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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for General Studies (Income $0-$30k)

11 Ranked Colleges
168 Degrees Awarded
$26,000 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value General Studies Schools for a Master's For Those Making $0-$30k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value General Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2019-2020, 133,583 general studies students received their degree, making the major the 5th most popular in the country.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 168 general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value General Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 11 colleges that offered a degree in general studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great general studies programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the general studies program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank General Studies Schools

The general studies 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 General Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k”.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value General Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for master’s degree general studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 11 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for General Studies (Income $0-$30k)

#1

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Chicago. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Chicago is a fairly large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 16 masters’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

UChicago not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best General Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Chicago are $61,548.

Full UChicago General Studies Report

#2

Middle Tennessee State University

Murfreesboro, Tennessee
#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Middle Tennessee State University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Middle Tennessee State University is located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 25 masters’s general studies degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our master’s degree general studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, Middle Tennessee State University has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best General Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Middle Tennessee State University are $26,172.

Read full report on General Studies at Middle Tennessee State University

#3

Tennessee Technological University

Cookeville, Tennessee
#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Tennessee Technological University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Tennessee Technological University is a public institution located in Cookeville, Tennessee. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 31 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree general studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, Tennessee Tech University has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best General Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Tennessee Tech University are $20,498.

Read more about General Studies at Tennessee Technological University

#4

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana
#8 in overall quality

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Ball State University landed the #4 spot on the list. Ball State is located in Muncie, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 masters’s general studies degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ball State, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best General Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ball State University are $26,204, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Ball State General Studies Report

#5

Tennessee State University

Nashville, Tennessee
#5 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Tennessee State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k. This medium-sized school is located in Nashville, Tennessee, and it awarded 25 masters’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Tennessee State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best General Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Tennessee State University are $20,860, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on General Studies at Tennessee State University

#6

East Tennessee State University

Johnson City, Tennessee
#9 in overall quality

East Tennessee State University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. ETSU is a public institution located in Johnson City, Tennessee. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 5 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

ETSU also made our “Best General Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #9. Average graduate tuition and fees at East Tennessee State University are $25,679, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about General Studies at ETSU

#7

University of Memphis

Memphis, Tennessee
#6 in overall quality

University of Memphis landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Memphis, Tennessee, and it awarded 13 masters’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

UofM did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best General Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UofM are $14,202, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on General Studies at UofM

#11 in overall quality

New Mexico State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. Las Cruces, New Mexico is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s general studies degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

NMSU Main Campus also took the #11 spot in our “Best General Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at New Mexico State University - Main Campus are $18,275.

Full New Mexico State University - Main Campus General Studies Report

#9

Austin Peay State University

Clarksville, Tennessee
#7 in overall quality

Austin Peay State University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Austin Peay State University is a fairly large school located in Clarksville, Tennessee that handed out 36 masters’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Austin Peay State University, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best General Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Austin Peay State University are $14,669, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on General Studies at Austin Peay State University

#10 in overall quality

William Paterson University of New Jersey came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. William Paterson University is located in Wayne, New Jersey and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 masters’s general studies degrees to qualified students.

William Paterson University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best General Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at William Paterson University are $20,970, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about General Studies at William Paterson University

#11

Drexel University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
#2 in overall quality

Drexel University landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 2 masters’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Drexel did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best General Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Drexel University are $37,074.

Full Drexel General Studies Report

Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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