2027 Best General Studies Schools in New York
General Studies degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their general studies programs.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 36 schools to find the best for general studies students.
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Best Schools for General Studies in New York
If you are not 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.
Top Schools in General Studies
Cornell University tops our 2027 ranking of the best general studies schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Ithaca. Cornell University graduates 95% of students within six years. Cornell University awarded about 13 general studies degrees in the most recent data year. General Studies graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $46,072 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,005.
Read more about the general studies program at Cornell University
State University Of New York At New Paltz came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best general studies schools. State University Of New York At New Paltz is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of New Paltz. About 72% of students finish within six years. About 40 general studies degrees were awarded at State University Of New York At New Paltz in the most recent year. Graduates of the general studies program make about $41,000 in their early career. State University Of New York At New Paltz graduates carry a median of $21,530 in student loans.
See the full general studies program report for State University Of New York At New Paltz
Manhattan College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general studies, ranking #3. Located in the city of Riverdale, Manhattan College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 64% of students finish within six years. Manhattan College awarded about 18 general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general studies program make about $61,065 in their early career. Manhattan College graduates carry a median of $25,968 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general studies from Manhattan College
Farmingdale State College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best general studies schools. Farmingdale State College is a large public school located in the suburb of Farmingdale. About 57% of students finish within six years. Farmingdale State College awarded about 172 general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general studies program make about $22,443 in their early career. Farmingdale State College graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans.
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Suffolk County Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general studies, ranking #5. Suffolk County Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Selden. Suffolk County Community College awarded about 874 general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from Suffolk County Community College generally make around $26,874. Students borrow a median of $8,000 to complete this degree.
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Suny College At Old Westbury landed the #6 spot for general studies this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Old Westbury. Roughly 45% of students complete a degree within six years here. Suny College At Old Westbury awarded about 24 general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general studies program make about $27,165 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,833.
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Suny College At Cortland earned the #7 position for general studies this year. Suny College At Cortland is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Cortland. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 45 general studies students who graduated with this degree at Suny College At Cortland in the most recent data year. General Studies graduates of Suny College At Cortland earn a median of $37,940 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $28,150.
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Suny Empire State College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best general studies schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs. Roughly 36% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 521 general studies degrees were awarded at Suny Empire State College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from Suny Empire State College generally make around $58,140. Typical student debt for the program is $23,693.
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Suny College At Plattsburgh ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best general studies schools. Set in the town of Plattsburgh, Suny College At Plattsburgh is a moderately-sized public institution. Suny College At Plattsburgh graduates 58% of students within six years. Suny College At Plattsburgh awarded about 24 general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general studies degree from Suny College At Plattsburgh earn around $30,318 in the first couple years of their career. Suny College At Plattsburgh graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general studies from Suny College At Plattsburgh
Hudson Valley Community College placed #10 among the best general studies schools. Hudson Valley Community College is a large public school located in the city of Troy. Hudson Valley Community College awarded about 287 general studies degrees in the most recent data year. General Studies graduates of Hudson Valley Community College earn a median of $28,464 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,046 to complete this degree.
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Suny College At Buffalo placed #11 among the best general studies schools. Suny College At Buffalo is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Buffalo. About 33% of students finish within six years. Suny College At Buffalo awarded about 82 general studies degrees in the most recent data year. General Studies graduates of Suny College At Buffalo earn a median of $32,082 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Roberts Wesleyan College came in at #12 for general studies this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Rochester. About 67% of students finish within six years. Roberts Wesleyan College awarded about 11 general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general studies program make about $30,102 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,236.
See the full general studies program report for Roberts Wesleyan College
Monroe Community College came in at #13 for general studies this year. Located in the suburb of Rochester, Monroe Community College is a very large public university. There were roughly 289 general studies students who graduated with this degree at Monroe Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general studies program make about $25,252 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,000.
More information about a degree in general studies from Monroe Community College
Adirondack Community College came in at #14 for general studies this year. Adirondack Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Queensbury. About 66 general studies degrees were awarded at Adirondack Community College in the most recent year. General Studies graduates of Adirondack Community College earn a median of $31,590 early in their careers. Adirondack Community College graduates carry a median of $14,075 in student loans.
See the full general studies program report for Adirondack Community College
Columbia University In The City Of New York landed the #15 spot for general studies this year. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 11 general studies degrees were awarded at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent year. Graduates of the general studies program make about $86,770 in their early career. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates carry a median of $37,186 in student loans.
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Mohawk Valley Community College landed the #16 spot for general studies this year. Set in the city of Utica, Mohawk Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 124 general studies students who graduated with this degree at Mohawk Valley Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general studies degree from Mohawk Valley Community College earn around $23,618 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,100.
More information about a degree in general studies from Mohawk Valley Community College
Dutchess Community College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best general studies schools. Dutchess Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie. Dutchess Community College awarded about 127 general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from Dutchess Community College generally make around $22,095. Dutchess Community College graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general studies from Dutchess Community College
Erie Community College landed the #18 spot for general studies this year. Erie Community College is a large public school located in the city of Buffalo. About 208 general studies degrees were awarded at Erie Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the general studies program make about $23,608 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,090 to complete this degree.
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Ulster County Community College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best general studies schools. Located in the rural area of Stone Ridge, Ulster County Community College is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 114 general studies students who graduated with this degree at Ulster County Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general studies program make about $24,015 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $8,750 to complete this degree.
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Fulton Montgomery Community College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best general studies schools. Fulton Montgomery Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Johnstown. There were roughly 65 general studies students who graduated with this degree at Fulton Montgomery Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from Fulton Montgomery Community College generally make around $21,482. Students borrow a median of $10,999 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general studies from Fulton Montgomery Community College
Suny College Of Technology At Alfred earned the #21 position for general studies this year. Set in the rural area of Alfred, Suny College Of Technology At Alfred is a mid-sized public institution. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. Suny College Of Technology At Alfred awarded about 26 general studies degrees in the most recent data year. General Studies graduates of Suny College Of Technology At Alfred earn a median of $27,450 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,250 to complete this degree.
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Onondaga Community College came in at #22 for general studies this year. Located in the suburb of Syracuse, Onondaga Community College is a large public university. There were roughly 69 general studies students who graduated with this degree at Onondaga Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from Onondaga Community College generally make around $22,966. Students borrow a median of $10,950 to complete this degree.
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Genesee Community College earned the #23 position for general studies this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Batavia. Genesee Community College awarded about 105 general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from Genesee Community College generally make around $22,079. Typical student debt for the program is $10,064.
More information about a degree in general studies from Genesee Community College
Tompkins Cortland Community College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best general studies schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Dryden. About 149 general studies degrees were awarded at Tompkins Cortland Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from Tompkins Cortland Community College generally make around $24,591. Tompkins Cortland Community College graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans.
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Columbia Greene Community College landed the #25 spot for general studies this year. Located in the rural area of Hudson, Columbia Greene Community College is a mid-sized public university. Columbia Greene Community College awarded about 91 general studies degrees in the most recent data year. General Studies graduates of Columbia Greene Community College earn a median of $28,342 early in their careers. Columbia Greene Community College graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general studies from Columbia Greene Community College
Rest of the Top 36 General Studies Schools
These schools also placed among the best for general studies this year:
More General Studies Rankings
View All General Studies Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 36 schools evaluated.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
