Compare 82 Education, General. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $46,515. Top programs: $70,584+.
The highest-earning Education, General. program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $50K earnings gap across 82 programs, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand. A regional public can outperform a selective private — and in this field, several do.
Seattle Pacific University leads with Education, General. graduates earning $71K — well above the $47K field average. But the more revealing story is what follows: the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities ($68K, 203 graduates) and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign ($66K) both rank in the top three, demonstrating that accessible public universities produce outcomes that match or beat selective private programs. [Learn how to evaluate programs beyond school prestige →](https://collegeazimuth.com/blog/how-to-evaluate-programs)
For students borrowing independently, University of Washington-Seattle Campus stands out: graduates carry just $14,615 in student debt with a 4.7% payment burden — firmly in the 'Excellent' tier. For families factoring in parent loans, University of Hawaii-West Oahu leads, with a combined family burden of just 12.8% — 'Manageable' by any measure, on $55K in median earnings.
Highest program earnings: $70,584
Strong outcomes ($70,584) with 83% acceptance rate
4.7% payment burden | Excellent — payment under 8% of discretionary
12.8% family burden | Manageable — payment 12-18% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Seattle Pacific UniversityPrivate | $70,584 | 14 | $24,000 | Excellent | $37,687 | Challenging |
| #2 | $67,795 | 203 | $19,500 | Excellent | $25,729 | Manageable | |
| #3 | $65,864 | 11 | $19,500 | Excellent | $34,511 | Challenging | |
| #4 | Denison UniversityPrivate | $65,429 | 23 | $26,000 | Good | $45,521 | High |
| #5 | $65,217 | 150 | $14,615 | Excellent | $24,883 | Manageable | |
| #6 | Chapman UniversityPrivate | $64,917 | 65 | $20,500 | Excellent | $44,954 | Challenging |
| #7 | Monmouth UniversityPrivate | $63,068 | 60 | $27,000 | Good | $49,390 | High |
| #8 | Syracuse UniversityPrivate | $62,372 | 22 | $26,000 | Good | $39,841 | Challenging |
| #9 | $60,138 | 24 | — | — | — | — | |
| #10 | Colgate UniversityPrivate | $57,530 | 18 | $15,000 | Excellent | $59,463 | High |
| #11 | $57,410 | 171 | — | — | — | — | |
| #12 | Mount Holyoke CollegePrivate | $57,051 | 7 | $22,902 | Good | $31,129 | Challenging |
| #13 | Beloit CollegePrivate | $56,414 | 11 | $25,738 | Good | $32,004 | High |
| #14 | Merrimack CollegePrivate | $55,180 | 13 | $27,000 | Good | $50,540 | High |
| #15 | $55,116 | 52 | $17,622 | Excellent | $18,946 | Manageable | |
| #16 | $54,648 | 32 | $14,500 | Excellent | $13,507 | Manageable | |
| #17 | University Of OregonPublic | $54,434 | 69 | $20,139 | Good | $44,405 | High |
| #18 | $54,356 | 251 | $15,000 | Excellent | $22,665 | Manageable | |
| #19 | Pacific UniversityPrivate | $53,333 | 26 | $23,223 | Good | $33,960 | High |
| #20 | Springfield CollegePrivate | $53,222 | 30 | $26,250 | Good | $30,000 | High |
| #21 | Sonoma State UniversityPublic | $52,842 | 130 | $16,705 | Excellent | $27,986 | Challenging |
| #22 | $52,243 | 131 | $23,250 | Good | $37,401 | High | |
| #23 | Southwestern UniversityPrivate | $52,035 | 22 | $25,000 | Good | $46,546 | High |
| #24 | $51,781 | 27 | $19,500 | Good | $23,519 | Challenging | |
| #25 | $51,176 | 31 | $20,500 | Good | $15,500 | Challenging |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on May 2026 refresh for 2026 rankings, based on Department of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
