2026 Best General Education Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best General Education associate’s degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 903 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
So you can compare your options, Teaching Degree Search reviewed schools to build this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 General Education Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the leading schools below:
Campbell University tops our 2026 ranking of the best General Education associate's degree schools in the United States. Based in Buies Creek, NC, Campbell University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,600. The median General Education program debt is $18,750. More on Campbell University
Nhti Concords Community College came in at #2 on this year's General Education ranking in the United States. This public school is set in Concord, NH. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,200, compared with $15,450 for out-of-state students. Nhti Concords Community College General Education students take on a median of $18,046 in debt. Read more about Nhti Concords Community College
You'll be in good company at Lehigh Carbon Community College, which ranked #3 this year. Lehigh Carbon Community College is a public school based in Schnecksville, PA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,280, while out-of-state students pay about $13,270. Lehigh Carbon Community College General Education students take on a median of $11,000 in debt. Read the full report on Lehigh Carbon Community College
Out of the 903 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Santa Fe Community College landed the #4 spot. Set in Santa Fe, NM, Santa Fe Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,851, with out-of-state students paying around $4,131. Students borrow a median of $15,267 to complete their General Education program here. See the full Santa Fe Community College profile
The strong General Education programs at Northeast Community College earned it the #5 place in the United States. Set in Norfolk, NE, Northeast Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,840, while out-of-state students pay about $5,130. The median General Education program debt is $11,937. See the full Northeast Community College profile
Weber State University placed #6 among General Education schools in the United States. Weber State University is a public school based in Ogden, UT. Weber State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 47%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,557, while out-of-state students pay about $17,545. Students borrow a median of $19,176 to complete their General Education program here. Read the full report on Weber State University
The University Of Montana Western placed #7 among General Education schools in the United States. Based in Dillon, MT, The University Of Montana Western is a public institution. The University Of Montana Western posts a six-year graduation rate of 54%. Students from in state pay about $6,669 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,130 for out-of-state students. The median General Education program debt is $22,484. More on The University Of Montana Western
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College placed #8 among General Education schools in the United States. Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is a public school based in Perkinston, MS. Students from in state pay about $4,250 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,850 for out-of-state students. Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College General Education students take on a median of $11,653 in debt. Read more about Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
Ivy Tech Community College came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Ivy Tech Community College is a public school based in Indianapolis, IN. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,154, with out-of-state students paying around $9,935. Graduates carry a median of $10,874 in student loans. More on Ivy Tech Community College
Stark State College did well this year, earning the #10 position. Stark State College is a public school based in North Canton, OH. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,790, while out-of-state students pay about $7,886. Graduates carry a median of $15,957 in student loans. Read the full report on Stark State College
Gloucester County College came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Based in Sewell, NJ, Gloucester County College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,160, compared with $6,000 for out-of-state students. Typical General Education student debt is $10,987. More on Gloucester County College
Southeastern University came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Based in Lakeland, FL, Southeastern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $32,950. Students borrow a median of $23,460 to complete their General Education program here. More on Southeastern University
Southern Maine Community College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best General Education schools. Set in South Portland, ME, Southern Maine Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,156, compared with $7,036 for out-of-state students. The median General Education program debt is $12,987. More on Southern Maine Community College
Cumberland University did well this year, earning the #14 position. Cumberland University is a private not-for-profit school based in Lebanon, TN. Cumberland University graduates 42% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $27,840. The median General Education program debt is $21,902. See the full Cumberland University profile
Pima Community College came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Set in Tucson, AZ, Pima Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,442, with out-of-state students paying around $7,758. Graduates carry a median of $10,655 in student loans. Read more about Pima Community College
Brookdale Community College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best General Education schools. Based in Lincroft, NJ, Brookdale Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,270, while out-of-state students pay about $10,140. Students borrow a median of $8,750 to complete their General Education program here. Read the full report on Brookdale Community College
Suny Empire State College came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Based in Saratoga Springs, NY, Suny Empire State College is a public institution. Suny Empire State College posts a six-year graduation rate of 36%. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,648, compared with $17,558 for out-of-state students. Typical General Education student debt is $21,422. Read more about Suny Empire State College
