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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 Southeast Region

37 Colleges in the United States
2,395 International Relations & National Security Degrees Awarded
$44,003 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.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 99 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for international relations & national security students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for International Relations & National Security in the Southeast Region

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the international relations & national security degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in International Relations & National Security

1

University Of Virginia Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in international relations & national security. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. University Of Virginia Main Campus awarded about 114 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the international relations & national security program make about $46,870 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,672. More information about a degree in international relations & national security from University Of Virginia Main Campus

2

Students looking for a strong international relations & national security program will find one at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public institution. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates 94% of students within six years. About 47 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn around $83,560 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,323. See the full international relations & national security program report for Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus

3
Auburn University crest
Auburn University
Auburn, AL

Auburn University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in international relations & national security, ranking #3. Set in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public institution. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at Auburn University in the most recent year. International Relations & National Security graduates of Auburn University earn a median of $55,422 early in their careers. Auburn University graduates carry a median of $22,803 in student loans. Read more about the international relations & national security program at Auburn University

4

College Of William And Mary came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best international relations & national security schools. College Of William And Mary is a large public school located in the suburb of Williamsburg. About 89% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 72 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at College Of William And Mary in the most recent data year. Graduates of the international relations & national security program make about $47,270 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete this degree. See the full international relations & national security program report for College Of William And Mary

5
James Madison University crest
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA

Students looking for a strong international relations & national security program will find one at James Madison University, which ranked #5. This very large public university is located in the city of Harrisonburg. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. About 54 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at James Madison University in the most recent year. International Relations & National Security graduates of James Madison University earn a median of $44,667 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,460. More information about a degree in international relations & national security from James Madison University

6
Duke University crest
Duke University
Durham, NC

Duke University came in at #6 for international relations & national security this year. Duke University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Durham. The six-year graduation rate is 97%. Duke University awarded about 66 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from Duke University generally make around $71,278. Typical student debt for the program is $13,296. Read more about the international relations & national security program at Duke University

7

University Of Georgia placed #7 among the best international relations & national security schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Athens. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. There were roughly 202 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at University Of Georgia in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from University Of Georgia earn around $39,275 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree. Get the full international relations & national security details for University Of Georgia

8

Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #8 for international relations & national security this year. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 118 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn around $44,638 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree. Get the full international relations & national security details for Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University

9
Emory University crest
Emory University
Atlanta, GA

Emory University came in at #9 for international relations & national security this year. Located in the city of Atlanta, Emory University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. Emory University awarded about 18 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from Emory University generally make around $45,022. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500. Read more about the international relations & national security program at Emory University

10

Tulane University Of Louisiana came in at #10 for international relations & national security this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New Orleans. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 47 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at Tulane University Of Louisiana in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from Tulane University Of Louisiana generally make around $47,956. Tulane University Of Louisiana graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Get the full international relations & national security details for Tulane University Of Louisiana

11
University Of Miami crest
University Of Miami
Coral Gables, FL

University Of Miami ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best international relations & national security schools. University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Coral Gables. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 35 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at University Of Miami in the most recent year. International Relations & National Security graduates of University Of Miami earn a median of $31,813 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,250 to complete this degree. Get the full international relations & national security details for University Of Miami

12
Florida State University crest
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL

Florida State University earned the #12 position for international relations & national security this year. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. Florida State University graduates 86% of students within six years. Florida State University awarded about 272 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from Florida State University earn around $40,628 in the first couple years of their career. Florida State University graduates carry a median of $17,767 in student loans. More information about a degree in international relations & national security from Florida State University

13

George Mason University landed the #13 spot for international relations & national security this year. George Mason University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 226 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at George Mason University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from George Mason University generally make around $59,015. Typical student debt for the program is $23,000. More information about a degree in international relations & national security from George Mason University

14

East Carolina University came in at #14 for international relations & national security this year. Located in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public university. About 63% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 14 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at East Carolina University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from East Carolina University earn around $51,931 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,747. Read more about the international relations & national security program at East Carolina University

