2026 Best Value General Bachelor’s Degree Schools
[General](/majors/mathematics-and-statistics/applied-statistics/general/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 36 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general students.
What’s on this page:
ADVERTISEMENTS
Featured General Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
BA in Mathematics
If you have a knack for mathematics and an interest in learning more, study online to achieve your career goals at Southern New Hampshire University. Our mathematics degree can help you enhance your mathematical abilities, including reasoning and problem-solving in three areas: analysis, algebra and statistics.
Learn More
BA in Mathematics - Applied Mathematics
Put mathematical concepts to work to solve today's most complex real-world problems by studying applied mathematics with this specialized online bachelor's from Southern New Hampshire University.
Learn More
2026 Best Value General Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Schools
Brigham Young University Idaho earned the #1 spot for value among general schools in the United States. Set in the town of Rexburg, Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,800. Typical student debt for general graduates is $13,287. General graduates of Brigham Young University Idaho earn a median of $43,853 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Dartmouth College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value general schools. Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Hanover. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,019. Typical student debt for general graduates is $16,989. General graduates of Dartmouth College earn a median of $81,992 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,989 median debt. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Rochester Institute Of Technology came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value general schools. Located in the suburb of Rochester, Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $59,210. General graduates carry a median of $27,491 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Rochester Institute Of Technology generally make around $63,515. That is a strong return on a $27,491 median debt. The acceptance rate is 67%.
Students looking for strong value in general will find it at Baylor University, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Waco, Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,100. Typical student debt for general graduates is $23,928. General graduates of Baylor University earn a median of $49,888 early in their careers. Set against $23,928 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 51%.
Other General Degree Levels
Explore the best-value general schools at other degree levels:
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 36 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
- 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.
