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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Southwest Region

15 Colleges in the United States
646 International Relations & National Security Degrees Awarded
$54,214 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 29 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 Southwest 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

Leading the list is The University Of Texas At Austin, our #1 school for international relations & national security. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. The University Of Texas At Austin awarded about 62 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $61,625. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates carry a median of $21,275 in student loans. Get the full international relations & national security details for The University Of Texas At Austin

2

A rank of #2 makes Texas A And M University College Station one of the top schools for international relations & national security. This very large public university is located in the city of College Station. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 112 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from Texas A And M University College Station earn around $62,296 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,031. Get the full international relations & national security details for Texas A And M University College Station

3
Rice University crest
Rice University
Houston, TX

Rice University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best international relations & national security schools. Located in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 18 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at Rice University in the most recent year. Graduates of the international relations & national security program make about $82,320 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,904 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in international relations & national security from Rice University

4

A rank of #4 makes Arizona State University Skysong one of the top schools for international relations & national security. Arizona State University Skysong is a very large public school located in the city of Scottsdale. There were roughly 121 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Arizona State University Skysong in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from Arizona State University Skysong generally make around $68,957. Arizona State University Skysong graduates carry a median of $23,742 in student loans. See the full international relations & national security program report for Arizona State University Skysong

5

Baylor University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in international relations & national security, ranking #5. Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Waco. Baylor University graduates 80% of students within six years. Baylor University awarded about 34 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from Baylor University earn around $37,507 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,409. See the full international relations & national security program report for Baylor University

6

University Of Arizona ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best international relations & national security schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Tucson. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 44 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at University Of Arizona in the most recent year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from University Of Arizona earn around $75,863 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,861. More information about a degree in international relations & national security from University Of Arizona

7
Angelo State University crest
Angelo State University
San Angelo, TX

Angelo State University came in at #7 for international relations & national security this year. Set in the city of San Angelo, Angelo State University is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. Angelo State University awarded about 82 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. International Relations & National Security graduates of Angelo State University earn a median of $56,883 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,066 to complete this degree. See the full international relations & national security program report for Angelo State University

8

Northern Arizona University placed #8 among the best international relations & national security schools. Northern Arizona University is a very large public school located in the city of Flagstaff. About 61% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 23 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Northern Arizona University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from Northern Arizona University earn around $29,924 in the first couple years of their career. Northern Arizona University graduates carry a median of $20,632 in student loans. Read more about the international relations & national security program at Northern Arizona University

9

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott came in at #9 for international relations & national security this year. Located in the city of Prescott, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott awarded about 55 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott earn around $46,868 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,901 to complete this degree. Read more about the international relations & national security program at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott

10

The University Of Texas At El Paso earned the #10 position for international relations & national security this year. Set in the city of El Paso, The University Of Texas At El Paso is a very large public institution. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 36 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At El Paso in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from The University Of Texas At El Paso earn around $79,569 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,819. More information about a degree in international relations & national security from The University Of Texas At El Paso

11

Texas State University San Marcos earned the #11 position for international relations & national security this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Marcos. About 55% of students finish within six years. Texas State University San Marcos awarded about 12 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from Texas State University San Marcos earn around $20,547 in the first couple years of their career. Texas State University San Marcos graduates carry a median of $18,344 in student loans. Read more about the international relations & national security program at Texas State University San Marcos

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St Marys University crest
St Marys University
San Antonio, TX

St Marys University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best international relations & national security schools. Located in the city of San Antonio, St Marys University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 59% of students finish within six years. About 12 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at St Marys University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from St Marys University generally make around $56,547. St Marys University graduates carry a median of $25,040 in student loans. See the full international relations & national security program report for St Marys University

13

The University Of Texas At San Antonio earned the #13 position for international relations & national security this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Antonio. About 53% of students finish within six years. The University Of Texas At San Antonio awarded about 35 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. International Relations & National Security graduates of The University Of Texas At San Antonio earn a median of $25,879 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,343. Get the full international relations & national security details for The University Of Texas At San Antonio

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 29 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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