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2026 Best General Master’s Degree Schools

10 Colleges in the United States
324 General Degrees Awarded
$60,080 Avg Early-Career Salary

General degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 36 schools to find the best for general students.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for General in the United States

These are the top schools for a master’s degree in general, based on student outcomes and program quality.

Top Schools in General

1

Our analysis ranked Johns Hopkins University the best school in the country for a degree in general. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. About 58 general degrees were awarded at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general program make about $84,850 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,426 to complete this degree. Get the full general details for Johns Hopkins University

2

University Of Delaware came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best general schools. University Of Delaware is a very large public school located in the suburb of Newark. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Delaware awarded about 18 general degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general program make about $54,155 in their early career. University Of Delaware graduates carry a median of $24,861 in student loans. Read more about the general program at University Of Delaware

3
Villanova University crest
Villanova University
Villanova, PA

Villanova University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general, ranking #3. Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Villanova. Villanova University graduates 92% of students within six years. Villanova University awarded about 15 general degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Villanova University generally make around $72,601. Students borrow a median of $26,184 to complete this degree. Read more about the general program at Villanova University

4

A rank of #4 makes Rochester Institute Of Technology one of the top schools for general. Set in the suburb of Rochester, Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. Rochester Institute Of Technology graduates 72% of students within six years. Rochester Institute Of Technology awarded about 22 general degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general degree from Rochester Institute Of Technology earn around $63,515 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,491. Read more about the general program at Rochester Institute Of Technology

5

Students looking for a strong general program will find one at Michigan Technological University, which ranked #5. Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Houghton. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 17 general degrees were awarded at Michigan Technological University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Michigan Technological University generally make around $64,652. Michigan Technological University graduates carry a median of $25,800 in student loans. Read more about the general program at Michigan Technological University

6
University Of Kansas crest
University Of Kansas
Lawrence, KS

University Of Kansas landed the #6 spot for general this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Lawrence. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. 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. University Of Kansas graduates carry a median of $23,608 in student loans. See the full general program report for University Of Kansas

7

The University Of Alabama came in at #7 for general this year. The University Of Alabama is a very large public school located in the city of Tuscaloosa. The University Of Alabama graduates 73% of students within six years. The University Of Alabama awarded about 11 general degrees in the most recent data year. General graduates of The University Of Alabama earn a median of $50,740 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,496 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general from The University Of Alabama

8

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor placed #8 among the best general schools. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates 93% of students within six years. There were roughly 71 general students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $66,254. 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

9

Colorado State University Fort Collins ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best general schools. Located in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public university. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 32 general students who graduated with this degree at Colorado State University Fort Collins in the most recent data year. General graduates of Colorado State University Fort Collins earn a median of $51,693 early in their careers. Colorado State University Fort Collins graduates carry a median of $22,843 in student loans. Read more about the general program at Colorado State University Fort Collins

10

Arizona State University Skysong came in at #10 for general this year. Arizona State University Skysong is a very large public school located in the city of Scottsdale. There were roughly 28 general students who graduated with this degree at Arizona State University Skysong in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Arizona State University Skysong generally make around $55,793. Arizona State University Skysong graduates carry a median of $23,742 in student loans. See the full general program report for Arizona State University Skysong

11

Bowling Green State University Main Campus landed the #11 spot for general this year. Located in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public university. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. Bowling Green State University Main Campus awarded about 13 general degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Bowling Green State University Main Campus generally make around $45,196. Bowling Green State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $25,449 in student loans. Read more about the general program at Bowling Green State University Main Campus

12
Depaul University crest
Depaul University
Chicago, IL

Depaul University earned the #12 position for general this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 11 general students who graduated with this degree at Depaul University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general degree from Depaul University earn around $55,226 in the first couple years of their career. Depaul University graduates carry a median of $25,310 in student loans. Get the full general details for Depaul University

Other General Degree Levels

Looking for a different degree level? Compare General rankings across degree levels:

All Degree Levels in General
Associate's Degrees in General
Bachelor's Degrees in General
View All General Rankings >

Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 36 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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