Program Matcher
General Studies Programs
Find Your General Studies Degree in About a Minute
Our general studies degree finder asks six quick questions about the degree you want and how you want to earn it, then compares all 646 programs in our data and shows you the ones that fit.
Takes about a minute. No sign-up.
Question 1 of 6
Which Degree Are You Working Toward?
Question 2 of 6
How Do You Want to Take Classes?
Online means the college reports you can finish the degree at a distance.
Question 3 of 6
Where Do You Live?
Campus programs need to be near you, and public colleges charge residents less than out-of-state students.
Question 4 of 6
What Do You Want From the Degree?
Pick any that sound like you.
Question 5 of 6
What Matters Most in a Program?
Choose up to three.
Question 6 of 6
Anything Else We Should Know?
Your job, your schedule, the credits you already have. Skip it if nothing comes to mind.
Please leave out your name and contact details.
Finding Your Matches
- Checking 646 programs against your answers
- Reading what each program offers
- Ranking your best fits
Your Results
Your Top General Studies Program Matches
Close Matches
How the General Studies Degree Finder Works
You don't need a college in mind yet. Tell the general studies degree finder what level you want, how you want to take classes and where you live, and it does the comparing for you.
You Answer Six Questions
The degree level, how you take classes, your state, what you want from the degree, what matters most and anything else you'd like us to weigh.
We Read 646 Programs
The degree finder keeps the programs that meet your answers, then reads each one's published details and our review against what you told us.
You Get Your Matches
Up to five programs, each with a match percentage, the facts behind it and a link to its card on our ranking pages.
What Our General Studies Degree Finder Compares
The Degree Level
432 associate's programs, 179 bachelor's programs, 25 master's programs and 10 doctoral programs, each with a card in our rankings.
How You Take Classes
233 programs are reported by their colleges as completable fully online, 171 at the associate's level and 54 at the bachelor's level. The rest are taught on campus.
Where You Live
Our programs sit in 50 states and Washington, D.C.. Online programs reach you anywhere. Campus programs need to be near you, so the finder starts with your state.
What It Costs
The median full-time year of tuition and fees is $5,780 for the associate's programs and $10,026 for the bachelor's programs. Pick "Low tuition" and the price you would pay counts for more.
Graduation Rate
College graduation rates in the finder run from 9% to 95% of first-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of the normal time. Pick "High graduation rate" to weigh it more.
Kind of College
510 programs are at public colleges and 131 at private nonprofit ones. 26 are at historically Black colleges and universities, and 213 award 100 or more degrees a year.
Rather browse on your own? Every program in the finder has a card in our rankings. Start with the best bachelor's degrees in general studies, the associate degrees, the online bachelor's degrees or the programs in your state.
Which General Studies Degree Fits What You Want?
Finishing a Degree With Credits You Have
If you stopped short of a degree, a general studies program can be the quickest way to put earlier credits to use. 82 of the 108 programs with a researched write-up describe transfer credit, flexible schedules or adult students. Compare the online bachelor's degrees first, then confirm your credits with the college.
Building a Focus Around Your Interests
General studies lets you choose minors or concentrations instead of one fixed major. 78 of the 108 write-ups describe that kind of flexibility. Pick "Build a focus around my interests" in question four and the finder favors those programs.
Getting Ready for Graduate School
An associate degree can transfer toward a bachelor's, and a bachelor's can lead to a master's. 65 of the 108 write-ups mention a capstone, research or a clear next degree. The master's programs in liberal and general studies show where graduate study leads.
Changing Careers or Moving Up
Many employers ask for a bachelor's degree in any field. 31 of the 108 write-ups point to internships, professional skills or career services. See what the degree can lead to in our careers guides and salary pages.
Why the Degree Finder Sometimes Shows Close Matches
Some answers narrow the field fast. A campus doctoral program in a small state may not exist, and only 10 doctoral programs are in our rankings.
When fewer than five programs fit every answer, the finder lists those first, then fills the rest with close matches. Each one misses exactly one of your answers, and its card names it. Close matches in your own state come before any that would mean moving.