General degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 497 schools to find the best for general students.
No school ranked higher than Johns Hopkins University this year for general. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 73 general degrees were awarded at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University generally make around $83,974. Students borrow a median of $13,426 to complete this degree.
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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. About 84% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 60 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. Students borrow a median of $22,910 to complete this degree.
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University Of Pennsylvania is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general, ranking #3. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. University Of Pennsylvania graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 169 general students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general degree from University Of Pennsylvania earn around $83,208 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #4 makes University Of Southern California one of the top schools for general. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 92% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 168 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. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. About 95% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 82 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. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
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American University placed #6 among the best general schools. Set in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 76% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 153 general students who graduated with this degree at American University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general degree from American University earn around $78,068 in the first couple years of their career. American University graduates carry a median of $24,139 in student loans.
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University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus placed #7 among the best general schools. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Pittsburgh. About 86% of students finish within six years. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus awarded about 49 general degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general program make about $59,098 in their early career. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus graduates carry a median of $24,958 in student loans.
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University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #8 for general this year. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 143 general students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general program make about $70,392 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,481.
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New York University landed the #9 spot for general this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. New York University graduates 88% of students within six years. New York University awarded about 253 general degrees in the most recent data year. General graduates of New York University earn a median of $82,887 early in their careers. New York University graduates carry a median of $21,897 in student loans.
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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. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 409 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. Typical student debt for the program is $23,258.
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Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University landed the #11 spot for general this year. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 18 general degrees were awarded at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general program make about $74,121 in their early career. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates carry a median of $23,393 in student loans.
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University Of Connecticut landed the #12 spot for general this year. Located in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. 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. Students borrow a median of $23,637 to complete this degree.
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Harvard University came in at #13 for general this year. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 98%. About 263 general degrees were awarded at Harvard University in the most recent year. General graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $133,307 early in their careers. Harvard University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
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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. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 129 general students who graduated with this degree at Cornell University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general degree from Cornell University earn around $61,190 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,005 to complete this degree.
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Clemson University placed #15 among the best general schools. Located in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. Clemson University awarded about 38 general degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general program make about $65,949 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,783 to complete this degree.
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California State University Long Beach came in at #16 for general this year. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. California State University Long Beach awarded about 85 general degrees in the most recent data year. General graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $64,423 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,671 to complete this degree.
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California State University Fullerton earned the #17 position for general this year. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public institution. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 32 general degrees were awarded at California State University Fullerton in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $36,626. Students borrow a median of $13,273 to complete this degree.
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Northeastern University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best general schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. Northeastern University graduates 90% of students within six years. About 80 general degrees were awarded at Northeastern University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Northeastern University generally make around $66,436. Typical student debt for the program is $25,611.
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University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill came in at #19 for general this year. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 52 general students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent data year. General graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $66,534 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,117 to complete this degree.
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Indiana University Bloomington placed #20 among the best general schools. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. Indiana University Bloomington awarded about 172 general degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $57,990. Indiana University Bloomington graduates carry a median of $20,731 in student loans.
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San Jose State University earned the #21 position for general this year. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 22 general students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
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Syracuse University placed #22 among the best general schools. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 84% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 145 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 $82,788 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of San Francisco earned the #23 position for general this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 70% of students finish within six years. University Of San Francisco awarded about 38 general degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general program make about $87,976 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,935.
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University Of Minnesota Twin Cities placed #24 among the best general schools. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 27 general degrees were awarded at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent year. Students who receive their general degree from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn around $92,069 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,577.
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Cuny Bernard M Baruch College earned the #25 position for general this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a very large public institution. About 72% of students finish within six years. Cuny Bernard M Baruch College awarded about 140 general degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Cuny Bernard M Baruch College generally make around $79,397. Typical student debt for the program is $13,250.
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Rest of the Top 50 General Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s general ranking:
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 · 497 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).
