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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best International Relations & National Security Schools in California

15 Colleges in the United States
811 International Relations & National Security Degrees Awarded
$49,501 Avg Early-Career Salary

International Relations & National Security is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their international relations & national security programs.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 52 schools to find the best for international relations & national security students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for International Relations & National Security in California

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall international relations & national security education in California.

Top Schools in International Relations & National Security

1
Stanford University crest
Stanford University
Stanford, CA

Stanford University tops our 2026 ranking of the best international relations & national security schools. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. Stanford University awarded about 87 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from Stanford University earn around $76,166 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,492. Read more about the international relations & national security program at Stanford University

2

University Of Southern California is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in international relations & national security, ranking #2. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. University Of Southern California awarded about 127 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $52,262. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $13,765 in student loans. See the full international relations & national security program report for University Of Southern California

3

Students looking for a strong international relations & national security program will find one at Claremont Mckenna College, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Claremont, Claremont Mckenna College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 20 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at Claremont Mckenna College in the most recent year. Graduates of the international relations & national security program make about $66,028 in their early career. Claremont Mckenna College graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Get the full international relations & national security details for Claremont Mckenna College

4

University Of California San Diego came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best international relations & national security schools. Located in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California San Diego awarded about 93 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $68,368. University Of California San Diego graduates carry a median of $17,101 in student loans. See the full international relations & national security program report for University Of California San Diego

5

University Of California Davis came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best international relations & national security schools. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 94 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Davis in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $34,949. Typical student debt for the program is $12,416. Read more about the international relations & national security program at University Of California Davis

6

Claremont Graduate University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best international relations & national security schools. Claremont Graduate University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Claremont. There were roughly 14 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Claremont Graduate University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from Claremont Graduate University generally make around $68,239. Read more about the international relations & national security program at Claremont Graduate University

7
Occidental College crest
Occidental College
Los Angeles, CA

Occidental College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best international relations & national security schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Occidental College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Occidental College graduates 81% of students within six years. There were roughly 26 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Occidental College in the most recent data year. International Relations & National Security graduates of Occidental College earn a median of $35,231 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,275 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in international relations & national security from Occidental College

8

San Diego State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best international relations & national security schools. This very large public university is located in the city of San Diego. San Diego State University graduates 76% of students within six years. About 70 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at San Diego State University in the most recent year. International Relations & National Security graduates of San Diego State University earn a median of $49,617 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,134 to complete this degree. Get the full international relations & national security details for San Diego State University

9

University Of San Diego placed #9 among the best international relations & national security schools. Located in the city of San Diego, University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of San Diego awarded about 48 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from University Of San Diego earn around $50,948 in the first couple years of their career. University Of San Diego graduates carry a median of $24,100 in student loans. Get the full international relations & national security details for University Of San Diego

10

University Of California Riverside came in at #10 for international relations & national security this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Riverside. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 56 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Riverside in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from University Of California Riverside earn around $27,021 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Riverside graduates carry a median of $18,914 in student loans. See the full international relations & national security program report for University Of California Riverside

11

Loyola Marymount University placed #11 among the best international relations & national security schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. About 79% of students finish within six years. Loyola Marymount University awarded about 37 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. International Relations & National Security graduates of Loyola Marymount University earn a median of $34,575 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in international relations & national security from Loyola Marymount University

12

California State University San Bernardino earned the #12 position for international relations & national security this year. California State University San Bernardino is a very large public school located in the city of San Bernardino. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 18 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at California State University San Bernardino in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from California State University San Bernardino generally make around $42,421. Students borrow a median of $15,149 to complete this degree. Read more about the international relations & national security program at California State University San Bernardino

13
University Of San Francisco crest
University Of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA

University Of San Francisco came in at #13 for international relations & national security this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Francisco. About 70% of students finish within six years. University Of San Francisco awarded about 29 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the international relations & national security program make about $36,669 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,508. More information about a degree in international relations & national security from University Of San Francisco

14

San Francisco State University landed the #14 spot for international relations & national security this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Francisco. San Francisco State University graduates 50% of students within six years. There were roughly 44 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at San Francisco State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from San Francisco State University earn around $31,254 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,750. See the full international relations & national security program report for San Francisco State University

15

Monterey Institute Of International Studies came in at #15 for international relations & national security this year. Set in the suburb of Monterey, Monterey Institute Of International Studies is a small private not-for-profit institution. There were roughly 48 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Monterey Institute Of International Studies in the most recent data year. International Relations & National Security graduates of Monterey Institute Of International Studies earn a median of $68,770 early in their careers. See the full international relations & national security program report for Monterey Institute Of International Studies

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 52 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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