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 270 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.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best General Schools list, to help you choose. 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.
Johns Hopkins University tops our 2027 ranking of the best general schools. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 94% of students finish within six years. Johns Hopkins University awarded about 68 general degrees in the most recent data year. General graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of $78,510 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,426.
See the full general program report for Johns Hopkins University
Students looking for a strong general program will find one at George Washington University, which ranked #2. George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 51 general students who graduated with this degree at George Washington University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general program make about $78,177 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,910.
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Students looking for a strong general program will find one at University Of Pennsylvania, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 138 general degrees were awarded at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $83,208. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete this degree.
See the full general program report for University Of Pennsylvania
A rank of #4 makes University Of Southern California one of the top schools for general. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. University Of Southern California graduates 92% of students within six years. There were roughly 110 general students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $78,453. Typical student debt for the program is $15,625.
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Students looking for a strong general program will find one at Northwestern University, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 95% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 67 general students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general degree from Northwestern University earn around $73,260 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
See the full general program report for Northwestern University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University landed the #6 spot for general this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Blacksburg. About 86% of students finish within six years. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University awarded about 38 general degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general program make about $74,121 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,393 to complete this degree.
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American University earned the #7 position for general this year. Set in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. American University awarded about 126 general degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general program make about $78,068 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,139 to complete this degree.
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New York University landed the #8 spot for general this year. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 214 general degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from New York University generally make around $82,887. Typical student debt for the program is $21,897.
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University Of Washington Seattle Campus ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best general schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Seattle. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 132 general degrees were awarded at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $70,392. Typical student debt for the program is $16,481.
See the full general program report for University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Columbia University In The City Of New York earned the #10 position for general this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 349 general students who graduated with this degree at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $89,478. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general from Columbia University In The City Of New York
Harvard University came in at #11 for general this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Harvard University graduates 98% of students within six years. About 235 general degrees were awarded at Harvard University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general degree from Harvard University earn around $133,307 in the first couple years of their career. Harvard University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
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Indiana University Bloomington ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best general schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Bloomington. About 80% of students finish within six years. About 600 general degrees were awarded at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent year. Graduates of the general program make about $52,502 in their early career. Indiana University Bloomington graduates carry a median of $20,731 in student loans.
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University Of Connecticut came in at #13 for general this year. Set in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a very large public institution. University Of Connecticut graduates 83% of students within six years. University Of Connecticut awarded about 52 general degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general program make about $65,364 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,637.
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Cornell University earned the #14 position for general this year. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Cornell University awarded about 116 general degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general program make about $61,190 in their early career. Cornell University graduates carry a median of $15,005 in student loans.
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University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill placed #15 among the best general schools. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 61 general students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general program make about $66,534 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,117.
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University Of San Francisco earned the #16 position for general this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit university. University Of San Francisco graduates 70% of students within six years. There were roughly 38 general students who graduated with this degree at University Of San Francisco in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general program make about $87,976 in their early career. University Of San Francisco graduates carry a median of $23,935 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general from University Of San Francisco
Syracuse University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best general schools. Set in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Syracuse University graduates 84% of students within six years. There were roughly 232 general students who graduated with this degree at Syracuse University in the most recent data year. General graduates of Syracuse University earn a median of $68,350 early in their careers. Syracuse University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
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Northeastern University placed #18 among the best general schools. Set in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Northeastern University graduates 90% of students within six years. About 82 general degrees were awarded at Northeastern University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general degree from Northeastern University earn around $66,436 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,611 to complete this degree.
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California State University Long Beach earned the #19 position for general this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Long Beach. About 69% of students finish within six years. California State University Long Beach awarded about 100 general degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $64,423. California State University Long Beach graduates carry a median of $15,732 in student loans.
Read more about the general program at California State University Long Beach
The University Of Texas At Austin earned the #20 position for general this year. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. About 38 general degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent 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. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates carry a median of $21,275 in student loans.
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George Mason University came in at #21 for general this year. George Mason University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. George Mason University awarded about 98 general degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from George Mason University generally make around $67,375. George Mason University graduates carry a median of $20,106 in student loans.
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San Jose State University landed the #22 spot for general this year. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. About 11 general degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year.
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Villanova University placed #23 among the best general schools. Located in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit university. Villanova University graduates 92% of students within six years. About 32 general degrees were awarded at Villanova University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general degree from Villanova University earn around $72,577 in the first couple years of their career. Villanova University graduates carry a median of $26,184 in student loans.
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University Of Minnesota Twin Cities ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best general schools. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 22 general students who graduated with this degree at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general program make about $92,069 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,577 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
Clemson University earned the #25 position for general this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Clemson. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. About 28 general degrees were awarded at Clemson University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Clemson University generally make around $65,949. Students borrow a median of $23,783 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 General Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong general education:
General is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. See all related rankings.
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 270 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).
