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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

39 Colleges in the United States
4,567 International Relations & National Security Degrees Awarded
$53,303 Avg Early-Career Salary

International Relations & National Security programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their international relations & national security programs.

College Factual analyzed 99 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best international relations & national security schools.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for International Relations & National Security in the Middle Atlantic Region

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

Top Schools in International Relations & National Security

1
Georgetown University crest
Georgetown University
Washington, DC

No school ranked higher than Georgetown University this year for international relations & national security. Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. About 95% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 639 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Georgetown University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $69,394. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete this degree. Read more about the international relations & national security program at Georgetown University

2

A rank of #2 makes Pennsylvania State University Main Campus one of the top schools for international relations & national security. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 97 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Get the full international relations & national security details for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus

3
Colgate University crest
Colgate University
Hamilton, NY

Colgate University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in international relations & national security, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the rural area of Hamilton, Colgate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. Colgate University awarded about 37 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from Colgate University earn around $52,924 in the first couple years of their career. Colgate University graduates carry a median of $16,286 in student loans. Read more about the international relations & national security program at Colgate University

4
University Of Pennsylvania crest
University Of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA

University Of Pennsylvania is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in international relations & national security, landing the #4 spot this year. University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 22 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from University Of Pennsylvania earn around $65,559 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $10,470 in student loans. Get the full international relations & national security details for University Of Pennsylvania

5
Lafayette College crest
Lafayette College
Easton, PA

Lafayette College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in international relations & national security, landing the #5 spot this year. Lafayette College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Easton. Lafayette College graduates 88% of students within six years. There were roughly 25 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Lafayette College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from Lafayette College earn around $58,433 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,620. Read more about the international relations & national security program at Lafayette College

6

Johns Hopkins University placed #6 among the best international relations & national security schools. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. Johns Hopkins University graduates 94% of students within six years. Johns Hopkins University awarded about 868 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from Johns Hopkins University earn around $60,277 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in international relations & national security from Johns Hopkins University

7

University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus came in at #7 for international relations & national security this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 41 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $60,025. Typical student debt for the program is $24,958. More information about a degree in international relations & national security from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus

8

Cornell University landed the #8 spot for international relations & national security this year. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Cornell University awarded about 15 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $75,976. Cornell University graduates carry a median of $15,005 in student loans. Read more about the international relations & national security program at Cornell University

9

George Washington University landed the #9 spot for international relations & national security this year. Located in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 84% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 704 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at George Washington University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the international relations & national security program make about $61,820 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,000. Get the full international relations & national security details for George Washington University

10

Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #10 for international relations & national security this year. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. Columbia University In The City Of New York awarded about 266 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from Columbia University In The City Of New York earn around $80,448 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete this degree. Read more about the international relations & national security program at Columbia University In The City Of New York

11

Carnegie Mellon University placed #11 among the best international relations & national security schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Pittsburgh. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 23 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from Carnegie Mellon University earn around $89,327 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete this degree. Get the full international relations & national security details for Carnegie Mellon University

12
Dickinson College crest
Dickinson College
Carlisle, PA

Dickinson College came in at #12 for international relations & national security this year. Set in the city of Carlisle, Dickinson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 80% of students finish within six years. Dickinson College awarded about 14 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from Dickinson College earn around $39,937 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000. More information about a degree in international relations & national security from Dickinson College

13

University Of Maryland College Park earned the #13 position for international relations & national security this year. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. University Of Maryland College Park graduates 89% of students within six years. There were roughly 18 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $57,901. Students borrow a median of $20,836 to complete this degree. Get the full international relations & national security details for University Of Maryland College Park

14
American University crest
American University
Washington, DC

American University earned the #14 position for international relations & national security this year. American University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. About 76% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 789 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at American University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the international relations & national security program make about $58,712 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250. See the full international relations & national security program report for American University

