2026 Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[International Relations](/majors/social-sciences/international-relations-national-security/international-relations/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 65 schools to find the best return on investment for international relations students.
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2026 Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in international relations, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value International Relations Schools
Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne earned the #1 spot for value among international relations schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,532, while out-of-state students pay about $22,887. International Relations graduates carry a median of $24,119 in student loans. Early-career international relations graduates make about $49,424. Set against $24,119 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne admits about 84% of applicants.
Indiana University Bloomington is a great value for students pursuing a degree in international relations, landing the #2 spot this year. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. Students from in state pay about $12,144 in tuition and fees, compared with $41,891 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for international relations graduates is $19,250. Early-career international relations graduates make about $56,110. Set against $19,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana University Bloomington admits about 78% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Oakland University earned it the #3 place for international relations. Oakland University is a large public school located in the suburb of Rochester Hills. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,167, with out-of-state students paying around $24,735. Typical student debt for international relations graduates is $25,972. International Relations graduates of Oakland University earn a median of $54,785 early in their careers. Set against $25,972 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Students looking for strong value in international relations will find it at University Of Wisconsin Madison, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,603 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Typical student debt for international relations graduates is $21,813. Early-career international relations graduates make about $59,877. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in international relations will find it at Ohio State University Main Campus, which ranked #5. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. Students from in state pay about $13,244 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,022. International Relations graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. International Relations graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $38,584 early in their careers. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Cleveland State University placed #6 among the best values for international relations. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,982, while out-of-state students pay about $18,502. International Relations graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. International Relations graduates of Cleveland State University earn a median of $31,434 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,500 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Central Michigan University came in at #7 for value in international relations this year. Located in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,480. Typical student debt for international relations graduates is $27,000. Early-career international relations graduates make about $35,802. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Central Michigan University admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Chicago placed #8 among the best values for international relations. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $69,324 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for international relations graduates is $15,854. International Relations graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $66,182 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,854 median debt. University Of Chicago admits about 4% of applicants.
Grand Valley State University came in at #9 for value in international relations this year. Grand Valley State University is a very large public school located in the town of Allendale. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,502, while out-of-state students pay about $21,894. Typical student debt for international relations graduates is $19,000. International Relations graduates of Grand Valley State University earn a median of $28,202 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Michigan State University came in at #10 for value in international relations this year. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. Students from in state pay about $18,079 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Typical student debt for international relations graduates is $24,766. Soon after graduation, international relations degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $38,810. Set against $24,766 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Michigan State University admits about 85% of applicants.
Kent State University At Kent came in at #11 for value in international relations this year. Set in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,220, while out-of-state students pay about $21,575. International Relations graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. International Relations graduates of Kent State University At Kent earn a median of $44,776 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus landed the #12 spot for international relations value this year. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,363, with out-of-state students paying around $28,697. Typical student debt for international relations graduates is $25,625. Soon after graduation, international relations degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $32,543. That is a strong return on a $25,625 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Wheaton College Illinois placed #13 among the best values for international relations. Set in the suburb of Wheaton, Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $45,546. International Relations graduates carry a median of $23,875 in student loans. Early-career international relations graduates make about $40,084. That is a strong return on a $23,875 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Miami University Oxford ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value international relations schools. Miami University Oxford is a large public school located in the town of Oxford. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,519, with out-of-state students paying around $38,965. Students borrow a median of $21,977 to complete the international relations program here. Early-career international relations graduates make about $38,766. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Depaul University earned the #15 position for value in international relations this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,405. Students borrow a median of $21,250 to complete the international relations program here. Soon after graduation, international relations degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $41,610. Set against $21,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Marquette University came in at #16 for value in international relations this year. Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Milwaukee. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,170. International Relations graduates carry a median of $20,750 in student loans. International Relations graduates of Marquette University earn a median of $43,290 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,750 median debt. Marquette University admits about 81% of applicants.
Loyola University Chicago placed #17 among the best values for international relations. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $53,710. International Relations graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Early-career international relations graduates make about $32,682. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 65 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
