General degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their general programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 36 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. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for General rankings. For our Best Overall General School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level 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.
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the general degrees they offer, see the list below.
University Of Arizona 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 Tucson. University Of Arizona graduates 68% of students within six years. University Of Arizona awarded about 173 general degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general program make about $50,834 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,861.
See the full general program report for University Of Arizona
Charter Oak State College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general, ranking #2. Set in the suburb of New Britain, Charter Oak State College is a mid-sized public institution. Roughly 100% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 27 general students who graduated with this degree at Charter Oak State College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general program make about $68,956 in their early career. Charter Oak State College graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans.
Get the full general details for Charter Oak State College
Rockhurst University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general, ranking #3. Set in the city of Kansas City, Rockhurst University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 74% of students finish within six years. Rockhurst University awarded about 15 general degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general degree from Rockhurst University earn around $70,849 in the first couple years of their career. Rockhurst University graduates carry a median of $24,111 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general from Rockhurst University
University Of New Haven is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general, landing the #4 spot this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of West Haven. University Of New Haven graduates 63% of students within six years. University Of New Haven awarded about 13 general degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general program make about $47,026 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
See the full general program report for University Of New Haven
Students looking for a strong general program will find one at Loyola University Chicago, which ranked #5. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. Loyola University Chicago awarded about 82 general degrees in the most recent data year. General graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $42,128 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
See the full general program report for Loyola University Chicago
Worcester State University landed the #6 spot for general this year. Located in the city of Worcester, Worcester State University is a moderately-sized public university. About 62% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 67 general students who graduated with this degree at Worcester State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Worcester State University generally make around $41,132. Worcester State University graduates carry a median of $24,953 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general from Worcester State University
Community College Of Aurora ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best general schools. This large public university is located in the city of Aurora. About 18 general degrees were awarded at Community College Of Aurora in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Community College Of Aurora generally make around $38,587. Typical student debt for the program is $15,365.
Read more about the general program at Community College Of Aurora
Prince Georges Community College placed #8 among the best general schools. Located in the suburb of Largo, Prince Georges Community College is a large public university. Prince Georges Community College awarded about 30 general degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general degree from Prince Georges Community College earn around $56,960 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,949.
See the full general program report for Prince Georges Community College
Aims Community College placed #9 among the best general schools. Aims Community College is a large public school located in the city of Greeley. There were roughly 14 general students who graduated with this degree at Aims Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general program make about $57,841 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,062.
See the full general program report for Aims Community College
Pueblo Community College earned the #10 position for general this year. Located in the city of Pueblo, Pueblo Community College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 18 general students who graduated with this degree at Pueblo Community College in the most recent data year. General graduates of Pueblo Community College earn a median of $52,241 early in their careers. Pueblo Community College graduates carry a median of $7,656 in student loans.
Read more about the general program at Pueblo Community College
Cuny Queensborough Community College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best general schools. Set in the city of Bayside, Cuny Queensborough Community College is a large public institution. Cuny Queensborough Community College awarded about 107 general degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general degree from Cuny Queensborough Community College earn around $26,907 in the first couple years of their career. Cuny Queensborough Community College graduates carry a median of $8,884 in student loans.
Read more about the general program at Cuny Queensborough Community College
Red Rocks Community College landed the #12 spot for general this year. Red Rocks Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Lakewood. There were roughly 13 general students who graduated with this degree at Red Rocks Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general program make about $72,583 in their early career. Red Rocks Community College graduates carry a median of $17,667 in student loans.
Read more about the general program at Red Rocks Community College
Eastern University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best general schools. Located in the suburb of Saint Davids, Eastern University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 60% of students finish within six years. About 12 general degrees were awarded at Eastern University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general degree from Eastern University earn around $50,474 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $28,584 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general from Eastern University
St Clair County Community College placed #14 among the best general schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the suburb of Port Huron. About 19 general degrees were awarded at St Clair County Community College in the most recent year. General graduates of St Clair County Community College earn a median of $32,691 early in their careers. St Clair County Community College graduates carry a median of $16,379 in student loans.
Read more about the general program at St Clair County Community College
Front Range Community College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best general schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Westminster. About 16 general degrees were awarded at Front Range Community College in the most recent year. General graduates of Front Range Community College earn a median of $69,776 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,774.
More information about a degree in general from Front Range Community College
Kansas Wesleyan University earned the #16 position for general this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Salina. About 49% of students finish within six years. Kansas Wesleyan University awarded about 15 general degrees in the most recent data year. General graduates of Kansas Wesleyan University earn a median of $37,301 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,330.
Get the full general details for Kansas Wesleyan University
Pikes Peak Community College earned the #17 position for general this year. Pikes Peak Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Colorado Springs. There were roughly 74 general students who graduated with this degree at Pikes Peak Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Pikes Peak Community College generally make around $50,546. Students borrow a median of $16,066 to complete this degree.
Get the full general details for Pikes Peak Community College
Long Island University C W Post Campus came in at #18 for general this year. Located in the suburb of Brookville, Long Island University C W Post Campus is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. There were roughly 36 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 $31,432. Long Island University C W Post Campus graduates carry a median of $27,531 in student loans.
Get the full general details for Long Island University C W Post Campus
Bellarmine University earned the #19 position for general this year. Located in the city of Louisville, Bellarmine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 64% of students finish within six years. About 19 general degrees were awarded at Bellarmine University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general program make about $30,930 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,990 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general program at Bellarmine University
University Of Minnesota Crookston landed the #20 spot for general this year. Set in the town of Crookston, University Of Minnesota Crookston is a mid-sized public institution. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Minnesota Crookston awarded about 11 general degrees in the most recent data year. General graduates of University Of Minnesota Crookston earn a median of $33,062 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,661.
See the full general program report for University Of Minnesota Crookston
Purdue University Global earned the #21 position for general this year. 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. About 225 general degrees were awarded at Purdue University Global in the most recent year. Students who receive their general degree from Purdue University Global earn around $52,005 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,137 to complete this degree.
Get the full general details for Purdue University Global
Arapahoe Community College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best general schools. Arapahoe Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Littleton. About 11 general degrees were awarded at Arapahoe Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Arapahoe Community College generally make around $54,371. Typical student debt for the program is $21,351.
See the full general program report for Arapahoe Community College
Newberry College placed #23 among the best general schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Newberry. About 45% of students finish within six years. Newberry College awarded about 11 general degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general program make about $43,702 in their early career. Newberry College graduates carry a median of $27,729 in student loans.
Read more about the general program at Newberry College
Sullivan University ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best general schools. Located in the city of Louisville, Sullivan University is a mid-sized private for-profit university. There were roughly 23 general students who graduated with this degree at Sullivan University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general program make about $54,104 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $34,249.
More information about a degree in general from Sullivan University
Ivy Tech Community College placed #25 among the best general schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Indianapolis. There were roughly 295 general students who graduated with this degree at Ivy Tech Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general degree from Ivy Tech Community College earn around $33,881 in the first couple years of their career. Ivy Tech Community College graduates carry a median of $14,215 in student loans.
Get the full general details for Ivy Tech Community College
Rest of the Top 36 General Schools
These schools also placed among the best for general this year:
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 · 36 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).
