2026 Best Value International Relations & National Security Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region

[International Relations & National Security](/majors/social-sciences/international-relations-national-security/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 12 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value international relations & national security schools.
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2026 Best Value International Relations & National Security Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
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
Utah Valley University tops our 2026 list of the best value international relations & national security schools in the Rocky Mountains Region. Utah Valley University is a very large public school located in the city of Orem. Students from in state pay about $6,507 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,489. Typical student debt for international relations & national security graduates is $16,478. Early-career international relations & national security graduates make about $51,242. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Brigham Young University Provo came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value international relations & national security schools. Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Provo. In-state tuition and fees average $6,688. Typical student debt for international relations & national security graduates is $12,184. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from Brigham Young University Provo generally make around $50,563. That is a strong return on a $12,184 median debt. Brigham Young University Provo admits about 68% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in international relations & national security will find it at University Of Idaho, which ranked #3. Located in the town of Moscow, University Of Idaho is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,084, with out-of-state students paying around $28,320. Students borrow a median of $24,400 to complete the international relations & national security program here. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from University Of Idaho generally make around $30,261. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Idaho admits about 76% of applicants.
University Of Denver is a great value for students pursuing a degree in international relations & national security, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Denver, University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $61,398 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for international relations & national security graduates is $19,500. Early-career international relations & national security graduates make about $46,375. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
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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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.