2026 Best Value International Relations & National Security Schools in Virginia
[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.
College Factual analyzed 19 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 Virginia
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
For return on investment in international relations & national security, no school beat George Mason University this year. George Mason University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. In-state tuition and fees average $14,220, while out-of-state students pay about $38,688. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete the international relations & national security program here. Early-career international relations & national security graduates make about $59,015. That is a strong return on a $23,000 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in international relations & national security will find it at Old Dominion University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,750, compared with $33,780 for out-of-state students. International Relations & National Security graduates carry a median of $25,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from Old Dominion University generally make around $33,581. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Virginia Military Institute earned it the #3 place for international relations & national security. Set in the town of Lexington, Virginia Military Institute is a small public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,046, with out-of-state students paying around $52,638. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the international relations & national security program here. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from Virginia Military Institute generally make around $44,429. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in international relations & national security will find it at Regent University, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Virginia Beach, Regent University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,650. Typical student debt for international relations & national security graduates is $29,451. Early-career international relations & national security graduates make about $50,406. That is a strong return on a $29,451 median debt. The acceptance rate is 38%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at James Madison University earned it the #5 place for international relations & national security. James Madison University is a very large public school located in the city of Harrisonburg. Students from in state pay about $13,966 in tuition and fees, compared with $31,312 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for international relations & national security graduates is $18,460. International Relations & National Security graduates of James Madison University earn a median of $44,667 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
University Of Mary Washington ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value international relations & national security schools. University Of Mary Washington is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Fredericksburg. In-state tuition and fees average $14,905, compared with $28,083 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for international relations & national security graduates is $25,086. International Relations & National Security graduates of University Of Mary Washington earn a median of $30,357 early in their careers. Set against $25,086 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
College Of William And Mary earned the #7 position for value in international relations & national security this year. Located in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $25,734, while out-of-state students pay about $51,038. Typical student debt for international relations & national security graduates is $21,000. Early-career international relations & national security graduates make about $47,270. That is a strong return on a $21,000 median debt. Roughly 34% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Virginia Main Campus placed #8 among the best values for international relations & national security. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $23,118, compared with $61,591 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for international relations & national security graduates is $20,672. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $46,870. Set against $20,672 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 17% of applicants are accepted.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value international relations & national security schools. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,948, while out-of-state students pay about $37,764. International Relations & National Security graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Early-career international relations & national security graduates make about $44,638. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Hampden Sydney College earned the #10 position for value in international relations & national security this year. Set in the rural area of Hampden-Sydney, Hampden Sydney College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $54,550. Students borrow a median of $26,494 to complete the international relations & national security program here. Early-career international relations & national security graduates make about $45,238. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 41%.
Liberty University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value international relations & national security schools. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. Students from in state pay about $16,173 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for international relations & national security graduates is $21,750. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from Liberty University generally make around $48,897. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
More International Relations & National Security Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.
