The general program you select can have a big impact on your future. That is why we built our Best General Schools rankings. For our Best Overall General School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels 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.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh 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.
University Of Chicago tops our 2027 ranking of the best general schools. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. University Of Chicago graduates 96% of students within six years. University Of Chicago awarded about 250 general degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general program make about $81,002 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,854.
More information about a degree in general from University Of Chicago
Carnegie Mellon University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general, landing the #2 spot this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Pittsburgh. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 27 general degrees were awarded at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general program make about $89,327 in their early career. Carnegie Mellon University graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general from Carnegie Mellon University
Students looking for a strong general program will find one at University Of Maryland College Park, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. University Of Maryland College Park graduates 89% of students within six years. About 30 general degrees were awarded at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $57,901. Students borrow a median of $20,836 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general from University Of Maryland College Park
Boston College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit institution. Boston College graduates 91% of students within six years. Boston College awarded about 42 general degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general program make about $66,132 in their early career. Boston College graduates carry a median of $18,101 in student loans.
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George Mason University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general, ranking #5. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. George Mason University awarded about 12 general degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general degree from George Mason University earn around $63,131 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,529.
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University Of Richmond landed the #6 spot for general this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of University of Richmond. University Of Richmond graduates 85% of students within six years. About 11 general degrees were awarded at University Of Richmond in the most recent year. General graduates of University Of Richmond earn a median of $53,815 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,634 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general from University Of Richmond
Drake University earned the #7 position for general this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Des Moines. About 73% of students finish within six years. Drake University awarded about 45 general degrees in the most recent data year. General graduates of Drake University earn a median of $56,228 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,273.
Get the full general details for Drake University
Dickinson College came in at #8 for general this year. Set in the city of Carlisle, Dickinson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Dickinson College graduates 80% of students within six years. Dickinson College awarded about 33 general degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general program make about $39,937 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,014 to complete this degree.
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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute placed #9 among the best general schools. Located in the city of Troy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 10 general students who graduated with this degree at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute generally make around $77,378. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates carry a median of $24,975 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Colorado State University Fort Collins placed #10 among the best general schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Fort Collins. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 27 general degrees were awarded at Colorado State University Fort Collins in the most recent year. Graduates of the general program make about $51,693 in their early career. Colorado State University Fort Collins graduates carry a median of $22,843 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general from Colorado State University Fort Collins
Texas Tech University earned the #11 position for general this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Lubbock. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 36 general students who graduated with this degree at Texas Tech University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general program make about $50,332 in their early career. Texas Tech University graduates carry a median of $24,271 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general from Texas Tech University
Virginia Commonwealth University came in at #12 for general this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Richmond. About 63% of students finish within six years. About 60 general degrees were awarded at Virginia Commonwealth University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general degree from Virginia Commonwealth University earn around $57,000 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,813.
See the full general program report for Virginia Commonwealth University
Maryville University Of Saint Louis came in at #13 for general this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Saint Louis. Maryville University Of Saint Louis graduates 66% of students within six years. Maryville University Of Saint Louis awarded about 43 general degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Maryville University Of Saint Louis generally make around $67,909. Students borrow a median of $24,499 to complete this degree.
Get the full general details for Maryville University Of Saint Louis
Tufts University placed #14 among the best general schools. Set in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. About 24 general degrees were awarded at Tufts University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general degree from Tufts University earn around $68,154 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,074 to complete this degree.
See the full general program report for Tufts University
Siena College placed #15 among the best general schools. Located in the suburb of Loudonville, Siena College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 13 general degrees were awarded at Siena College in the most recent year. General graduates of Siena College earn a median of $44,535 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,656.
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Oklahoma State University Main Campus placed #16 among the best general schools. This very large public university is located in the town of Stillwater. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. Oklahoma State University Main Campus awarded about 12 general degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general degree from Oklahoma State University Main Campus earn around $50,993 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,337.
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Western Governors University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best general schools. Western Governors University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Salt Lake City. About 46% of students finish within six years. Western Governors University awarded about 126 general degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general program make about $74,771 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,277.
See the full general program report for Western Governors University
University Of Missouri St Louis placed #18 among the best general schools. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public institution. University Of Missouri St Louis graduates 57% of students within six years. About 19 general degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri St Louis in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from University Of Missouri St Louis generally make around $53,079. Students borrow a median of $25,943 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general from University Of Missouri St Louis
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth earned the #19 position for general this year. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of North Dartmouth. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth graduates 52% of students within six years. About 198 general degrees were awarded at University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth in the most recent year. Graduates of the general program make about $54,669 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,106 to complete this degree.
See the full general program report for University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Missouri State University Springfield landed the #20 spot for general this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 general students who graduated with this degree at Missouri State University Springfield in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Missouri State University Springfield generally make around $46,503. Students borrow a median of $24,408 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general program at Missouri State University Springfield
Concordia University Saint Paul ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best general schools. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Concordia University Saint Paul is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 45% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 93 general students who graduated with this degree at Concordia University Saint Paul in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general degree from Concordia University Saint Paul earn around $54,835 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $29,026.
Get the full general details for Concordia University Saint Paul
Seattle Pacific University landed the #22 spot for general this year. Set in the city of Seattle, Seattle Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Seattle Pacific University graduates 62% of students within six years. There were roughly 13 general students who graduated with this degree at Seattle Pacific University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Seattle Pacific University generally make around $52,713. Seattle Pacific University graduates carry a median of $25,188 in student loans.
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University Of Mississippi Main Campus came in at #23 for general this year. Located in the town of University, University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 41 general students who graduated with this degree at University Of Mississippi Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from University Of Mississippi Main Campus generally make around $50,876. University Of Mississippi Main Campus graduates carry a median of $22,444 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general from University Of Mississippi Main Campus
Kennesaw State University came in at #24 for general this year. Located in the suburb of Kennesaw, Kennesaw State University is a very large public university. About 52% of students finish within six years. About 54 general degrees were awarded at Kennesaw State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general program make about $53,824 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,004 to complete this degree.
See the full general program report for Kennesaw State University
Wilmington University came in at #25 for general this year. Set in the suburb of New Castle, Wilmington University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Wilmington University graduates 22% of students within six years. Wilmington University awarded about 15 general degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general degree from Wilmington University earn around $57,142 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,054 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general program at Wilmington University
Rest of the Top 50 General Schools
These schools also placed among the best for general this year:
General is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. See all related rankings.
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 50 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).
