2026 Best Value International Relations & National Security Schools in Ohio
[International Relations & National Security](/majors/social-sciences/international-relations-national-security/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 17 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for international relations & national security students.
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2026 Best Value International Relations & National Security Schools in Ohio
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the international relations & national security degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value International Relations & National Security Schools
University Of Akron Main Campus tops our 2026 list of the best value international relations & national security schools in Ohio. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $20,815. Students borrow a median of $25,347 to complete the international relations & national security program here. Early-career international relations & national security graduates make about $49,045. That is a strong return on a $25,347 median debt. University Of Akron Main Campus admits about 60% of applicants.
Ohio State University Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in international relations & national security, landing the #2 spot this year. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,244, while out-of-state students pay about $40,022. International Relations & National Security graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Early-career international relations & national security graduates make about $38,584. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Cleveland State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value international relations & national security schools. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,982, while out-of-state students pay about $18,502. Students borrow a median of $25,500 to complete the international relations & national security program here. International Relations & National Security graduates of Cleveland State University earn a median of $31,434 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Kent State University At Kent came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value international relations & national security schools. Located in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,220, with out-of-state students paying around $21,575. Typical student debt for international relations & national security graduates is $25,500. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from Kent State University At Kent generally make around $44,776. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Cincinnati Main Campus one of the best values for international relations & national security. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,363, while out-of-state students pay about $28,697. International Relations & National Security graduates carry a median of $25,625 in student loans. International Relations & National Security graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $32,543 early in their careers. Set against $25,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Miami University Oxford ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value international relations & national security schools. Located in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $17,519, compared with $38,965 for out-of-state students. International Relations & National Security graduates carry a median of $21,977 in student loans. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from Miami University Oxford generally make around $38,766. Set against $21,977 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
