### SUMMARY

 Choosing to study General Studies is not only a valuable choice, but typically a critical first step for undergrads intending to enter a career as a brand manager, a general manager, or a nonprofit program manager. Interestingly, general studies is somewhat popular coming in at the 36th most popular degree. In the last year, there were 14,691 general studies degrees conferred. In-state tuition for general studies at private institutions is, on average, 3.4 times more pricey than their public fellows.

 There are 413 universities which offer general studies. 413 institutions is on par with other majors offered in the United States. If you're looking to immerse yourself with other general studies majors, look at universities in Texas which have more undergrads admitted to general studies than any other state. less precisely, the top region to get a degree in general studies is in the Southeast region with [Western Kentucky University](/colleges/western-kentucky-university), [University of Louisiana at Lafayette](/colleges/university-of-louisiana-at-lafayette), and [University of Mississippi](/colleges/university-of-mississippi) best representing the region. Interestingly, our pick of the best conference to major in general studies is the Conference USA with [Western Kentucky University](/colleges/western-kentucky-university), [University of North Texas](/colleges/university-of-north-texas), and [Marshall University](/colleges/marshall-university) representing the conference. That being said, our choice for the best school for general studies is [Cornell University](/colleges/cornell-university). You may also want to check out our list of the [best colleges](/rankings/best-colleges).

 The best school does not have to be the best school for every student. There can be tons more facets to think about when deciding on institution. Things like campus amenities, transportation services, and food would change your choice on which university to attend. Here at Authority, we've weighed the pros and cons for you. If, for example, you are intrigued by which general studies university has the best campus, the answer is [University of Connecticut](/colleges/university-of-connecticut). If you are very interested in which college is home to the finest campus, we have a whole page [dedicated to that](/rankings/best-college-campuses). We have carefully pored through government databases, professor reviews, student reviews, and more so we can compare each major in an unbiased and informative way. You can explore our comprehensive list for the universities with the [best student life](/rankings/best-student-life)&nbsphere and from that list, our pick of the university with the best student life for general studies is [Cornell University](/colleges/cornell-university). Are you curious why? Keep reading to learn more about Authority's top selections. Many of our conclusions will probably surprise you.

 If expense is a significant deciding factor in your decisions, you might consider avoiding [Cornell University](/colleges/cornell-university). [Cornell University](/colleges/cornell-university)&nbspis the most expensive university for general studies, at least regarding out of state attendance. We do have a page for the [most expensive](/rankings/most-expensive-colleges)&nbspcolleges that could put the price tag of [Cornell University](/colleges/cornell-university)&nbspinto perspective. Additionally, you may be interested to know that general studies is the 281st most expensive program in the nation, with an average associated cost of $25,500. On a broader scale, the most costly state for general studies in the nation is Oregon with costs at the main university, University of Portland, of $47,478. Even more broadly, the most costly region of the country for general studies is the Mid East region which is best demonstrated with [Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus](/colleges/fairleigh-dickinson-university-florham-campus) with a cost of $43,654, [Cornell University](/colleges/cornell-university) with a cost of $56,550, and [Villanova University](/colleges/villanova-university) with a cost of $54,550.

 Our cheapest region for general studies is the Southeast region which is represented by [Louisiana State University-Alexandria](/colleges/louisiana-state-university-alexandria) with a cost of $4,984, [Louisiana State University-Shreveport](/colleges/louisiana-state-university-shreveport) with a cost of $5,656, and [Mississippi Valley State University](/colleges/mississippi-valley-state-university) with a cost of $6,726. On the bright side, the most affordable school for general studies is [University of South Florida-Sarasota-Manatee](/colleges/university-of-south-florida-sarasota-manatee). Authority's full list of the most affordable colleges can be explored [here](/rankings/most-affordable-colleges).

 In-state attendees can anticipate paying about $8,700 for a degree in general studies. The price inflates by a lot to a median of $18,900 for the out-of-state public-school student. On that note, our choice for the college with the best value for general studies: [Cornell University](/colleges/cornell-university). On this page you can see our comprehensive list about the schools we see as being the [best value](/rankings/best-value-colleges)&nbspin general. Bear in mind, this idea is based on being an out-of-state student. A discussion of value changes when in-state tuition is considered, but we do not know in which states any one student has residency.

 Earnings for general studies students can cover a wide range, but two years after finishing the degree graduates will often make in the neighborhood of $43,100. While there can be a lot of variation in pay; top earners can bring in up to $81,400. Even right out of school, the lowest earning jobs within the general studies field earn $22,100, which isn't that bad. The highest earning graduates from general studies graduated from [Villanova University](/colleges/villanova-university)&nbspand if you want to find the colleges with all of the [highest earning graduates](/rankings/highest-earning-graduates), we have that too.

