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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best International Relations Schools in District of Columbia

3 Colleges in the United States
2,132 International Relations Degrees Awarded
$63,309 Avg Early-Career Salary

International Relations programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their international relations programs.

College Factual analyzed 6 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best international relations schools.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for International Relations in District of Columbia

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the international relations degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in International Relations

1
Georgetown University crest
Georgetown University
Washington, DC

Georgetown University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in international relations. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Georgetown University graduates 95% of students within six years. There were roughly 639 international relations students who graduated with this degree at Georgetown University in the most recent data year. International Relations graduates of Georgetown University earn a median of $69,394 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,500. Get the full international relations details for Georgetown University

2

A rank of #2 makes George Washington University one of the top schools for international relations. Located in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 704 international relations degrees were awarded at George Washington University in the most recent year. Graduates of the international relations program make about $61,820 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,000. Read more about the international relations program at George Washington University

3
American University crest
American University
Washington, DC

American University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in international relations, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 76% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 789 international relations students who graduated with this degree at American University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, international relations degree recipients from American University generally make around $58,712. American University graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Read more about the international relations program at American University

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 6 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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