General 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.
College Factual analyzed 15 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best general schools.
The school you choose for general can shape your career. That is why we built our Best General Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best General Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
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 degrees they offer, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked Dartmouth College the best school in the country for a degree in general. Set in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. Dartmouth College awarded about 30 general degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general degree from Dartmouth College earn around $81,992 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,989 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general program at Dartmouth College
Students looking for a strong general program will find one at Johns Hopkins University, which ranked #2. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. Johns Hopkins University graduates 94% of students within six years. Johns Hopkins University awarded about 49 general degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general degree from Johns Hopkins University earn around $84,850 in the first couple years of their career. Johns Hopkins University graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans.
See the full general program report for Johns Hopkins University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best general schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Blacksburg. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 24 general degrees were awarded at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn around $60,004 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,393 to complete this degree.
Get the full general details for Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
A rank of #4 makes Wake Forest University one of the top schools for general. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 89% of students finish within six years. Wake Forest University awarded about 12 general degrees in the most recent data year. General graduates of Wake Forest University earn a median of $67,369 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,577 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general from Wake Forest University
University Of Delaware is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a very large public institution. University Of Delaware graduates 82% of students within six years. There were roughly 14 general students who graduated with this degree at University Of Delaware in the most recent data year. General graduates of University Of Delaware earn a median of $54,155 early in their careers. University Of Delaware graduates carry a median of $24,861 in student loans.
Read more about the general program at University Of Delaware
Villanova University placed #6 among the best general schools. Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Villanova. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 11 general students who graduated with this degree at Villanova University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general degree from Villanova University earn around $72,601 in the first couple years of their career. Villanova University graduates carry a median of $26,184 in student loans.
Read more about the general program at Villanova University
Michigan Technological University placed #7 among the best general schools. Set in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 58 general students who graduated with this degree at Michigan Technological University in the most recent data year. General graduates of Michigan Technological University earn a median of $64,652 early in their careers. Michigan Technological University graduates carry a median of $25,800 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general from Michigan Technological University
University Of Kansas placed #8 among the best general schools. Located in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public university. University Of Kansas graduates 69% of students within six years. About 28 general degrees were awarded at University Of Kansas in the most recent year. Students who receive their general degree from University Of Kansas earn around $56,289 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,608 to complete this degree.
Get the full general details for University Of Kansas
Arizona State University Skysong placed #9 among the best general schools. Located in the city of Scottsdale, Arizona State University Skysong is a very large public university. About 63 general degrees were awarded at Arizona State University Skysong in the most recent year. General graduates of Arizona State University Skysong earn a median of $55,394 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,870.
Get the full general details for Arizona State University Skysong
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned the #10 position for general this year. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates 93% of students within six years. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 58 general degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general degree from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn around $66,254 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $19,137 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Colorado State University Fort Collins earned the #11 position for general this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Fort Collins. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. Colorado State University Fort Collins awarded about 30 general degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Colorado State University Fort Collins generally make around $51,693. Students borrow a median of $22,843 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general program at Colorado State University Fort Collins
Rochester Institute Of Technology earned the #12 position for general this year. Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rochester. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 38 general degrees were awarded at Rochester Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Rochester Institute Of Technology generally make around $63,515. Typical student debt for the program is $27,491.
Read more about the general program at Rochester Institute Of Technology
Bowling Green State University Main Campus landed the #13 spot for general this year. Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Bowling Green. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 general degrees were awarded at Bowling Green State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their general degree from Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn around $45,196 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,449.
Get the full general details for Bowling Green State University Main Campus
Brigham Young University Idaho earned the #14 position for general this year. Set in the town of Rexburg, Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 30 general degrees were awarded at Brigham Young University Idaho in the most recent year. General graduates of Brigham Young University Idaho earn a median of $43,853 early in their careers. Brigham Young University Idaho graduates carry a median of $13,287 in student loans.
Read more about the general program at Brigham Young University Idaho
Baylor University placed #15 among the best general schools. Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Waco. About 80% of students finish within six years. About 22 general degrees were awarded at Baylor University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Baylor University generally make around $49,888. Students borrow a median of $23,928 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general from Baylor University
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 · 15 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).
