Best Schools for General in the United States
Below are the best general schools at the master’s degree level, ranked by the quality of the education they deliver.
Top Schools in General
No school ranked higher than University Of Chicago this year for general. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 246 general students who graduated with this degree at University Of Chicago in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general program make about $81,002 in their early career. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans.
See the full general program report for University Of Chicago
A rank of #2 makes Carnegie Mellon University one of the top schools for general. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 20 general students who graduated with this degree at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general degree from Carnegie Mellon University earn around $89,327 in the first couple years of their 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
Butler University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general, ranking #3. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Butler University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 79% of students finish within six years. About 21 general degrees were awarded at Butler University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general degree from Butler University earn around $68,222 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,351.
See the full general program report for Butler University
A rank of #4 makes Drake University one of the top schools for general. Located in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 73%. About 18 general degrees were awarded at Drake University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general degree from Drake University earn around $56,228 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,273.
See the full general program report for Drake University
A rank of #5 makes Virginia Commonwealth University one of the top schools for general. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public institution. Virginia Commonwealth University graduates 63% of students within six years. About 47 general degrees were awarded at Virginia Commonwealth University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Virginia Commonwealth University generally make around $57,000. Students borrow a median of $23,813 to complete this degree.
See the full general program report for Virginia Commonwealth University
Tufts University landed the #6 spot for general this year. Set in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 27 general students who graduated with this degree at Tufts University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Tufts University generally make around $68,154. Typical student debt for the program is $17,074.
See the full general program report for Tufts University
Maryville University Of Saint Louis ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best general schools. Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. Maryville University Of Saint Louis awarded about 26 general degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general degree from Maryville University Of Saint Louis earn around $67,909 in the first couple years of their career. Maryville University Of Saint Louis graduates carry a median of $24,499 in student loans.
See the full general program report for Maryville University Of Saint Louis
University Of Mississippi Main Campus placed #8 among the best general schools. University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of University. About 72% of students finish within six years. About 45 general degrees were awarded at University Of Mississippi Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the general program make about $50,876 in their early career. University Of Mississippi Main Campus graduates carry a median of $22,444 in student loans.
Read more about the general program at University Of Mississippi Main Campus
Concordia University Saint Paul landed the #9 spot for general this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Saint Paul. About 45% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 68 general students who graduated with this degree at Concordia University Saint Paul in the most recent data year. General graduates of Concordia University Saint Paul earn a median of $54,835 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $29,026.
More information about a degree in general from Concordia University Saint Paul
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth came in at #10 for general this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of North Dartmouth. About 52% of students finish within six years. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth awarded about 40 general degrees in the most recent data 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.
Read more about the general program at University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Franklin University placed #11 among the best general schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Columbus. Roughly 3% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 35 general degrees were awarded at Franklin University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general program make about $57,471 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $35,890.
See the full general program report for Franklin University
University Of La Verne landed the #12 spot for general this year. Located in the suburb of La Verne, University Of La Verne is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 26 general students who graduated with this degree at University Of La Verne in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general program make about $35,364 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,314.
See the full general program report for University Of La Verne
The University Of Texas At San Antonio came in at #13 for general this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Antonio. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. The University Of Texas At San Antonio awarded about 29 general degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from The University Of Texas At San Antonio generally make around $49,955. Students borrow a median of $23,312 to complete this degree.
See the full general program report for The University Of Texas At San Antonio
University Of Houston Downtown placed #14 among the best general schools. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston Downtown is a large public institution. About 33% of students finish within six years. About 58 general degrees were awarded at University Of Houston Downtown in the most recent year. General graduates of University Of Houston Downtown earn a median of $46,298 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,925 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general from University Of Houston Downtown
Long Island University C W Post Campus ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best general schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Brookville. About 55% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 17 general students who graduated with this degree at Long Island University C W Post Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Long Island University C W Post Campus generally make around $61,547. Long Island University C W Post Campus graduates carry a median of $25,211 in student loans.
Get the full general details for Long Island University C W Post Campus
University Of Nevada Las Vegas came in at #16 for general this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Las Vegas. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. About 12 general degrees were awarded at University Of Nevada Las Vegas in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from University Of Nevada Las Vegas generally make around $50,039. Students borrow a median of $21,181 to complete this degree.
Get the full general details for University Of Nevada Las Vegas
Suny College At Plattsburgh ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best general schools. Set in the town of Plattsburgh, Suny College At Plattsburgh is a moderately-sized public institution. Suny College At Plattsburgh graduates 58% of students within six years. About 12 general degrees were awarded at Suny College At Plattsburgh in the most recent year. Graduates of the general program make about $38,328 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,217.
Read more about the general program at Suny College At Plattsburgh
Suny College At Buffalo came in at #18 for general this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Buffalo. Suny College At Buffalo graduates 33% of students within six years. About 22 general degrees were awarded at Suny College At Buffalo in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Suny College At Buffalo generally make around $39,412. Typical student debt for the program is $25,257.
Read more about the general program at Suny College At Buffalo
Purdue University Global placed #19 among the best general schools. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Global is a very large public institution. Purdue University Global graduates 33% of students within six years. Purdue University Global awarded about 23 general degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general program make about $54,278 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $36,778 to complete this degree.
Get the full general details for Purdue University Global
Other General Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare General rankings across degree levels:
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 153 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
