2026 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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 84 schools to find the best for general students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for General in the United States
See the highest-ranked general schools offering a master’s degree below.
Top Schools in General
Our analysis ranked Loyola University Chicago the best school in the country for a degree in general. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. Loyola University Chicago awarded about 13 general degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general degree from Loyola University Chicago earn around $45,302 in the first couple years of their career. Loyola University Chicago graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
See the full general program report for Loyola University Chicago
Purdue University Global came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best general schools. This very large public university is located in the city of West Lafayette. Purdue University Global graduates 33% of students within six years. There were roughly 244 general students who graduated with this degree at Purdue University Global in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Purdue University Global generally make around $51,495. Students borrow a median of $25,137 to complete this degree.
Get the full general details for Purdue University Global
Other General Degree Levels
Explore the best general schools at other degree levels:
View All General Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 84 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.
