2026 Best Value International Relations Schools in Tennessee
[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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools to find the best return on investment for international relations students.
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2026 Best Value International Relations Schools in Tennessee
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in international relations, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value International Relations Schools
Middle Tennessee State University tops our 2026 list of the best value international relations schools in Tennessee. Set in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,266, compared with $31,574 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,754 to complete the international relations program here. Early-career international relations graduates make about $43,575. Set against $22,754 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 69%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Memphis earned it the #2 place for international relations. Set in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,728, while out-of-state students pay about $15,384. Students borrow a median of $26,315 to complete the international relations program here. Soon after graduation, international relations degree recipients from University Of Memphis generally make around $48,890. That is a strong return on a $26,315 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Rhodes College earned it the #3 place for international relations. Set in the city of Memphis, Rhodes College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $57,110. International Relations graduates carry a median of $22,072 in student loans. Early-career international relations graduates make about $23,835. Set against $22,072 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Rhodes College admits about 50% of applicants.
More International Relations Rankings
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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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
