International Relations & National Security degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their international relations & national security programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 449 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for international relations & national security students pursuing a degree.
Our analysis ranked Brown University the best school in the country for a degree in international relations & national security. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Providence. About 96% of students finish within six years. Brown University awarded about 111 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. International Relations & National Security graduates of Brown University earn a median of $46,284 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000.
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Georgetown University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in international relations & national security, ranking #2. Located in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 289 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at Georgetown University in the most recent year. Graduates of the international relations & national security program make about $50,588 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,500.
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A rank of #3 makes Stanford University one of the top schools for international relations & national security. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. About 92% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 59 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from Stanford University earn around $76,166 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree.
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Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in international relations & national security, landing the #4 spot this year. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 97 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year.
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Students looking for a strong international relations & national security program will find one at Colgate University, which ranked #5. Located in the rural area of Hamilton, Colgate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. Colgate University awarded about 37 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. International Relations & National Security graduates of Colgate University earn a median of $52,924 early in their careers. Colgate University graduates carry a median of $16,286 in student loans.
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Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus came in at #6 for international relations & national security this year. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 37 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the international relations & national security program make about $83,560 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,323 to complete this degree.
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Tufts University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best international relations & national security schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Medford. About 94% of students finish within six years. Tufts University awarded about 98 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from Tufts University generally make around $54,079. Students borrow a median of $16,375 to complete this degree.
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Yale University placed #8 among the best international relations & national security schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New Haven. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 72 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at Yale University in the most recent year. Graduates of the international relations & national security program make about $74,578 in their early career. Yale University graduates carry a median of $14,357 in student loans.
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University Of Pennsylvania landed the #9 spot for international relations & national security this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 22 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from University Of Pennsylvania earn around $65,559 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,470.
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Johns Hopkins University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best international relations & national security schools. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Johns Hopkins University graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 75 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the international relations & national security program make about $44,004 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of Chicago landed the #11 spot for international relations & national security this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. University Of Chicago graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 23 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at University Of Chicago in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $66,182. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans.
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University Of Virginia Main Campus placed #12 among the best international relations & national security schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Charlottesville. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. University Of Virginia Main Campus awarded about 107 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from University Of Virginia Main Campus earn around $46,870 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates carry a median of $20,672 in student loans.
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Lafayette College placed #13 among the best international relations & national security schools. Set in the suburb of Easton, Lafayette College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. About 25 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at Lafayette College in the most recent year. Graduates of the international relations & national security program make about $58,433 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,620 to complete this degree.
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University Of Southern California ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best international relations & national security schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Southern California awarded about 124 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from University Of Southern California earn around $52,262 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,765 to complete this degree.
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Claremont Mckenna College landed the #15 spot for international relations & national security this year. Claremont Mckenna College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Claremont. About 91% of students finish within six years. Claremont Mckenna College awarded about 20 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from Claremont Mckenna College generally make around $66,028. Claremont Mckenna College graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans.
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Wellesley College placed #16 among the best international relations & national security schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Wellesley. Wellesley College graduates 92% of students within six years. Wellesley College awarded about 19 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. International Relations & National Security graduates of Wellesley College earn a median of $48,902 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,075 to complete this degree.
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College Of William And Mary came in at #17 for international relations & national security this year. Set in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. There were roughly 72 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at College Of William And Mary in the most recent data year. Graduates of the international relations & national security program make about $47,270 in their early career. College Of William And Mary graduates carry a median of $21,000 in student loans.
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George Washington University earned the #18 position for international relations & national security this year. George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 398 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at George Washington University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the international relations & national security program make about $52,933 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,000.
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Brigham Young University Provo placed #19 among the best international relations & national security schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Provo. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 41 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Brigham Young University Provo in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from Brigham Young University Provo generally make around $50,563. Brigham Young University Provo graduates carry a median of $12,184 in student loans.
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University Of California Davis ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best international relations & national security schools. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. University Of California Davis graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 94 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Davis in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from University Of California Davis earn around $34,949 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Davis graduates carry a median of $12,416 in student loans.
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James Madison University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best international relations & national security schools. Set in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public institution. About 80% of students finish within six years. James Madison University awarded about 54 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from James Madison University generally make around $44,667. Typical student debt for the program is $18,460.
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Middlebury College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best international relations & national security schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Middlebury. About 91% of students finish within six years. About 45 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at Middlebury College in the most recent year. International Relations & National Security graduates of Middlebury College earn a median of $68,344 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,948 to complete this degree.
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Carnegie Mellon University earned the #23 position for international relations & national security this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Carnegie Mellon University awarded about 16 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from Carnegie Mellon University earn around $89,327 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete this degree.
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Dickinson College came in at #24 for international relations & national security this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Carlisle. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. About 14 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at Dickinson College in the most recent year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from Dickinson College earn around $39,937 in the first couple years of their career. Dickinson College graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans.
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New York University placed #25 among the best international relations & national security schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. New York University graduates 88% of students within six years. About 95 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Graduates of the international relations & national security program make about $59,814 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,897 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 International Relations & National Security Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s international relations & national security ranking:
The ranking above is published 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 · 449 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).
