2023 Best Value Education Schools For Those Getting Aid
425
Ranked Colleges
29,810
Degrees Awarded
$10,100
Avg Net Price*
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Education Schools For Those Getting Aid” ranking is part of that endeavor.
In 2020-2021, 29,810 people earned their degree in general education, making the major the 41st most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, general education graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $48,719 and had an average of $23,394 in loans still to pay off.
This year’s “Best Value Education Schools For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 425 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in general education. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality general education programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the general education program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
One Size Does Not Fit All
The education school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Education Schools For Those Getting Aid”.
One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
Best Value Education Schools For Those Getting Aid
The colleges and universities below are the best for education students with aid.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for General Education (With Aid)
Out of the 425 schools in the Best Value Education Schools For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Washington - Seattle Campus landed the #1 spot on the list. Seattle, Washington is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s education degrees to 150 students in 2020-2021.
UW Seattle also took the #3 spot in our “Best General Education Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UW Seattle is $12,017 for Education students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on General Education at UW Seattle
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Los Angeles. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Education Schools For Those Getting Aid list. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s education degrees to 129 students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $3,302 for Education students with aid per year to attend Cal State LA.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full California State University - Los Angeles General Education Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Harvard University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Education Schools For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 591 diplomas to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.
Harvard also made our “Best General Education Schools” list, coming in at #2. The estimated yearly cost for Harvard University is $13,872 for education students with aid.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Education at Harvard University
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Fresno. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Education Schools For Those Getting Aid. California State University - Fresno is a large public school situated in Fresno, California. It awarded 121 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
Fresno State excels when it comes to education quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best General Education Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Fresno is $6,230 for Education students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full California State University - Fresno General Education Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Purdue University - Main Campus. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Education Schools For Those Getting Aid. Purdue University - Main Campus is a large school located in West Lafayette, Indiana that handed out 258 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
Purdue not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best General Education Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Purdue is $13,377 for Education students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Purdue University - Main Campus General Education Report
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. UIUC is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 233 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIUC, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best General Education Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $14,321 for Education students with aid.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign General Education Report
University of Florida did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #7. This large school is located in Gainesville, Florida, and it awarded 38 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
On top of its placing in this ranking, UF also did well on our “Best General Education Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our “Best General Education Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for UF is $5,135 for Education students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.
Full University of Florida General Education Report
Stanford University landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. Stanford University is a fairly large school located in Stanford, California that handed out 68 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our education students with aid list, Stanford has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best General Education Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Stanford University is $12,894 for education students with aid.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.
Full Stanford General Education Report
With a ranking of #9, California State University - Bakersfield did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools For Those Getting Aid list. CSUB is a fairly large school located in Bakersfield, California that handed out 136 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend California State University - Bakersfield is $7,454 for Education students with aid.
Read more about General Education at CSUB
California State University - San Bernardino did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #10. California State University - San Bernardino is a fairly large public school situated in San Bernardino, California. It awarded 46 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $8,107 for Education students with aid per year to attend CSUSB.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Education at CSUSB
California State University - Fullerton ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools For Those Getting Aid list. Cal State Fullerton is a large public school situated in Fullerton, California. It awarded 255 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Cal State Fullerton is $8,003 for Education students with aid.
With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full California State University - Fullerton General Education Report
California State University - Sacramento did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #12. Sac State is a large school located in Sacramento, California that handed out 145 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
On top of its placing in this ranking, Sac State also did well on our “Best General Education Schools” list. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. The yearly cost to attend California State University - Sacramento is $11,178 for Education students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Sac State General Education Report
California State University - Dominguez Hills did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #13. California State University - Dominguez Hills is a fairly large public school situated in Carson, California. It awarded 141 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Dominguez Hills is $4,026 for Education students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about General Education at California State University - Dominguez Hills
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a large school located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina that handed out 22 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on this list, UNC Chapel Hill is in the top on our “Best General Education Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best General Education Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is $12,469 for education students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about General Education at UNC Chapel Hill
With a ranking of #15, Berea College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools For Those Getting Aid list. Berea, Kentucky is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s education degrees to 6 students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $5,222 for Education students with aid per year to attend Berea.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.
Full Berea General Education Report
University of California - Los Angeles ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools For Those Getting Aid list. UCLA is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 222 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
UCLA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best General Education Schools” list. It costs about $15,023 for Education students with aid per year to attend University of California - Los Angeles.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Education at UCLA
University of Central Florida did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #17. This large school is located in Orlando, Florida, and it awarded 82 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UCF is also in the top of our “Best General Education Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $8,618 for Education students with aid per year to attend University of Central Florida.
With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Education at University of Central Florida
University of California - San Diego did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #18. UCSD is a public institution located in La Jolla, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 127 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UCSD also made our “Best General Education Schools” list, coming in at #16. It costs about $15,240 for education students with aid per year to attend UCSD.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Education at University of California - San Diego
With a ranking of #19, University of California - Irvine did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Irvine, California, and it awarded 368 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
UC Irvine not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best General Education Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend University of California - Irvine is $12,209 for Education students with aid.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about General Education at UC Irvine
With a ranking of #20, Florida Atlantic University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools For Those Getting Aid list. Boca Raton, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s education degrees to 61 students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $10,735 for Education students with aid per year to attend Florida Atlantic University.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Florida Atlantic University General Education Report
Texas Woman’s University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #21. TWU is located in Denton, Texas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 129 ’s education degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for Texas Woman’s University is $9,684 for education students with aid.
Read full report on General Education at Texas Woman’s University
With a ranking of #22, California State University - Stanislaus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools For Those Getting Aid list. California State University - Stanislaus is a fairly large school located in Turlock, California that handed out 105 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Stanislaus is $6,566 for education students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about General Education at Stan State
Florida Gulf Coast University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #23. Florida Gulf Coast University is a fairly large school located in Fort Myers, Florida that handed out 49 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, FGCU is also in the top of our “Best General Education Schools” ranking. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. It costs about $11,299 for Education students with aid per year to attend Florida Gulf Coast University.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about General Education at Florida Gulf Coast University
California State University - Long Beach landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Long Beach, California, this large public school awarded 91 degrees to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend CSULB is $10,054 for education students with aid.
With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Education at CSULB
With a ranking of #25, North Carolina State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Raleigh, North Carolina, and it awarded 21 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
NC State also took the #22 spot in our “Best General Education Schools” ranking. It costs about $16,411 for education students with aid per year to attend NC State.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on General Education at NC State
