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2027 Best General Studies Schools in the The Plains States Region

39 Colleges in the United States
3,145 General Studies Degrees Awarded
$36,278 Avg Early-Career Salary

General Studies degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 39 schools to find the best for general studies students.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for General Studies in the The Plains States Region

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

1

Leading the list is University Of North Dakota, our #1 school for general studies. This large public university is located in the city of Grand Forks. University Of North Dakota graduates 60% of students within six years. About 111 general studies degrees were awarded at University Of North Dakota in the most recent year. General Studies graduates of University Of North Dakota earn a median of $42,948 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,901 to complete this degree. See the full general studies program report for University Of North Dakota

2
University Of Kansas crest
University Of Kansas
Lawrence, KS

University Of Kansas came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best general studies schools. Set in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 105 general studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Kansas in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from University Of Kansas generally make around $42,527. University Of Kansas graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans. More information about a degree in general studies from University Of Kansas

3

Northwest Missouri State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general studies, landing the #3 spot this year. This large public university is located in the town of Maryville. About 54% of students finish within six years. About 58 general studies degrees were awarded at Northwest Missouri State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from Northwest Missouri State University generally make around $42,939. Typical student debt for the program is $23,585. Get the full general studies details for Northwest Missouri State University

4

Des Moines Area Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general studies, ranking #4. Located in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public university. There were roughly 96 general studies students who graduated with this degree at Des Moines Area Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general studies degree from Des Moines Area Community College earn around $31,453 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,000. Get the full general studies details for Des Moines Area Community College

5
University Of Mary crest
University Of Mary
Bismarck, ND

University Of Mary is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general studies, ranking #5. University Of Mary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Bismarck. About 67% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 26 general studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Mary in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general studies program make about $65,565 in their early career. University Of Mary graduates carry a median of $26,983 in student loans. See the full general studies program report for University Of Mary

6

University Of Nebraska At Omaha earned the #6 position for general studies this year. Set in the city of Omaha, University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. University Of Nebraska At Omaha awarded about 327 general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general studies degree from University Of Nebraska At Omaha earn around $40,892 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,310 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general studies from University Of Nebraska At Omaha

7

Minnesota State University Mankato ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best general studies schools. Set in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public institution. Minnesota State University Mankato graduates 54% of students within six years. About 13 general studies degrees were awarded at Minnesota State University Mankato in the most recent year. Students who receive their general studies degree from Minnesota State University Mankato earn around $27,187 in the first couple years of their career. Minnesota State University Mankato graduates carry a median of $12,250 in student loans. Get the full general studies details for Minnesota State University Mankato

8

Valley City State University landed the #8 spot for general studies this year. Valley City State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Valley City. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 95 general studies students who graduated with this degree at Valley City State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from Valley City State University generally make around $48,241. Students borrow a median of $25,074 to complete this degree. Get the full general studies details for Valley City State University

9

University Of Nebraska At Kearney placed #9 among the best general studies schools. Set in the town of Kearney, University Of Nebraska At Kearney is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 47 general studies degrees were awarded at University Of Nebraska At Kearney in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from University Of Nebraska At Kearney generally make around $29,471. Typical student debt for the program is $20,675. More information about a degree in general studies from University Of Nebraska At Kearney

10
Avila University crest
Avila University
Kansas City, MO

Avila University placed #10 among the best general studies schools. Located in the city of Kansas City, Avila University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 52% of students finish within six years. Avila University awarded about 18 general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general studies degree from Avila University earn around $51,234 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $29,750 to complete this degree. See the full general studies program report for Avila University

11

South Dakota State University earned the #11 position for general studies this year. Set in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public institution. About 62% of students finish within six years. About 95 general studies degrees were awarded at South Dakota State University in the most recent year. General Studies graduates of South Dakota State University earn a median of $32,134 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,866. More information about a degree in general studies from South Dakota State University

12

Northern State University landed the #12 spot for general studies this year. Set in the town of Aberdeen, Northern State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Northern State University graduates 55% of students within six years. There were roughly 29 general studies students who graduated with this degree at Northern State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from Northern State University generally make around $45,824. Northern State University graduates carry a median of $26,143 in student loans. See the full general studies program report for Northern State University

