2026 Best International Relations Schools in North Carolina

International Relations degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

College Factual analyzed 10 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best international relations schools.

What’s on this page:

• Best International Relations Schools in North Carolina

Best Schools for International Relations in North Carolina

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

Duke University
Durham, NC

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

46 International Relations Degrees Awarded

$71,278 Median Starting Salary

Duke University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in international relations. Duke University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Durham. Roughly 97% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 46 international relations students who graduated with this degree at Duke University in the most recent data year. International Relations graduates of Duke University earn a median of $71,278 early in their careers. Duke University graduates carry a median of $13,296 in student loans. Get the full international relations details for Duke University

2

North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Raleigh, NC

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

21 International Relations Degrees Awarded

$51,555 Median Starting Salary

A rank of #2 makes North Carolina State University At Raleigh one of the top schools for international relations. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 21 international relations degrees were awarded at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent year. International Relations graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $51,555 early in their careers. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates carry a median of $22,113 in student loans. More information about a degree in international relations from North Carolina State University At Raleigh

Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 10 schools evaluated.

• 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.