2026 Best Value General Education Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value General Education associate’s degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 903 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To arm you with the information you need, Teaching Degree Search analyzed schools to compile this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value General Education Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
For return on investment, no school beat Santa Fe Community College this year in the United States. Set in Santa Fe, NM, Santa Fe Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $1,851, while out-of-state students pay about $4,131. The median General Education program debt is $15,267. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $38,005. That is a strong return on a $15,267 median debt. Get the full Santa Fe Community College report
Northeast Community College came in at #2 on this year's best-value General Education ranking in the United States. This public school is set in Norfolk, NE. Students from in state pay about $3,840 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,130. Northeast Community College General Education students take on a median of $11,937 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $42,634. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. More on Northeast Community College
Gloucester County College came in at #3 on this year's best-value General Education ranking in the United States. This public school is set in Sewell, NJ. Students from in state pay about $5,160 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,000. The median General Education program debt is $10,987. Gloucester County College alumni report median earnings of $41,751 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. More on Gloucester County College
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College came in at #4 on this year's best-value General Education ranking in the United States. Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is a public school based in Perkinston, MS. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,250, with out-of-state students paying around $7,850. Typical General Education student debt is $11,653. Median earnings reach $33,017 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $11,653 median debt. Read the full report on Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
Stark State College came in at #5 on this year's best-value General Education ranking in the United States. Based in North Canton, OH, Stark State College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,790 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,886. Typical General Education student debt is $15,957. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $34,661. Set against $15,957 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read more about Stark State College
Southern Maine Community College landed the #6 spot for value in the United States this year. Southern Maine Community College is a public school based in South Portland, ME. In-state tuition and fees average $4,156, compared with $7,036 for out-of-state students. The median General Education program debt is $12,987. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,661 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $12,987 median debt. More on Southern Maine Community College
Ivy Tech Community College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Education schools. Set in Indianapolis, IN, Ivy Tech Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,154 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,935. Students borrow a median of $10,874 to complete their General Education program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $37,186. Set against $10,874 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read more about Ivy Tech Community College
Pima Community College landed the #8 spot for value in the United States this year. Pima Community College is a public school based in Tucson, AZ. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,442, while out-of-state students pay about $7,758. Typical General Education student debt is $10,655. Pima Community College alumni report median earnings of $39,810 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. More on Pima Community College
Lehigh Carbon Community College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Education schools. This public school is set in Schnecksville, PA. In-state tuition and fees average $5,280, with out-of-state students paying around $13,270. Graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Lehigh Carbon Community College alumni report median earnings of $42,436 a decade after entry. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on Lehigh Carbon Community College
El Paso Community College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Education schools. Located in El Paso, TX, El Paso Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,274, while out-of-state students pay about $5,314. Typical General Education student debt is $8,542. Graduates go on to earn a median of $35,212 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read more about El Paso Community College
Nhti Concords Community College landed the #11 spot for value in the United States this year. Located in Concord, NH, Nhti Concords Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,200, with out-of-state students paying around $15,450. Typical General Education student debt is $18,046. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $48,943. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. More on Nhti Concords Community College
Brookdale Community College placed #12 among the best-value General Education schools in the United States. Located in Lincroft, NJ, Brookdale Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,270 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,140 for out-of-state students. The median General Education program debt is $8,750. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $44,379. Set against $8,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on Brookdale Community College
Tulsa Community College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Education schools. Based in Tulsa, OK, Tulsa Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,792 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,720. The median General Education program debt is $15,789. Median earnings reach $39,746 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. More on Tulsa Community College
Bunker Hill Community College landed the #14 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in Boston, MA, Bunker Hill Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,168, with out-of-state students paying around $11,112. Bunker Hill Community College General Education students take on a median of $11,893 in debt. Median earnings reach $47,618 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read more about Bunker Hill Community College
Weber State University placed #15 among the best-value General Education schools in the United States. Set in Ogden, UT, Weber State University is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,557 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,545. Typical General Education student debt is $19,176. Weber State University alumni report median earnings of $56,287 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read the full report on Weber State University
The University Of Montana Western ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Education schools. This public school is set in Dillon, MT. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,669, while out-of-state students pay about $20,130. Typical General Education student debt is $22,484. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $43,229. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 100%. Get the full The University Of Montana Western report
