General degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 29 schools to find the best for general students.
The school you choose for general can shape your career. 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.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in general. This very large public university is located in the city of Blacksburg. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University awarded about 14 general degrees 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
Dartmouth College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general, ranking #2. Located in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 74 general students who graduated with this degree at Dartmouth College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general program make about $81,992 in their early career. Dartmouth College graduates carry a median of $16,989 in student loans.
Read more about the general program at Dartmouth College
Students looking for a strong general program will find one at University Of Wisconsin Madison, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates 90% of students within six years. There were roughly 36 general students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison 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.
See the full general program report for University Of Wisconsin Madison
University Of California Los Angeles is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general, ranking #4. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. University Of California Los Angeles graduates 93% of students within six years. University Of California Los Angeles awarded about 22 general degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $63,833. Students borrow a median of $16,097 to complete this degree.
See the full general program report for University Of California Los Angeles
Ohio State University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general, ranking #5. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. About 88% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 52 general students who graduated with this degree at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general degree from Ohio State University Main Campus earn around $58,088 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,053 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general from Ohio State University Main Campus
University Of Minnesota Duluth ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best general schools. University Of Minnesota Duluth is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Duluth. University Of Minnesota Duluth graduates 65% of students within six years. About 23 general degrees were awarded at University Of Minnesota Duluth in the most recent year. Graduates of the general program make about $46,572 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,624 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general from University Of Minnesota Duluth
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earned the #7 position for general this year. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. About 55 general degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their general degree from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earn around $60,523 in the first couple years of their career. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $25,266 in student loans.
See the full general program report for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
University Of Kansas came in at #8 for general this year. Located in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public university. University Of Kansas graduates 69% of students within six years. University Of Kansas awarded about 32 general degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general degree from University Of Kansas earn around $56,289 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Kansas graduates carry a median of $23,608 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general from University Of Kansas
University Of Washington Seattle Campus placed #9 among the best general schools. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 46 general degrees were awarded at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the general program make about $65,681 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,481 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general program at University Of Washington Seattle Campus
University Of Colorado Boulder earned the #10 position for general this year. University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public school located in the city of Boulder. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 60 general students who graduated with this degree at University Of Colorado Boulder in the most recent data year. General graduates of University Of Colorado Boulder earn a median of $55,861 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,373.
More information about a degree in general from University Of Colorado Boulder
Ohio University Main Campus came in at #11 for general this year. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 65% of students finish within six years. Ohio University Main Campus awarded about 38 general degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general program make about $49,736 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,546.
Read more about the general program at Ohio University Main Campus
University Of Wisconsin La Crosse earned the #12 position for general this year. Located in the city of La Crosse, University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a large public university. About 71% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 18 general students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin La Crosse in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin La Crosse generally make around $49,223. Typical student debt for the program is $23,551.
Get the full general details for University Of Wisconsin La Crosse
University Of Florida placed #13 among the best general schools. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. University Of Florida graduates 91% of students within six years. About 34 general degrees were awarded at University Of Florida in the most recent year. General graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $58,388 early in their careers. University Of Florida graduates carry a median of $17,669 in student loans.
Get the full general details for University Of Florida
Clark University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best general schools. Located in the city of Worcester, Clark University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. Clark University awarded about 28 general degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general program make about $43,257 in their early career. Clark University graduates carry a median of $26,153 in student loans.
See the full general program report for Clark University
South Dakota State University earned the #15 position for general this year. South Dakota State University is a large public school located in the town of Brookings. About 62% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 14 general students who graduated with this degree at South Dakota State University in the most recent data year. General graduates of South Dakota State University earn a median of $51,260 early in their careers. South Dakota State University graduates carry a median of $24,989 in student loans.
Read more about the general program at South Dakota State University
University Of Hawaii At Manoa came in at #16 for general this year. University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a very large public school located in the city of Honolulu. University Of Hawaii At Manoa graduates 64% of students within six years. There were roughly 23 general students who graduated with this degree at University Of Hawaii At Manoa in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general degree from University Of Hawaii At Manoa earn around $48,181 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,577 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general program at University Of Hawaii At Manoa
University Of Missouri Kansas City came in at #17 for general this year. Located in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public university. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 general students who graduated with this degree at University Of Missouri Kansas City in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general program make about $60,324 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,741 to complete this degree.
Get the full general details for University Of Missouri Kansas City
University Of Georgia earned the #18 position for general this year. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. About 27 general degrees were awarded at University Of Georgia in the most recent year. General graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of $53,546 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,792 to complete this degree.
See the full general program report for University Of Georgia
Western Washington University landed the #19 spot for general this year. Set in the city of Bellingham, Western Washington University is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. About 48 general degrees were awarded at Western Washington University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general program make about $41,118 in their early career. Western Washington University graduates carry a median of $20,361 in student loans.
Read more about the general program at Western Washington University
University Of Maryland Baltimore County ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best general schools. University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a large public school located in the suburb of Baltimore. About 69% of students finish within six years. University Of Maryland Baltimore County awarded about 25 general degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general degree from University Of Maryland Baltimore County earn around $49,179 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,331.
See the full general program report for University Of Maryland Baltimore County
Appalachian State University earned the #21 position for general this year. Appalachian State University is a very large public school located in the town of Boone. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. There were roughly 56 general students who graduated with this degree at Appalachian State University in the most recent data year. General graduates of Appalachian State University earn a median of $42,340 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,992 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general program at Appalachian State University
University Of Oregon earned the #22 position for general this year. Located in the city of Eugene, University Of Oregon is a very large public university. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Oregon awarded about 27 general degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general program make about $44,628 in their early career. University Of Oregon graduates carry a median of $22,034 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general from University Of Oregon
Texas Tech University earned the #23 position for general this year. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public university. Texas Tech University graduates 69% of students within six years. Texas Tech University awarded about 19 general degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general degree from Texas Tech University earn around $50,332 in the first couple years of their career. Texas Tech University graduates carry a median of $24,271 in student loans.
See the full general program report for Texas Tech University
Northern Arizona University earned the #24 position for general this year. Set in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. Northern Arizona University awarded about 31 general degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Northern Arizona University generally make around $47,056. Northern Arizona University graduates carry a median of $21,645 in student loans.
Read more about the general program at Northern Arizona University
Macalester College came in at #25 for general this year. Macalester College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Macalester College graduates 87% of students within six years. There were roughly 27 general students who graduated with this degree at Macalester College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general degree from Macalester College earn around $42,517 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,147.
See the full general program report for Macalester College
Rest of the Top 29 General Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s general ranking:
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 · 29 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).
