2027 Best General Master’s Degree Schools
General is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their general programs.
College Factual analyzed 86 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best general schools.
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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
The University Of Texas At Austin tops our 2027 ranking of the best general schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Austin. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 338 general students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general degree from The University Of Texas At Austin earn around $57,819 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,275 to complete this degree.
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University Of Virginia Main Campus came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best general schools. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 141 general students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general degree from University Of Virginia Main Campus earn around $69,126 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,627 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong general program will find one at Stevens Institute Of Technology, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Hoboken, Stevens Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. Stevens Institute Of Technology awarded about 147 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 came in at #4 on our 2027 list of 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. General graduates of Duke University earn a median of $83,388 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,296.
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Students looking for a strong general program will find one at University Of California San Diego, which ranked #5. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. University Of California San Diego graduates 86% of students within six years. University Of California San Diego awarded about 121 general degrees in the most recent data year. General graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of $60,797 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,101 to complete this degree.
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Rice University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best general schools. Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. About 95% of students finish within six years. Rice University awarded about 57 general degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general program make about $75,299 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,904.
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Worcester Polytechnic Institute earned the #7 position for general this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Worcester. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 65 general students who graduated with this degree at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general program make about $91,834 in their early career. Worcester Polytechnic Institute graduates carry a median of $26,259 in student loans.
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University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best general schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Madison. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 17 general degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $59,877. Typical student debt for the program is $21,813.
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San Jose State University landed the #9 spot for general this year. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. About 69% of students finish within six years. San Jose State University awarded about 225 general degrees in the most recent data year.
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New Jersey Institute Of Technology placed #10 among the best general schools. Set in the city of Newark, New Jersey Institute Of Technology is a large public institution. New Jersey Institute Of Technology graduates 73% of students within six years. New Jersey Institute Of Technology awarded about 197 general degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general program make about $71,549 in their early career. New Jersey Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $24,755 in student loans.
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Texas A And M University College Station came in at #11 for general this year. This very large public university is located in the city of College Station. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 47 general degrees were awarded at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent year. Students who receive their general degree from Texas A And M University College Station earn around $64,891 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,031.
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Carnegie Mellon University placed #11 among the best general schools. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 25 general degrees were awarded at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Carnegie Mellon University generally make around $89,327. Carnegie Mellon University graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans.
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University Of Maryland College Park placed #13 among the best general schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of College Park. About 89% of students finish within six years. About 58 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. University Of Maryland College Park graduates carry a median of $20,836 in student loans.
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Columbia University In The City Of New York earned the #14 position for general this year. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. Columbia University In The City Of New York awarded about 189 general degrees 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. Typical student debt for the program is $23,258.
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Colorado School Of Mines landed the #15 spot for general this year. Set in the suburb of Golden, Colorado School Of Mines is a moderately-sized public institution. Colorado School Of Mines graduates 82% of students within six years. About 27 general degrees were awarded at Colorado School Of Mines in the most recent year. General graduates of Colorado School Of Mines earn a median of $76,298 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,521.
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New York University earned the #16 position for general this year. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. New York University awarded about 170 general degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general degree from New York University earn around $64,516 in the first couple years of their career. New York University graduates carry a median of $21,897 in student loans.
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George Washington University landed the #17 spot for general this year. Set in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 84% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 136 general students who graduated with this degree at George Washington University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general degree from George Washington University earn around $73,749 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,910.
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University Of Delaware placed #18 among the best general schools. Located in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. About 43 general degrees were awarded at University Of Delaware in the most recent 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 earned the #19 position for general this year. University Of The Pacific is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Stockton. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 68 general students who graduated with this degree at University Of The Pacific in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general degree from University Of The Pacific earn around $77,022 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,514.
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University Of California Santa Barbara landed the #20 spot for general this year. University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 27 general degrees were awarded at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from University Of California Santa Barbara generally make around $45,488. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates carry a median of $15,501 in student loans.
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University Of Connecticut came in at #21 for general this year. Set in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a very large public institution. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 35 general degrees were awarded at University Of Connecticut in the most recent year. General graduates of University Of Connecticut earn a median of $58,784 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,637 to complete this degree.
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Michigan Technological University placed #22 among the best general schools. Set in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. Michigan Technological University awarded about 54 general degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general degree from Michigan Technological University earn around $64,652 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,800.
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Seattle University came in at #23 for general this year. Located in the city of Seattle, Seattle University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 76% of students finish within six years. Seattle University awarded about 42 general degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general degree from Seattle University earn around $63,214 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,289 to complete this degree.
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Boston University earned the #24 position for general this year. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. About 40 general degrees were awarded at Boston University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general program make about $63,598 in their early career. Boston University graduates carry a median of $25,232 in student loans.
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Florida State University landed the #25 spot for general this year. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. Florida State University awarded about 76 general degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general degree from Florida State University earn around $51,884 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,488 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 General Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s general ranking:
Other General Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare General rankings across degree levels:
View All General Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 86 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.