 The prevailing diversity of general studies ranks decent, coming in the 58th percentile of all majors. The university with the highest composite diversity for general studies is [Cornell University](/colleges/cornell-university)&nbspand here you can find our comprehensive list of the universities with the [most diversity](/rankings/most-diverse-colleges). The financial diversity of General Studies only is within the 61st percentile compared to all other majors. Racial diversity is even less in the 53rd percentile. White undergraduates compose the largest proportion at 60% of students studying general studies. Additionally, 56% of students seeking a general studies major are women.

 The median rating of general studies professors is 4.1 stars, a score which is 2% better than the average score across all majors; which is a good ranking. If you want the most popular general studies instructor in the country, take a look at Kurt Olson at [Modesto Junior College](/colleges/modesto-junior-college). It might surprise you, but the top ranked general studies professors from student rankings come from [George Mason University](/colleges/george-mason-university). As we consider data other than simply rankings we find that the university possessing the overall best professors for general studies is [Cornell University](/colleges/cornell-university). One will find an explanation of our ever evolving ranking methodology of the [best overall professors here](/rankings/best-professors), as well as many of the finest instructors in the country.

 Finally, the hardest university to get into for general studies is [United States Naval Academy](/colleges/united-states-naval-academy). While we do not necessarily see the value in it, we have an extensive list for the [hardest colleges to get into](/rankings/hardest-colleges-to-get-into). That being said, we hope you understand that looking at university with context only informed by superlatives can cause issues. We at Authority hope you explore our other pages on different schools and read a couple of our background articles on important details to consider as you continue your university search.



 ### POPULARITY

 General studies is the 36th most popular degree in America, with 14,691 students receiving their bachelors degree last year. It just beat out #37 [Journalism](/rankings/best-colleges-for-journalism), and narrowly lost to #35 [Civil Engineering](/rankings/best-colleges-for-civil-engineering).

 The degree is offered at a total of 413 colleges across the nation, and is the 53rd most widely offered degree. It is only offered at 16% of the Top 100 [Best Colleges](/rankings/best-colleges) in America.

 It is also worth noting that something like 7/10ths of colleges offering general studies are public making it a quite accessible field.

 The southeast produces the most general studies graduates, largely led by [Western Kentucky University](/colleges/western-kentucky-university), while it’s the Conference USA that leads conference totals. As far as states, Texas ranks highest, with particular help from [University of North Texas](/colleges/university-of-north-texas) and [The University of Texas at Arlington](/colleges/the-university-of-texas-at-arlington).

 All that being said, no individual school produces more general studies graduates than [Central Alabama Community College](/colleges/central-alabama-community-college), which graduated 769 students last year alone. Although size is critical, another important factor to consider is the program’s density (the percent of all students that study general studies). More students studied general studies as a percentage of total students at [Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus](/colleges/fairleigh-dickinson-university-metropolitan-campus) than any other college.



 ### COST

 General studies is the 281st most expensive degree in America, with a median cost of $25,470 among the top 50 programs (just ahead of #282, [Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management](rankings/best-colleges-for-fishing-and-fisheries-sciences-and-management), with a median cost of $25,418).

 The Mid East has the most expensive schools with top 50 general studies programs led by [Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus](/colleges/fairleigh-dickinson-university-florham-campus) with an annual cost of $43,654. The most expensive state for general studies is Oregon led by [University of Portland](/colleges/university-of-portland).

 Public schools with good programs generally charge 70.22% less than private schools for in-state students. However, when looking at out-of-state tuition, the median top 50 Public school charges 35.58% less than your average private school. So make sure to look into public shools in your state as soon as possible.

 The most expensive top 25 college for general studies is [Cornell University](/colleges/cornell-university), which is the 23rd most expensive college in America. The most affordable option in the top 100 is [Brigham Young University-Idaho](/colleges/brigham-young-university-idaho). It costs just $4,208 per year but is ranked 65th for its general studies program. If you’re looking for the least expensive option in the top 25, [University of South Florida-Sarasota-Manatee](/colleges/university-of-south-florida-sarasota-manatee)  could be right for you, ranked #18 with an in-state cost of just $4,206. Another more affordable choice would be #22, [Georgia Southern University](/colleges/georgia-southern-university) in Bulloch County, GA with a cost of $4,371 for in-state students and $15,426 for out-of-state students.



