2026 Best International Relations Schools in Iowa

International Relations is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 8 schools to find the best for international relations students.

What’s on this page:

• Best International Relations Schools in Iowa

Best Schools for International Relations in Iowa

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

Drake University
Des Moines, IA

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

10 International Relations Degrees Awarded

$56,228 Median Starting Salary

No school ranked higher than Drake University this year for international relations. Set in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Drake University graduates 73% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 international relations students who graduated with this degree at Drake University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, international relations degree recipients from Drake University generally make around $56,228. Drake University graduates carry a median of $22,273 in student loans. See the full international relations program report for Drake University

2

University Of Iowa
Iowa City, IA

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

24 International Relations Degrees Awarded

$36,376 Median Starting Salary

A rank of #2 makes University Of Iowa one of the top schools for international relations. This very large public university is located in the city of Iowa City. University Of Iowa graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 24 international relations students who graduated with this degree at University Of Iowa in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, international relations degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $36,376. Typical student debt for the program is $26,030. Get the full international relations details for University Of Iowa

Notes and References

This ranking is produced 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 · 8 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.