private not-for-profit university with a small student population. This university ranks 38th out of 115 schools for overall quality in the state of Texas.

There were approximately 44 general studies students who graduated with this degree at UST in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in general studies from University of St. Thomas

14
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
40th Most Popular In TX
192 General Studies Degrees Awarded

Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #168 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means Texas Tech is a great university overall.

There were approximately 192 general studies students who graduated with this degree at Texas Tech in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in general studies from Texas Tech University

14
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
27th Most Popular In IL

Located in the suburb of Grayslake, College of Lake County is a public college with a fairly large student population. This college ranks 10th out of 85 colleges for overall quality in the state of Illinois.

There were about 29 general studies students who graduated with this degree at College of Lake County in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in general studies from College of Lake County

16
Columbia College Missouri crest
Columbia College
Columbia, MO
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
1st Most Popular In MO
806 General Studies Degrees Awarded

Located in the midsize city of Columbia, Columbia College Missouri is a private not-for-profit college with a moderately-sized student population. This college ranks 16th out of 48 colleges for overall quality in the state of Missouri.

There were about 806 general studies students who graduated with this degree at Columbia College Missouri in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in general studies from Columbia College

17
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
2nd Most Popular In NJ
307 General Studies Degrees Awarded

FDU is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university located in the large suburb of Teaneck. This university ranks 19th out of 44 schools for overall quality in the state of New Jersey.

There were approximately 307 general studies students who graduated with this degree at FDU in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in general studies from Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus

18
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
13th Most Popular In TX
826 General Studies Degrees Awarded

Central Texas College is a medium-sized public college located in the midsize suburb of Killeen. This college ranks 13th out of 115 schools for overall quality in the state of Texas.

There were roughly 826 general studies students who graduated with this degree at Central Texas College in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in general studies from Central Texas College

19
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
19th Most Popular In TX
560 General Studies Degrees Awarded

UNT is a very large public university located in the midsize city of Denton. This university ranks 14th out of 115 colleges for overall quality in the state of Texas.

There were approximately 560 general studies students who graduated with this degree at UNT in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in general studies from University of North Texas

20
National University crest
National University
San Diego, CA
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
2nd Most Popular In CA
162 General Studies Degrees Awarded

National University is a large private not-for-profit university located in the city of San Diego. A Best Colleges rank of #196 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means National University is a great university overall.

There were approximately 162 general studies students who graduated with this degree at National University in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in general studies from National University

21
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
3rd Most Popular In WV
167 General Studies Degrees Awarded

WVU is a fairly large public university located in the small city of Morgantown. This university ranks 2nd out of 28 colleges for overall quality in the state of West Virginia.

There were approximately 167 general studies students who graduated with this degree at WVU in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in general studies from West Virginia University

22
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
1st Most Popular In OR
1,040 General Studies Degrees Awarded

Located in the large city of Portland, Portland Community College is a public college with a large student population. This college ranks 5th out of 30 colleges for overall quality in the state of Oregon.

There were approximately 1040 general studies students who graduated with this degree at Portland Community College in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in general studies from Portland Community College

23
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
4th Most Popular In UT
1,019 General Studies Degrees Awarded

USU is a very large public university located in the small city of Logan. This university ranks 5th out of 13 schools for overall quality in the state of Utah.

There were about 1019 general studies students who graduated with this degree at USU in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in general studies from Utah State University

24
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
1st Most Popular In NM
2,341 General Studies Degrees Awarded

CNM is a large public college located in the large city of Albuquerque. This college ranks 2nd out of 23 colleges for overall quality in the state of New Mexico.

There were roughly 2341 general studies students who graduated with this degree at CNM in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in general studies from Central New Mexico Community College

25
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
61st Most Popular In TX
44 General Studies Degrees Awarded

TCU is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Fort Worth. A Best Colleges rank of #80 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means TCU is a great university overall.

There were approximately 44 general studies students who graduated with this degree at TCU in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in general studies from Texas Christian University

Rest of the Top Best General Studies Schools

26
27
Marshall University crest
Marshall University
Huntington, WV
28
29
30
31
UMary crest
University of Mary
Bismarck, ND
32

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34
35
Northwest Vista College crest
Northwest Vista College
San Antonio, TX
36
37
Rowan crest
Rowan University
Glassboro, NJ
38
39
40
Salt Lake Community College crest
Salt Lake Community College
Salt Lake City, UT
41

42

43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50

 

Additional Award Winners

This list shows the remainder of the colleges awarded a Best General Studies Schools badge. Showing in this list means the school was ranked in the top 15% of the 456 different United States general studies schools we analyzed.

Rank College Location
51 Siena Heights University Adrian, MI
52 South Texas College McAllen, TX
53 El Centro College Dallas, TX
54 University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL
55 Texas A&M University - Commerce Commerce, TX
56 San Antonio College San Antonio, TX
57 Otero Junior College La Junta, CO
57 Community College of Rhode Island Warwick, RI
58 Front Range Community College Westminster, CO
59 Houston Community College Houston, TX
60 Suffolk County Community College Selden, NY
61 Brandman University Irvine, CA
62 Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global Marion, IN
63 City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College Chicago, IL
64 Eastern Connecticut State University Willimantic, CT
65 Illinois State University Normal, IL
66 Southern Utah University Cedar City, UT
67 Wichita State University Wichita, KS
68 College of Southern Nevada Las Vegas, NV

Honorable Mentions

Here are some additional great schools for General Studies students that almost earned our Best General Studies Schools award.

Rank College Location
69 Central Arizona College Coolidge, AZ
70 University of Nebraska at Omaha Omaha, NE
71 Catawba Valley Community College Hickory, NC
72 Georgia Southern University Statesboro, GA
73 NorthWest Arkansas Community College Bentonville, AR
74 Waubonsee Community College Sugar Grove, IL
75 University of Mississippi University, MS
76 Murray State University Murray, KY
77 City Colleges of Chicago - Olive-Harvey College Chicago, IL
78 Oakland Community College Auburn Hills, MI
79 University of Missouri - Columbia Columbia, MO
80 Chandler-Gilbert Community College Chandler, AZ
81 Eastern Arizona College Thatcher, AZ
82 Community College of Aurora Aurora, CO
83 Indiana Wesleyan University Marion, IN
84 Austin Community College District Austin, TX
85 McHenry County College Crystal Lake, IL
86 Tarrant County College District Fort Worth, TX
87 Ferris State University Big Rapids, MI
88 Phoenix College Phoenix, AZ
89 Kent State University at Kent Kent, OH
90 Aims Community College Greeley, CO
91 South Dakota State University Brookings, SD

General Studies by Region

View the Best General Studies Schools for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Other U.S. Territories
Great Lakes

View All Rankings >

General Studies is one of 3 different types of Liberal Arts General Studies programs to choose from.

Related Major Annual Graduates
Liberal Arts 366,996
Individualized Studies 37,634
Humanities 22,314

View All General Studies Related Majors >

Notes and References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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