13

University Of South Dakota earned the #13 position for general studies this year. Located in the town of Vermillion, University Of South Dakota is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. About 51 general studies degrees were awarded at University Of South Dakota in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from University Of South Dakota generally make around $35,907. Students borrow a median of $30,092 to complete this degree. See the full general studies program report for University Of South Dakota

14

Southeast Missouri State University landed the #14 spot for general studies this year. This large public university is located in the city of Cape Girardeau. Southeast Missouri State University graduates 58% of students within six years. Southeast Missouri State University awarded about 65 general studies degrees in the most recent data year. General Studies graduates of Southeast Missouri State University earn a median of $35,464 early in their careers. Southeast Missouri State University graduates carry a median of $26,875 in student loans. More information about a degree in general studies from Southeast Missouri State University

15

Southeast Community College Area landed the #15 spot for general studies this year. This large public university is located in the city of Lincoln. Southeast Community College Area awarded about 110 general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general studies degree from Southeast Community College Area earn around $31,041 in the first couple years of their career. Southeast Community College Area graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in general studies from Southeast Community College Area

16

Minot State University landed the #16 spot for general studies this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Minot. About 45% of students finish within six years. About 19 general studies degrees were awarded at Minot State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general studies program make about $44,614 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $29,147 to complete this degree. See the full general studies program report for Minot State University

17

Iowa Western Community College came in at #17 for general studies this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Council Bluffs. About 70 general studies degrees were awarded at Iowa Western Community College in the most recent year. General Studies graduates of Iowa Western Community College earn a median of $28,291 early in their careers. Iowa Western Community College graduates carry a median of $11,193 in student loans. Get the full general studies details for Iowa Western Community College

18

William Woods University placed #18 among the best general studies schools. Set in the town of Fulton, William Woods University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 11 general studies degrees were awarded at William Woods University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general studies program make about $46,635 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,512 to complete this degree. Read more about the general studies program at William Woods University

19
Crowder College crest
Crowder College
Neosho, MO

Crowder College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best general studies schools. Crowder College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Neosho. Crowder College awarded about 323 general studies degrees in the most recent data year. General Studies graduates of Crowder College earn a median of $26,643 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $7,752 to complete this degree. See the full general studies program report for Crowder College

20

Wichita State University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best general studies schools. Wichita State University is a large public school located in the city of Wichita. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. There were roughly 87 general studies students who graduated with this degree at Wichita State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general studies program make about $30,331 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,694. More information about a degree in general studies from Wichita State University

21

Columbia College Missouri placed #21 among the best general studies schools. Columbia College Missouri is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Columbia. About 43% of students finish within six years. Columbia College Missouri awarded about 358 general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general studies program make about $46,366 in their early career. Columbia College Missouri graduates carry a median of $23,309 in student loans. Read more about the general studies program at Columbia College Missouri

22

Dakota State University landed the #22 spot for general studies this year. Located in the town of Madison, Dakota State University is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. Dakota State University awarded about 28 general studies degrees in the most recent data year. General Studies graduates of Dakota State University earn a median of $41,119 early in their careers. Dakota State University graduates carry a median of $37,250 in student loans. More information about a degree in general studies from Dakota State University

23

Southwest Baptist University came in at #23 for general studies this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Bolivar. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. About 13 general studies degrees were awarded at Southwest Baptist University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general studies degree from Southwest Baptist University earn around $49,135 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,436. See the full general studies program report for Southwest Baptist University

24

Garden City Community College earned the #24 position for general studies this year. Garden City Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Garden City. About 11 general studies degrees were awarded at Garden City Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from Garden City Community College generally make around $26,110. Typical student debt for the program is $8,400. Read more about the general studies program at Garden City Community College

25

Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar came in at #25 for general studies this year. Located in the rural area of Calmar, Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar is a moderately-sized public university. About 17 general studies degrees were awarded at Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar in the most recent year. Graduates of the general studies program make about $29,491 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,821 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general studies from Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar

Rest of the Top 39 General Studies Schools

Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong general studies education:

26
Friends University crest
Friends University
Wichita, KS
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39

View All General Studies Rankings >

Notes and References

This list is compiled 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 · 39 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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