2026 Best Value International Relations & National Security Schools in Alabama
[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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools to find the best return on investment for international relations & national security students.
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2026 Best Value International Relations & National Security Schools in Alabama
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
Troy University earned the #1 spot for value among international relations & national security schools in Alabama. Set in the town of Troy, Troy University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,176 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,352 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,439 to complete the international relations & national security program here. International Relations & National Security graduates of Troy University earn a median of $79,581 early in their careers. Set against $26,439 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Students looking for strong value in international relations & national security will find it at The University Of Alabama, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,180, with out-of-state students paying around $34,172. International Relations & National Security graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. International Relations & National Security graduates of The University Of Alabama earn a median of $35,324 early in their careers. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Auburn University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in international relations & national security, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,890, with out-of-state students paying around $34,922. Typical student debt for international relations & national security graduates is $22,803. International Relations & National Security graduates of Auburn University earn a median of $55,422 early in their careers. Set against $22,803 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 46% 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 · 7 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.
