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2026 Best Value International Relations & National Security Schools in Wisconsin

[International Relations & National Security](/majors/social-sciences/international-relations-national-security/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong international relations & national security education at a price that pays off.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 8 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for international relations & national security students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value International Relations & National Security Schools in Wisconsin

2026 Best Value International Relations & National Security Schools in Wisconsin

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

1

University Of Wisconsin Madison
Madison, WI

$11,603 In-State Tuition & Fees

$21,813 Avg Student Debt

$73,792 Median Earnings (10yr)

Our analysis ranked University Of Wisconsin Madison the best value for a degree in international relations & national security in Wisconsin. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Typical student debt for international relations & national security graduates is $21,813. Early-career international relations & national security graduates make about $59,877. That is a strong return on a $21,813 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.

2

Marquette University
Milwaukee, WI

$51,170 In-State Tuition & Fees

$20,750 Avg Student Debt

$78,257 Median Earnings (10yr)

A rank of #2 makes Marquette University one of the best values for international relations & national security. Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Milwaukee. In-state tuition and fees average $51,170. Typical student debt for international relations & national security graduates is $20,750. International Relations & National Security graduates of Marquette University earn a median of $43,290 early in their careers. Set against $20,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.

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Notes and References

This list is compiled 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 · 8 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.