2026 Best Value International Relations Schools in North Carolina
[International Relations](/majors/social-sciences/international-relations-national-security/international-relations/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong international relations education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 10 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value international relations schools.
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2026 Best Value International Relations Schools in North Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in international relations, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value International Relations Schools
North Carolina State University At Raleigh earned the #1 spot for value among international relations schools in North Carolina. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,799, with out-of-state students paying around $32,847. Students borrow a median of $22,113 to complete the international relations program here. International Relations graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $51,555 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Duke University earned it the #2 place for international relations. Located in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $68,758. International Relations graduates carry a median of $13,296 in student loans. Soon after graduation, international relations degree recipients from Duke University generally make around $71,278. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Duke University admits about 6% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
