2026 Best Value General Education Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Education Schools
For return on investment in general education, no school beat Cuny Bronx Community College this year. Set in the city of Bronx, Cuny Bronx Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,206 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,086. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $8,224. Early-career general education graduates make about $35,768. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in general education will find it at Carroll Community College, which ranked #2. Located in the town of Westminster, Carroll Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,308 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,158. General Education graduates carry a median of $17,398 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Carroll Community College generally make around $49,058. Set against $17,398 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Middlesex County College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value general education schools. Set in the suburb of Edison, Middlesex County College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,764, while out-of-state students pay about $7,356. General Education graduates carry a median of $7,000 in student loans. Early-career general education graduates make about $16,846. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny Laguardia Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value general education schools. Set in the city of Long Island City, Cuny Laguardia Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,218 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,098. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $8,858. General Education graduates of Cuny Laguardia Community College earn a median of $31,437 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in general education will find it at The Community College Of Baltimore County, which ranked #5. The Community College Of Baltimore County is a very large public school located in the suburb of Baltimore. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,110, while out-of-state students pay about $10,182. Students borrow a median of $16,804 to complete the general education program here. Early-career general education graduates make about $52,440. Set against $16,804 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lehigh Carbon Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value general education schools. Located in the rural area of Schnecksville, Lehigh Carbon Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,280, compared with $13,270 for out-of-state students. General Education graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Early-career general education graduates make about $39,957. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Butler County Community College landed the #7 spot for general education value this year. Set in the town of Butler, Butler County Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,910, compared with $12,000 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,836 to complete the general education program here. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Butler County Community College generally make around $41,492. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Montclair State University placed #8 among the best values for general education. Montclair State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Montclair. In-state tuition and fees average $15,912, compared with $26,022 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,286 to complete the general education program here. Early-career general education graduates make about $61,225. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Montclair State University admits about 88% of applicants.
Holy Family University placed #9 among the best values for general education. Holy Family University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. In-state tuition and fees average $35,330. General Education graduates carry a median of $26,562 in student loans. General Education graduates of Holy Family University earn a median of $58,924 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Holy Family University admits about 71% of applicants.
Suny Empire State College earned the #10 position for value in general education this year. Located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Suny Empire State College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,648, while out-of-state students pay about $17,558. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $21,422. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Suny Empire State College generally make around $39,046. That is a strong return on a $21,422 median debt.
Johns Hopkins University came in at #11 for value in general education this year. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,730. Students borrow a median of $13,426 to complete the general education program here. Early-career general education graduates make about $63,838. That is a strong return on a $13,426 median debt. The acceptance rate is 6%.
Brookdale Community College earned the #12 position for value in general education this year. Located in the suburb of Lincroft, Brookdale Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,270, while out-of-state students pay about $10,140. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $8,750. Early-career general education graduates make about $19,157. That is a strong return on a $8,750 median debt.
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College landed the #13 spot for general education value this year. Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Johnstown. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,110, compared with $13,350 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $11,732. General Education graduates of Pennsylvania Highlands Community College earn a median of $40,014 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Trinity Washington University placed #14 among the best values for general education. Located in the city of Washington, Trinity Washington University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $26,610. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $31,194. Early-career general education graduates make about $56,796. That is a strong return on a $31,194 median debt. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Howard Community College placed #15 among the best values for general education. Howard Community College is a large public school located in the city of Columbia. In-state tuition and fees average $4,599, compared with $10,836 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $18,115. Early-career general education graduates make about $56,172. That is a strong return on a $18,115 median debt.
Reading Area Community College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value general education schools. Located in the city of Reading, Reading Area Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,480, compared with $12,510 for out-of-state students. General Education graduates carry a median of $13,979 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Reading Area Community College generally make around $49,248. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Salem Community College placed #17 among the best values for general education. Set in the suburb of Carneys Point, Salem Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,360, with out-of-state students paying around $10,260. Students borrow a median of $17,232 to complete the general education program here. General Education graduates of Salem Community College earn a median of $51,781 early in their careers. Set against $17,232 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Saint Peters College placed #18 among the best values for general education. Located in the city of Jersey City, Saint Peters College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,552. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $22,969. General Education graduates of Saint Peters College earn a median of $58,382 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,969 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Mercy College placed #19 among the best values for general education. Set in the suburb of Dobbs Ferry, Mercy College is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $22,880. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $28,304. General Education graduates of Mercy College earn a median of $61,432 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,304 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of The District Of Columbia earned the #20 position for value in general education this year. University Of The District Of Columbia is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Washington. Students from in state pay about $5,662 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,514. General Education graduates carry a median of $11,200 in student loans. General Education graduates of University Of The District Of Columbia earn a median of $57,060 early in their careers. Set against $11,200 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Frostburg State University placed #21 among the best values for general education. Located in the town of Frostburg, Frostburg State University is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,220, compared with $25,814 for out-of-state students. General Education graduates carry a median of $25,340 in student loans. Early-career general education graduates make about $56,800. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Frostburg State University admits about 89% of applicants.
Gloucester County College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value general education schools. Located in the suburb of Sewell, Gloucester County College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,160, compared with $6,000 for out-of-state students. General Education graduates carry a median of $10,987 in student loans. Early-career general education graduates make about $38,274. Set against $10,987 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Towson University landed the #23 spot for general education value this year. Located in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,728, while out-of-state students pay about $29,820. Students borrow a median of $21,241 to complete the general education program here. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Towson University generally make around $55,722. Set against $21,241 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Salisbury University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value general education schools. Set in the suburb of Salisbury, Salisbury University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,084, with out-of-state students paying around $22,174. General Education graduates carry a median of $23,545 in student loans. Early-career general education graduates make about $51,377. That is a strong return on a $23,545 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Wilmington University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value general education schools. Set in the suburb of New Castle, Wilmington University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,630. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $26,689. General Education graduates of Wilmington University earn a median of $33,890 early in their careers. Set against $26,689 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value General Education Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s general education value ranking:
Narrow General Education Schools by State
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 139 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 26 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
[General Education](/majors/education/general-education/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
