General is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 133 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for general students pursuing a degree.
Where you study general matters for your future. To help, we created our Best General Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each 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.
We offer several rankings, including this Best General Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this 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.
Our analysis ranked Northwestern University the best school in the country for a degree in general. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Northwestern University awarded about 51 general degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general degree from Northwestern University earn around $78,551 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
More information about a degree in general from Northwestern University
A rank of #2 makes Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University one of the top schools for general. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 138 general students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent data year. General graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of $60,004 early in their careers. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates carry a median of $23,393 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
Students looking for a strong general program will find one at The University Of Texas At Austin, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. The University Of Texas At Austin awarded about 338 general degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $57,819. Typical student debt for the program is $21,275.
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University Of Virginia Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general, ranking #4. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. University Of Virginia Main Campus awarded about 143 general degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $69,126. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates carry a median of $18,627 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong general program will find one at Stevens Institute Of Technology, which ranked #5. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Hoboken. About 87% of students finish within six years. Stevens Institute Of Technology awarded about 153 general degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general degree from Stevens Institute Of Technology earn around $87,055 in the first couple years of their career. Stevens Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $26,767 in student loans.
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Duke University placed #6 among the best general schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Durham. Duke University graduates 97% of students within six years. About 52 general degrees were awarded at Duke University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Duke University generally make around $83,388. Duke University graduates carry a median of $13,296 in student loans.
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Stanford University earned the #7 position for general this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Stanford. Stanford University graduates 92% of students within six years. About 23 general degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general degree from Stanford University earn around $100,827 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,492.
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Harvard University landed the #8 spot for general this year. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Harvard University graduates 98% of students within six years. About 17 general degrees were awarded at Harvard University in the most recent year. General graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $95,207 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general from Harvard University
University Of California San Diego landed the #9 spot for general this year. This very large public university is located in the city of La Jolla. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 122 general degrees were awarded at University Of California San Diego in the most recent year. General graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of $60,797 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,101.
See the full general program report for University Of California San Diego
Rice University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best general schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Houston. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Rice University awarded about 57 general degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general degree from Rice University earn around $75,299 in the first couple years of their career. Rice University graduates carry a median of $11,904 in student loans.
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University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best general schools. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates 90% of students within six years. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 645 general degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $59,877. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete this degree.
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Worcester Polytechnic Institute placed #12 among the best general schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Worcester. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. There were roughly 119 general students who graduated with this degree at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general degree from Worcester Polytechnic Institute earn around $91,834 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,259.
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San Jose State University came in at #13 for general this year. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. About 69% of students finish within six years. San Jose State University awarded about 252 general degrees in the most recent data year.
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New Jersey Institute Of Technology placed #14 among the best general schools. Set in the city of Newark, New Jersey Institute Of Technology is a large public institution. About 73% of students finish within six years. New Jersey Institute Of Technology awarded about 212 general degrees in the most recent data year. General graduates of New Jersey Institute Of Technology earn a median of $71,549 early in their careers. New Jersey Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $24,755 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general from New Jersey Institute Of Technology
Carnegie Mellon University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best general schools. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit university. Carnegie Mellon University graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 34 general students who graduated with this degree at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general program make about $89,327 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete this degree.
See the full general program report for Carnegie Mellon University
Texas A And M University College Station ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best general schools. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. Texas A And M University College Station graduates 84% of students within six years. About 47 general degrees were awarded at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station generally make around $64,891. Students borrow a median of $20,031 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general from Texas A And M University College Station
University Of Maryland College Park earned the #17 position for general this year. Located in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public university. University Of Maryland College Park graduates 89% of students within six years. About 58 general degrees were awarded at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent year. Graduates of the general program make about $57,901 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,836.
More information about a degree in general from University Of Maryland College Park
Columbia University In The City Of New York placed #18 among the best general schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 195 general students who graduated with this degree at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general degree from Columbia University In The City Of New York earn around $86,770 in the first couple years of their career. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans.
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Colorado School Of Mines ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best general schools. Set in the suburb of Golden, Colorado School Of Mines is a moderately-sized public institution. About 82% of students finish within six years. About 36 general degrees were awarded at Colorado School Of Mines in the most recent year. Graduates of the general program make about $76,298 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,521.
More information about a degree in general from Colorado School Of Mines
George Washington University placed #20 among the best general schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. George Washington University awarded about 168 general degrees in the most recent data year. General graduates of George Washington University earn a median of $73,749 early in their careers. George Washington University graduates carry a median of $22,910 in student loans.
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University Of Delaware ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best general schools. 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. University Of Delaware awarded about 43 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.
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University Of The Pacific placed #22 among the best general schools. Set in the city of Stockton, University Of The Pacific is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. University Of The Pacific awarded about 68 general degrees in the most recent data year. General graduates of University Of The Pacific earn a median of $77,022 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,514 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Santa Barbara earned the #23 position for general this year. University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. There were roughly 27 general students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general program make about $45,488 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,501 to complete this degree.
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University Of Connecticut placed #24 among the best general schools. This very large public university is located in the town of Storrs. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 44 general degrees were awarded at University Of Connecticut in the most recent year. Students who receive their general degree from University Of Connecticut earn around $58,784 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Connecticut graduates carry a median of $23,637 in student loans.
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Michigan Technological University came in at #25 for general this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Houghton. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 88 general degrees were awarded at Michigan Technological University in the most recent 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.
See the full general program report for Michigan Technological University
Rest of the Top 50 General Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong general education:
General is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. See all related rankings.
Notes and References
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 · 133 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).