15

University Of Kentucky earned the #15 position for international relations & national security this year. Set in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public institution. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Kentucky awarded about 18 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from University Of Kentucky earn around $47,514 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,094. Read more about the international relations & national security program at University Of Kentucky

16

University Of South Florida Main Campus landed the #16 spot for international relations & national security this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Tampa. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. About 74 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at University Of South Florida Main Campus in the most recent year. International Relations & National Security graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of $30,977 early in their careers. University Of South Florida Main Campus graduates carry a median of $18,250 in student loans. Read more about the international relations & national security program at University Of South Florida Main Campus

17

University Of South Carolina Columbia earned the #17 position for international relations & national security this year. University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. About 79% of students finish within six years. About 30 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at University Of South Carolina Columbia in the most recent year. Graduates of the international relations & national security program make about $33,612 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500. More information about a degree in international relations & national security from University Of South Carolina Columbia

18
Liberty University crest
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA

Liberty University landed the #18 spot for international relations & national security this year. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 67% of students finish within six years. Liberty University awarded about 156 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from Liberty University generally make around $48,897. Typical student debt for the program is $21,750. More information about a degree in international relations & national security from Liberty University

19

Virginia Military Institute earned the #19 position for international relations & national security this year. Set in the town of Lexington, Virginia Military Institute is a small public institution. Virginia Military Institute graduates 76% of students within six years. About 55 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at Virginia Military Institute in the most recent year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from Virginia Military Institute earn around $44,429 in the first couple years of their career. Virginia Military Institute graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. See the full international relations & national security program report for Virginia Military Institute

20

The University Of Alabama landed the #20 spot for international relations & national security this year. Located in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public university. Roughly 73% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 27 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Alabama in the most recent data year. Graduates of the international relations & national security program make about $35,324 in their early career. The University Of Alabama graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. See the full international relations & national security program report for The University Of Alabama

21
Rhodes College crest
Rhodes College
Memphis, TN

Rhodes College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best international relations & national security schools. Rhodes College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Memphis. About 84% of students finish within six years. About 22 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at Rhodes College in the most recent year. Graduates of the international relations & national security program make about $23,835 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,072 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in international relations & national security from Rhodes College

22

West Virginia University landed the #22 spot for international relations & national security this year. West Virginia University is a very large public school located in the city of Morgantown. West Virginia University graduates 64% of students within six years. About 22 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at West Virginia University in the most recent year. International Relations & National Security graduates of West Virginia University earn a median of $51,750 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,772 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in international relations & national security from West Virginia University

23
Wofford College crest
Wofford College
Spartanburg, SC

Wofford College came in at #23 for international relations & national security this year. Set in the city of Spartanburg, Wofford College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Wofford College graduates 84% of students within six years. There were roughly 16 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Wofford College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from Wofford College generally make around $43,428. Wofford College graduates carry a median of $21,375 in student loans. Get the full international relations & national security details for Wofford College

24

North Carolina State University At Raleigh placed #24 among the best international relations & national security schools. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 25 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn around $51,555 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,113. Get the full international relations & national security details for North Carolina State University At Raleigh

25

Middle Tennessee State University landed the #25 spot for international relations & national security this year. Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public school located in the city of Murfreesboro. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. Middle Tennessee State University awarded about 40 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the international relations & national security program make about $43,575 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,754 to complete this degree. See the full international relations & national security program report for Middle Tennessee State University

Rest of the Top 41 International Relations & National Security Schools

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

26
27
28
University Of Mary Washington crest
University Of Mary Washington
Fredericksburg, VA
29
30
Hampden Sydney College crest
Hampden Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney, VA
31
32
University Of Arkansas crest
University Of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR
33
34
35
36
37
Rollins College crest
Rollins College
Winter Park, FL
38
39
40
41
Regent University crest
Regent University
Virginia Beach, VA

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, 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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