2026 Best General Education Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best General Education associate’s degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 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, Course Advisor reviewed schools to produce 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
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Campbell University earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking in the United States. Campbell University is a private not-for-profit school based in Buies Creek, NC. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. In-state tuition and fees average $41,600. Students borrow a median of $18,750 to complete their General Education program here. See the full Campbell University profile
A rank of #2 makes Nhti Concords Community College one of the top choices in the United States. This public school is set in Concord, NH. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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. More on Nhti Concords Community College
Out of the 903 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Lehigh Carbon Community College landed the #3 spot. Set in Schnecksville, PA, Lehigh Carbon Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,280, with out-of-state students paying around $13,270. Lehigh Carbon Community College General Education students take on a median of $11,000 in debt. See the full Lehigh Carbon Community College profile
Out of the 903 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Santa Fe Community College landed the #4 spot. Based 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. Students borrow a median of $15,267 to complete their General Education program here. More on Santa Fe Community College
Northeast Community College came in at #5 on this year's General Education ranking in the United States. Located in Norfolk, NE, Northeast Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,840, with out-of-state students paying around $5,130. The median General Education program debt is $11,937. See the full Northeast Community College profile
Weber State University did well this year, earning the #6 position. This public school is set in Ogden, UT. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. In-state tuition and fees average $6,557, compared with $17,545 for out-of-state students. Weber State University General Education students take on a median of $19,176 in debt. Get the full Weber State University report
The University Of Montana Western landed the #7 spot in the United States this year. Based in Dillon, MT, The University Of Montana Western is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. In-state tuition and fees average $6,669, 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 did well this year, earning the #8 position. Based in Perkinston, MS, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,250 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,850. Graduates carry a median of $11,653 in student loans. Read more about Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
Ivy Tech Community College landed the #9 spot in the United States this year. Set in Indianapolis, IN, Ivy Tech Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,154, while out-of-state students pay about $9,935. Ivy Tech Community College General Education students take on a median of $10,874 in debt. Get the full Ivy Tech Community College report
Stark State College came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Stark State College is a public school based in North Canton, OH. In-state tuition and fees average $4,790, compared with $7,886 for out-of-state students. Stark State College General Education students take on a median of $15,957 in debt. See the full Stark State College profile
Gloucester County College did well this year, earning the #11 position. Located in Sewell, NJ, Gloucester County College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,160, with out-of-state students paying around $6,000. Typical General Education student debt is $10,987. Read the full report on Gloucester County College
Southeastern University landed the #12 spot in the United States this year. Based in Lakeland, FL, Southeastern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Southeastern University graduates 44% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $32,950. Graduates carry a median of $23,460 in student loans. Read the full report on Southeastern University
Southern Maine Community College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best General Education schools. This public school is set in South Portland, ME. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,156, while out-of-state students pay about $7,036. Southern Maine Community College General Education students take on a median of $12,987 in debt. See the full Southern Maine Community College profile
Cumberland University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best General Education schools. Based in Lebanon, TN, Cumberland University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 42% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $27,840. The median General Education program debt is $21,902. Get the full Cumberland University report
Pima Community College came in at #15 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Tucson, AZ. In-state tuition and fees average $2,442, while out-of-state students pay about $7,758. The median General Education program debt is $10,655. More on Pima Community College
Brookdale Community College did well this year, earning the #16 position. Based in Lincroft, NJ, Brookdale Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,270, with out-of-state students paying around $10,140. Typical General Education student debt is $8,750. More on Brookdale Community College
Suny Empire State College landed the #17 spot in the United States this year. Located in Saratoga Springs, NY, Suny Empire State College is a public institution. Roughly 36% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,648, with out-of-state students paying around $17,558. Graduates carry a median of $21,422 in student loans. Read the full report on Suny Empire State College
Bunker Hill Community College did well this year, earning the #18 position. Based in Boston, MA, Bunker Hill Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,168, while out-of-state students pay about $11,112. Bunker Hill Community College General Education students take on a median of $11,893 in debt. Read more about Bunker Hill Community College
Liberty University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best General Education schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lynchburg, VA. About 67% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $16,173. Liberty University General Education students take on a median of $42,160 in debt. Read more about Liberty University
Tulsa Community College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best General Education schools. Based in Tulsa, OK, Tulsa Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,792, while out-of-state students pay about $9,720. Graduates carry a median of $15,789 in student loans. More on Tulsa Community College
Montana State University Billings ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best General Education schools. Set in Billings, MT, Montana State University Billings is a public institution. Montana State University Billings posts a six-year graduation rate of 34%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,280, compared with $22,897 for out-of-state students. Typical General Education student debt is $25,465. Read more about Montana State University Billings
Southwest Baptist University did well this year, earning the #22 position. Set in Bolivar, MO, Southwest Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Southwest Baptist University graduates 53% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,566. Typical General Education student debt is $24,436. See the full Southwest Baptist University profile
El Paso Community College landed the #23 spot in the United States this year. This public school is set in El Paso, TX. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,274, while out-of-state students pay about $5,314. El Paso Community College General Education students take on a median of $8,542 in debt. See the full El Paso Community College profile
Drury University College Of Continuing Professional Studies came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Based in Springfield, MO, Drury University College Of Continuing Professional Studies is a private not-for-profit institution. About 21% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,054. Graduates carry a median of $26,305 in student loans. See the full Drury University College Of Continuing Professional Studies profile
California State Polytechnic University Pomona came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Get the full California State Polytechnic University Pomona report
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:
Dominican University ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best General Education schools. More on Dominican University
Lord Fairfax Community College landed the #27 spot in the United States this year. See the full Lord Fairfax Community College profile
Methodist University ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best General Education schools. Read the full report on Methodist University
Sacred Heart University ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best General Education schools. See the full Sacred Heart University profile
San Francisco State University ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best General Education schools. See the full San Francisco State University profile
Southern Illinois University Carbondale did well this year, earning the #31 position. More on Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Chattanooga State Community College did well this year, earning the #32 position. More on Chattanooga State Community College
Rhodes College
Rhodes College ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best General Education schools. See the full Rhodes College profile
Rosemont College
Rosemont College did well this year, earning the #34 position. Get the full Rosemont College report
Antioch University Santa Barbara ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best General Education schools. Read the full report on Antioch University Santa Barbara
Auburn University placed #36 among General Education schools in the United States. Read the full report on Auburn University
Jackson State University came in at #37 in this year's ranking. More on Jackson State University
Lackawanna College ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best General Education schools. Read more about Lackawanna College
Lyon College
Lyon College placed #39 among General Education schools in the United States. Get the full Lyon College report
Marshall University landed the #40 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Marshall University report
The Masters College And Seminary landed the #41 spot in the United States this year. Get the full The Masters College And Seminary report
Anderson University Indiana placed #42 among General Education schools in the United States. See the full Anderson University Indiana profile
Augsburg College
Augsburg College placed #43 among General Education schools in the United States. Read more about Augsburg College
Cuny Lehman College did well this year, earning the #44 position. Read more about Cuny Lehman College
Loyola University Baltimore placed #45 among General Education schools in the United States. See the full Loyola University Baltimore profile
Riverside City College landed the #46 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Riverside City College report
South Piedmont Community College came in at #47 in this year's ranking. Get the full South Piedmont Community College report
American College Of Education placed #48 among General Education schools in the United States. Read more about American College Of Education
Berea College
Berea College ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best General Education schools. Read more about Berea College
Hiram College
Hiram College did well this year, earning the #50 position. Get the full Hiram College report
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 Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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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