Bunker Hill Community College placed #18 among General Education schools in the United States. Bunker Hill Community College is a public school based in Boston, MA. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,168, compared with $11,112 for out-of-state students. Bunker Hill Community College General Education students take on a median of $11,893 in debt. Get the full Bunker Hill Community College report
Liberty University came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Located in Lynchburg, VA, Liberty University is a private not-for-profit institution. Liberty University graduates 67% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,173. The median General Education program debt is $42,160. Read more about Liberty University
Tulsa Community College landed the #20 spot in the United States this year. This public school is set in Tulsa, OK. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,792, with out-of-state students paying around $9,720. Students borrow a median of $15,789 to complete their General Education program here. More on Tulsa Community College
Montana State University Billings landed the #21 spot in the United States this year. Set in Billings, MT, Montana State University Billings is a public institution. Roughly 34% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,280, with out-of-state students paying around $22,897. Typical General Education student debt is $25,465. See the full Montana State University Billings profile
Southwest Baptist University came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Southwest Baptist University is a private not-for-profit school based in Bolivar, MO. About 53% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $30,566. Students borrow a median of $24,436 to complete their General Education program here. Get the full Southwest Baptist University report
El Paso Community College did well this year, earning the #23 position. Set in El Paso, TX, El Paso Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,274, while out-of-state students pay about $5,314. The median General Education program debt is $8,542. See the full El Paso Community College profile
Drury University College Of Continuing Professional Studies landed the #24 spot in the United States this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Springfield, MO. About 21% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,054. Drury University College Of Continuing Professional Studies General Education students take on a median of $26,305 in debt. Get the full Drury University College Of Continuing Professional Studies report
Denison University did well this year, earning the #25 position. More on Denison University
Rest of the Top 50 Best General Education Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
Lakeland College
Lakeland College landed the #26 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Lakeland College
Marian University Indiana ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best General Education schools. More on Marian University Indiana
University Of Sacred Heart came in at #28 in this year's ranking. Get the full University Of Sacred Heart report
University Of San Diego placed #29 among General Education schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of San Diego
University Of The Southwest ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best General Education schools. Read the full report on University Of The Southwest
Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best General Education schools. Read more about Ohio State University Main Campus
University Of California Berkeley placed #32 among General Education schools in the United States. See the full University Of California Berkeley profile
Carroll Community College landed the #33 spot in the United States this year. More on Carroll Community College
Chesapeake College came in at #34 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Chesapeake College
Salem College
Salem College ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best General Education schools. Read the full report on Salem College
Dominican University ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best General Education schools. Read more about Dominican University
Little Priest Tribal College ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best General Education schools. Read more about Little Priest Tribal College
University Of The District Of Columbia landed the #38 spot in the United States this year. More on University Of The District Of Columbia
Washington State University placed #39 among General Education schools in the United States. See the full Washington State University profile
Holy Family University came in at #40 in this year's ranking. See the full Holy Family University profile
Morningside College came in at #41 in this year's ranking. Read more about Morningside College
University Of South Florida Main Campus came in at #42 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on University Of South Florida Main Campus
University Of Wisconsin Platteville landed the #43 spot in the United States this year. See the full University Of Wisconsin Platteville profile
William Woods University came in at #44 in this year's ranking. Read more about William Woods University
Felician College
Felician College landed the #45 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Felician College report
Macalester College came in at #46 in this year's ranking. More on Macalester College
North Central University placed #47 among General Education schools in the United States. Get the full North Central University report
Northern Virginia Community College ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best General Education schools. See the full Northern Virginia Community College profile
Oral Roberts University came in at #49 in this year's ranking. More on Oral Roberts University
University Of California Santa Barbara landed the #50 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of California Santa Barbara
Related General Education Rankings
See rankings for other degree levels:
- Best General Education Schools (All Levels)
- Best General Education Certificate Degree Schools
- Best General Education Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best General Education Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools
- Best General Education Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Teaching Degree Search (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 903 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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