15
New York University crest
New York University
New York, NY

New York University came in at #15 for international relations & national security this year. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. New York University graduates 88% of students within six years. There were roughly 225 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at New York University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from New York University generally make around $59,814. Typical student debt for the program is $21,897. Get the full international relations & national security details for New York University

16

Pennsylvania State University World Campus came in at #16 for international relations & national security this year. This large public university is located in the city of University Park. Pennsylvania State University World Campus graduates 34% of students within six years. Pennsylvania State University World Campus awarded about 24 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Read more about the international relations & national security program at Pennsylvania State University World Campus

17
Bucknell University crest
Bucknell University
Lewisburg, PA

Bucknell University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best international relations & national security schools. Set in the town of Lewisburg, Bucknell University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 32 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at Bucknell University in the most recent year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from Bucknell University earn around $77,312 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,951 to complete this degree. See the full international relations & national security program report for Bucknell University

18
Suny At Albany crest
Suny At Albany
Albany, NY

Suny At Albany landed the #18 spot for international relations & national security this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Albany. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. There were roughly 18 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Suny At Albany in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from Suny At Albany generally make around $44,736. Suny At Albany graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans. Read more about the international relations & national security program at Suny At Albany

19
Lehigh University crest
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA

Lehigh University placed #19 among the best international relations & national security schools. Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bethlehem. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 14 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Lehigh University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the international relations & national security program make about $36,147 in their early career. Lehigh University graduates carry a median of $21,250 in student loans. See the full international relations & national security program report for Lehigh University

20

University Of Rochester landed the #20 spot for international relations & national security this year. University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Rochester. About 85% of students finish within six years. University Of Rochester awarded about 14 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from University Of Rochester earn around $60,865 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,750 to complete this degree. Read more about the international relations & national security program at University Of Rochester

21
Excelsior College crest
Excelsior College
Albany, NY

Excelsior College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best international relations & national security schools. Located in the city of Albany, Excelsior College is a large private not-for-profit university. There were roughly 22 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Excelsior College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from Excelsior College earn around $70,677 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,311. Get the full international relations & national security details for Excelsior College

22

Cuny Bernard M Baruch College landed the #22 spot for international relations & national security this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a very large public university. Cuny Bernard M Baruch College graduates 72% of students within six years. Cuny Bernard M Baruch College awarded about 43 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from Cuny Bernard M Baruch College generally make around $67,588. Cuny Bernard M Baruch College graduates carry a median of $11,691 in student loans. Get the full international relations & national security details for Cuny Bernard M Baruch College

23
Vassar College crest
Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, NY

Vassar College earned the #23 position for international relations & national security this year. Vassar College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 22 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Vassar College in the most recent data year. International Relations & National Security graduates of Vassar College earn a median of $31,956 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,232. See the full international relations & national security program report for Vassar College

24

Fordham University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best international relations & national security schools. Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bronx. Fordham University graduates 82% of students within six years. About 99 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at Fordham University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from Fordham University generally make around $53,681. Fordham University graduates carry a median of $25,843 in student loans. More information about a degree in international relations & national security from Fordham University

25

The College Of New Jersey came in at #25 for international relations & national security this year. Located in the suburb of Ewing, The College Of New Jersey is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. The College Of New Jersey awarded about 12 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. International Relations & National Security graduates of The College Of New Jersey earn a median of $34,841 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,952 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in international relations & national security from The College Of New Jersey

Rest of the Top 38 International Relations & National Security Schools

These schools rounded out the top of this year’s international relations & national security ranking:

26
27
Syracuse University crest
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY
28
29
Cuny City College crest
Cuny City College
New York, NY
30
Seton Hall University crest
Seton Hall University
South Orange, NJ
31
Towson University crest
Towson University
Towson, MD
32
Suny At Geneseo crest
Suny At Geneseo
Geneseo, NY
33
Skidmore College crest
Skidmore College
Saratoga Springs, NY
34
35
Duquesne University crest
Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, PA
36
37
The New School crest
The New School
New York, NY
38

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Notes and References

This list is compiled 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 · 99 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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