ADBLOCK #102
College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best International Security Schools in the Southeast Region

3 Colleges in the United States
170 International Security Degrees Awarded
$51,169 Avg Early-Career Salary

International Security 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 12 schools to find the best for international security students.

What’s on this page:

ADBLOCK #159
DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/social-sciences/international-relations-national-security/international-security/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/social-sciences/international-relations-national-security/international-security/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/social-sciences/international-relations-national-security/international-security/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/social-sciences/international-relations-national-security/international-security/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/social-sciences/international-relations-national-security/international-security/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/social-sciences/international-relations-national-security/international-security/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/social-sciences/international-relations-national-security/international-security/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: offers_data.offers found, count = 7
DEBUG: Specific major detected (cip4 = 45.09), keeping min_relevance at 0.8
DEBUG: Starting relevance filtering - min_relevance = 0.8, max_relevance = 1
DEBUG: Checking offer "Homeland Security (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.6
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Homeland Security (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.6)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Grad Cert - Homeland Security (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.6
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Grad Cert - Homeland Security (I Have a Bachelors)" REJECTED (relevance 0.6)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Homeland Security (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.6
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Homeland Security (I Have a Bachelors)" REJECTED (relevance 0.6)
DEBUG: Checking offer "International Business (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "International Business (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Grad Cert - International Business (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Grad Cert - International Business (I Have a Bachelors)" REJECTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: Checking offer "International Business (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "International Business (I Have a Bachelors)" REJECTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: Checking offer "MBA - International Business (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "MBA - International Business (I Have a Bachelors)" REJECTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 0
DEBUG: No relevant offers, showing generic ESYOH widget

Best Schools for International Security in the Southeast Region

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 security degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in International Security

1
Auburn University crest
Auburn University
Auburn, AL

Auburn University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in international security. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. About 82% of students finish within six years. About 10 international security degrees were awarded at Auburn University in the most recent year. Students who receive their international security degree from Auburn University earn around $55,422 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,803. See the full international security program report for Auburn University

2
Duke University crest
Duke University
Durham, NC

Duke University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in international security, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit university. Duke University graduates 97% of students within six years. There were roughly 20 international security students who graduated with this degree at Duke University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international security degree from Duke University earn around $71,278 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,296 to complete this degree. Read more about the international security program at Duke University

3

A rank of #3 makes East Carolina University one of the top schools for international security. Located in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public university. East Carolina University graduates 63% of students within six years. About 14 international security degrees were awarded at East Carolina University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, international security degree recipients from East Carolina University generally make around $51,931. Students borrow a median of $24,747 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in international security from East Carolina University

4
Liberty University crest
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA

Students looking for a strong international security program will find one at Liberty University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 67% of students finish within six years. About 60 international security degrees were awarded at Liberty University in the most recent year. International Security graduates of Liberty University earn a median of $48,897 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,750 to complete this degree. Read more about the international security program at Liberty University

5

Students looking for a strong international security program will find one at University Of North Georgia, which ranked #5. Located in the town of Dahlonega, University Of North Georgia is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. About 16 international security degrees were awarded at University Of North Georgia in the most recent year. International Security graduates of University Of North Georgia earn a median of $43,564 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in international security from University Of North Georgia

6

Fairmont State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best international security schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Fairmont. About 44% of students finish within six years. Fairmont State University awarded about 50 international security degrees in the most recent data year. International Security graduates of Fairmont State University earn a median of $35,925 early in their careers. Fairmont State University graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans. More information about a degree in international security from Fairmont State University

ADBLOCK #173
View All International Security Rankings >

ADBLOCK #115

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 · 12 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

ADBLOCK #116

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs
ADBLOCK #613

Compare Your School Options