2026 Best Value International Relations Schools in Illinois
[International Relations](/majors/social-sciences/international-relations-national-security/international-relations/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for international relations students.
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2026 Best Value International Relations Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the international relations degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value International Relations Schools
Leading the list is University Of Chicago, our #1 best value for international relations in Illinois. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,324. Typical student debt for international relations graduates is $15,854. Soon after graduation, international relations degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $66,182. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Chicago admits about 4% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in international relations will find it at Wheaton College Illinois, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Wheaton, Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $45,546 in tuition and fees. International Relations graduates carry a median of $23,875 in student loans. Soon after graduation, international relations degree recipients from Wheaton College Illinois generally make around $40,084. Set against $23,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Depaul University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value international relations schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,405. Students borrow a median of $21,250 to complete the international relations program here. Early-career international relations graduates make about $41,610. Set against $21,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Loyola University Chicago came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value international relations schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $53,710. Typical student debt for international relations graduates is $21,500. International Relations graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $32,682 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
