by our College Data Analytics Team
[General](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/geography-and-environmental-studies/general/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 69 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value general schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is University Of Florida, our #1 best value for general in the United States. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,381, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general graduates is $17,669. Early-career general graduates make about $58,388. Set against $17,669 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Florida Online earned it the #2 place for general. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida Online is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,876, with out-of-state students paying around $16,579. Typical student debt for general graduates is $17,779. Early-career general graduates make about $43,822. Set against $17,779 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value general schools. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. Students from in state pay about $12,973 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. Students borrow a median of $16,481 to complete the general program here. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $65,681. That is a strong return on a $16,481 median debt. University Of Washington Seattle Campus admits about 39% of applicants.
University Of California Los Angeles came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value general schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,233 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $46,121. Students borrow a median of $16,097 to complete the general program here. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $63,833. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California Los Angeles admits about 9% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in general will find it at University Of Wisconsin La Crosse, which ranked #5. Set in the city of La Crosse, University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,070 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,517. Typical student debt for general graduates is $23,551. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin La Crosse generally make around $49,223. That is a strong return on a $23,551 median debt. University Of Wisconsin La Crosse admits about 76% of applicants.
Old Dominion University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value general schools. Old Dominion University is a very large public school located in the city of Norfolk. In-state tuition and fees average $12,750, compared with $33,780 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,001 to complete the general program here. Early-career general graduates make about $57,131. That is a strong return on a $26,001 median debt. Old Dominion University admits about 90% of applicants.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville placed #7 among the best values for general. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public school located in the suburb of Edwardsville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,092. Typical student debt for general graduates is $23,917. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville generally make around $54,302. Set against $23,917 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville admits about 98% of applicants.
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value general schools. Located in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,797, compared with $27,377 for out-of-state students. General graduates carry a median of $23,138 in student loans. Early-career general graduates make about $58,084. That is a strong return on a $23,138 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value general schools. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,244, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,053 to complete the general program here. Early-career general graduates make about $58,088. Set against $22,053 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
University Of Minnesota Duluth earned the #10 position for value in general this year. Set in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,608, while out-of-state students pay about $20,134. Students borrow a median of $24,624 to complete the general program here. Early-career general graduates make about $46,572. Set against $24,624 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
University Of Maryland Baltimore County earned the #11 position for value in general this year. University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a large public school located in the suburb of Baltimore. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,256, compared with $31,225 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,331 to complete the general program here. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from University Of Maryland Baltimore County generally make around $49,179. That is a strong return on a $21,331 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Western Washington University earned the #12 position for value in general this year. Western Washington University is a large public school located in the city of Bellingham. Students from in state pay about $9,582 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,707. General graduates carry a median of $20,361 in student loans. General graduates of Western Washington University earn a median of $41,118 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Ohio University Main Campus ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value general schools. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. In-state tuition and fees average $14,158, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Typical student debt for general graduates is $24,546. Early-career general graduates make about $49,736. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Ohio University Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
University Of Colorado Boulder earned the #14 position for value in general this year. Set in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,214, compared with $42,970 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general graduates is $20,373. Early-career general graduates make about $55,861. Set against $20,373 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
University Of Oregon ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value general schools. University Of Oregon is a very large public school located in the city of Eugene. Students from in state pay about $15,320 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $42,516. Typical student debt for general graduates is $22,034. General graduates of University Of Oregon earn a median of $44,628 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,034 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Alabama ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value general schools. The University Of Alabama is a very large public school located in the city of Tuscaloosa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,180, compared with $34,172 for out-of-state students. General graduates carry a median of $24,496 in student loans. Early-career general graduates make about $50,740. That is a strong return on a $24,496 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Miami University Oxford came in at #17 for value in general this year. Set in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,519, with out-of-state students paying around $38,965. Typical student debt for general graduates is $24,177. General graduates of Miami University Oxford earn a median of $49,700 early in their careers. Set against $24,177 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Clark University placed #18 among the best values for general. Set in the city of Worcester, Clark University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,467. Typical student debt for general graduates is $26,153. General graduates of Clark University earn a median of $43,257 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
Dartmouth College earned the #19 position for value in general this year. Set in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,019. Typical student debt for general graduates is $16,989. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Dartmouth College generally make around $81,992. Set against $16,989 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Dartmouth College admits about 5% of applicants.
Macalester College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value general schools. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Macalester College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,104. Students borrow a median of $22,147 to complete the general program here. Early-career general graduates make about $42,517. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Macalester College admits about 28% of applicants.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value general schools. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $20,644 in tuition and fees, compared with $41,790 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $63,435 ten years out. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value General rankings across degree levels:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 69 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.