### SALARY

 Begining college is a major investment for most undergraduates. It's important to be assured you get a strong return on that investment. We aim for the following income and job placement information to assist you in deciding your focus at college.

 Right out of college, General Studies majors generate $29,087 a year on average (bottom 16%). After a bit more experience in their careers, they can make as much as $81,360 down to $22,093, but average approximately $43,081. To put it in context, that is 12% above the nation's average.

 The most common job title for a General Studies graduate is Service Representative, which by and large make approximately $22,000; next are Inside Sales Representative and Analyst, which typically earn more or less $26,000 and $54,000 respectively.

 The best paid region for General Studies graduates is The Southwest. WV has the most well paid General Studies alumni of any state. Northeast 10 Conference has the most well paid General Studies graduates of any conference..



### PROFESSORS

 Fast Facts for General Studies: Median Professor Rating: 4.1 / 5, which is above average.

 Professors frequently have an astronomical influence your college experience, no matter what you study. An awesome instructor might help a student find their passion and set a student up for future success. Contrarily, a bad professor can turn you off of an entire field or even worse... flunk you!

 General Studies professors have a median student rating of 4.1 / 5, putting them in the upper 41st percentile in the United States grounded in student approval. For context a 4.1 rating is 2.5% over the national median professor rating for all subjects. Professors of General Studies barely out-ranked those from ["Social Sciences"](/rankings/best-colleges-for-social-sciences), whereas ["Religious Studies"](/rankings/best-colleges-for-religious-studies)&nbspprofessors ranked one slot above General Studies.

 Now for some statistics about General Studies professors. Colleges located in distant rural areas tend to have the best General Studies professors. The Conference Carolinas has the highest rated General Studies professors. The Southeast region has the highest rated General Studies professors. Public colleges tend to have higher rated General Studies professors than private schools. Finally, Montana has the highest rated General Studies professors in the United States.

 Kurt Olson, professor at [Modesto Junior College](/colleges/modesto-junior-college)&nbspin Modesto, CA is the most popular General Studies professor in the nation. David Teeple, professor at [University of California-Santa Cruz](/colleges/university-of-california-santa-cruz)&nbspin Santa Cruz, CA is the highest rated General Studies professor in the US, with a rating of 5 / 5.

 Find out which institutions have the [Best Professors](/rankings/best-professors)!



### STUDENTS

 College can be a profoundly constructive time in one's life; it is an opportunity for individual progress and evolution. Undergrads try to realize their purpose and learn many of the must-have skills to become a flourishing member of society. But learning is more than what one learns in a classroom environment - the discussions which one has with his schoolmates, the personal lesson gained from an old professor, the exposure to a different vantage point. Therefore, finding a diverse college greatly enriches what you gain from your time spent in college.

 General Studies is a slightly more racially diverse subject than average\*. 60% of the nation's General Studies majors are white students, followed by black students (20%), latino students (12%), and students of other races\*\*(6%). The most racially diverse college\* in the top 100 is [University of Wyoming](/colleges/university-of-wyoming)&nbspin Laramie, WY.

 Second, General Studies significatly skews female, with just about five out of every nine students majoring in General Studies identifying as women. The most gender balanced school in the top 100 is [Villanova University](/colleges/villanova-university) in Villanova, PA.

  Another important type of diversity is income diversity. General Studies ranks in the top 39% of programs for wealth diversity. 30% of its students come from families who bring in below $30,000 a year, 16% are from lower middle>income homes, and 23% grew up in families earning more than $110,000 per year. [Oklahoma City University](/colleges/oklahoma-city-university) is the most economically diverse college in the top 100.

 Considering each type of diversity, overall WY is the most diverse state for General Studies. The Great Lakes is the most diverse region, and the Big East Conference is the most diverse conference.

   \* diversity calculations and comparisons are based on [Simpson's Diversity Index](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diversity_index)   
  \*\* other races is used to refer to non asian, black, latino, or white

  #### Diversity Statistics

  ##### Racial Diversity

 * Asian: 2%
* Black: 20%
* Latino: 12%
* White: 60%
* Other: 6%
  ##### Gender Diversity

 * Male: 44%
* Female: 56%
  ##### Socioeconomic Diversity (By Household Income)

 * Under 30k: 30%
* 30k - 48k: 16%
* 48k - 75k: 16%
* 75k - 110k: 15%
* Over 110k: 23%
  ##### Geographic Diversity

 * In State: 72%
* Out of State: 26%
* International: 2%


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2023 General Studies Cost

There are about 911,096 students enrolled in General Studies in the USA.

COST