Drury University College Of Continuing Professional Studies came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. Based in Springfield, MO, Drury University College Of Continuing Professional Studies is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,054. Typical General Education student debt is $26,305. Median earnings reach $40,694 ten years out. Set against $26,305 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read more about Drury University College Of Continuing Professional Studies
Campbell University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Education schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Buies Creek, NC. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,600. Students borrow a median of $18,750 to complete their General Education program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $54,886. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Campbell University admits about 87% of applicants. Read the full report on Campbell University
Liberty University came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. Liberty University is a private not-for-profit school based in Lynchburg, VA. In-state tuition and fees run about $16,173. The median General Education program debt is $42,160. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $44,813. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 99% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about Liberty University
Suny Empire State College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Education schools. Set in Saratoga Springs, NY, Suny Empire State College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,648, compared with $17,558 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,422 to complete their General Education program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $54,080. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. More on Suny Empire State College
Montana State University Billings placed #21 among the best-value General Education schools in the United States. Based in Billings, MT, Montana State University Billings is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,280 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,897 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $25,465 in student loans. Montana State University Billings alumni report median earnings of $44,296 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $25,465 median debt. See the full Montana State University Billings profile
Cumberland University came in at #22 in this year's value ranking. Based in Lebanon, TN, Cumberland University is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,840. Typical General Education student debt is $21,902. Median earnings reach $57,687 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $21,902 median debt. Cumberland University has an acceptance rate of 67%. More on Cumberland University
Southeastern University offered strong value this year, earning the #23 position. Set in Lakeland, FL, Southeastern University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $32,950. Typical General Education student debt is $23,460. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $46,744. That is a strong return on a $23,460 median debt. Southeastern University admits about 53% of applicants. See the full Southeastern University profile
Southwest Baptist University landed the #24 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in Bolivar, MO, Southwest Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $30,566. Typical General Education student debt is $24,436. Southwest Baptist University alumni report median earnings of $43,112 a decade after entry. Set against $24,436 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southwest Baptist University has an acceptance rate of 68%. See the full Southwest Baptist University profile
Atlantis University offered strong value this year, earning the #25 position. See the full Atlantis University profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value General Education Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
Hagerstown Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #26 position. More on Hagerstown Community College
Lakeland College
Lakeland College placed #27 among the best-value General Education schools in the United States. See the full Lakeland College profile
Marian University Indiana offered strong value this year, earning the #28 position. See the full Marian University Indiana profile
Montclair State University ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Education schools. Read more about Montclair State University
Cape Cod Community College came in at #30 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Cape Cod Community College report
Delta State University placed #31 among the best-value General Education schools in the United States. See the full Delta State University profile
High Tech High Graduate School Of Education ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Education schools. Get the full High Tech High Graduate School Of Education report
New England College offered strong value this year, earning the #33 position. More on New England College
Washington University In St Louis ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Education schools. More on Washington University In St Louis
Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College came in at #35 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College
Louisiana Delta Community College came in at #36 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Louisiana Delta Community College report
Pikeville College offered strong value this year, earning the #37 position. Read more about Pikeville College
Texas A And M University College Station landed the #38 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Texas A And M University College Station
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus came in at #39 in this year's value ranking. More on University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
Concordia University Seward placed #40 among the best-value General Education schools in the United States. Read more about Concordia University Seward
Manchester Community College Nh came in at #41 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Manchester Community College Nh report
Mesa State College came in at #42 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Mesa State College
Nazareth College
Nazareth College ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Education schools. Read more about Nazareth College
Piedmont Virginia Community College ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Education schools. Read the full report on Piedmont Virginia Community College
Bloomfield College came in at #45 in this year's value ranking. See the full Bloomfield College profile
Gwynedd Mercy College came in at #46 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Gwynedd Mercy College
Heritage University offered strong value this year, earning the #47 position. See the full Heritage University profile
Jackson State University ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Education schools. Read more about Jackson State University
Smith College
Smith College came in at #49 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Smith College report
University Of South Florida Main Campus placed #50 among the best-value General Education schools in the United States. Get the full University Of South Florida Main Campus report
Related General Education Value Rankings
See value rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Value General Education Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value General Education Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value General Education Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value General Education Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value General Education Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value General Education Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Teaching Degree Search (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 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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