2026 Best Value International Security Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[International Security](/majors/social-sciences/international-relations-national-security/international-security/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools to find the best return on investment for international security students.
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2026 Best Value International Security Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in international security, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value International Security Schools
University Of Akron Main Campus tops our 2026 list of the best value international security schools in the Great Lakes Region. University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Akron. Students from in state pay about $13,135 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,815 for out-of-state students. International Security graduates carry a median of $25,347 in student loans. Soon after graduation, international security degree recipients from University Of Akron Main Campus generally make around $49,045. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Akron Main Campus admits about 60% of applicants.
Central Michigan University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in international security, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,480 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for international security graduates is $27,000. International Security graduates of Central Michigan University earn a median of $35,802 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
