2024 Best International Relations & National Security Schools in California
19
Colleges in California
1,387
International Relations Degrees Awarded
$39,402
Avg Early-Career Salary
If you plan on majoring in
international relations & national security, you won't be alone since the degree program is ranked #67 in the country in terms of popularity. As a result, there are many college that offer the degree, making your choice of school a hard one.
In 2024, College Factual analyzed 19 schools in order to identify the top ones for its Best International Relations & National Security Schools in California ranking. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 1,387 degrees in international relations & national security during the 2020-2021 academic year.
What's on this page: * Degree-Level Rankings
Choosing a Great International Relations & National Security School
Your choice of international relations & national security school matters, so we have put together these rankings to help you make your decision. For our Best Overall International Relations & National Security School rankings, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Pick Your International Relations & National Security Degree Level
The international relations school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we've developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of the Best International Relations & National Security Schools in California.
If you'd like to restrict your choices to just one part of the country, you can filter this list by location.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat.
Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
If you want to learn more about how we derive our rankings, see College Factual's Methodology.
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Featured International Relations & National Security Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Best Schools for International Relations & National Security in California
Although we recommend filtering by degree level first, you can view the list below to see which schools give the educational experience for the international relations degree levels they offer.
10 Top California Schools in International Relations
Any student who is interested in international relations & national security needs to check out Stanford University. Located in the large suburb of Stanford, Stanford is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #3 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means Stanford is a great university overall.
There were about 66 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Stanford in the most recent data year. Degree recipients from the international relations & national security program at Stanford University earn $21,040 above the typical graduate in this field shortly after graduation.
More information about a degree in international relations & national security from Stanford University
University of Southern California is a wonderful option for students interested in a degree in international relations & national security. Located in the large city of Los Angeles, USC is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #11 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means USC is a great university overall.
There were approximately 190 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at USC in the most recent year we have data available. International Relations & National Security degree recipients from University of Southern California earn a boost of approximately $9,223 over the typical income of international relations & national security majors.
More information about a degree in international relations & national security from University of Southern California
It is hard to beat Claremont McKenna College if you wish to pursue a degree in international relations & national security. Claremont McKenna is a small private not-for-profit college located in the large suburb of Claremont. A Best Colleges rank of #13 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means Claremont McKenna is a great college overall.
There were about 24 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Claremont McKenna in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in international relations & national security from Claremont McKenna College
University of California - San Diego is a good option for students pursuing a degree in international relations & national security. Located in the city of La Jolla, UCSD is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #38 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means UCSD is a great university overall.
There were approximately 108 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at UCSD in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the international relations & national security program at University of California - San Diego earn $24,137 more than the typical college grad with the same degree shortly after graduation.
More information about a degree in international relations & national security from University of California - San Diego
UC Davis is a very large public university located in the suburb of Davis. A Best Colleges rank of #52 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means UC Davis is a great university overall.
There were about 151 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at UC Davis in the most recent data year. Students who graduate with their degree from the international relations program state that they receive average early career income of $32,132.
More information about a degree in international relations & national security from University of California - Davis
Located in the city of Los Angeles, Oxy is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population. A Best Colleges rank of #180 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means Oxy is a great college overall.
There were approximately 31 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Oxy in the most recent data year. Graduates who receive their degree from the international relations program earn an average of $38,329 in their early career salary.
More information about a degree in international relations & national security from Occidental College
Bachelor's Degree
Highest Degree Type
18th
Most Popular In CA
Pomona is a small private not-for-profit college located in the large suburb of Claremont. A Best Colleges rank of #57 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means Pomona is a great college overall.
There were about 9 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Pomona in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in international relations & national security from Pomona College
Located in the medium-sized suburb of Monterey, Middlebury Institute is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population. This school ranks 34th out of 168 colleges for overall quality in the state of California.
There were approximately 49 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Middlebury Institute in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the international relations & national security major at Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey earn $11,339 more than the standard graduate in this field shortly after graduation.
More information about a degree in international relations & national security from Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey
Bachelor's Degree
Highest Degree Type
9th
Most Popular In CA
51
International Relations Degrees Awarded
Located in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #135 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means Loyola Marymount is a great university overall.
There were roughly 51 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Loyola Marymount in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in international relations & national security from Loyola Marymount University
Located in the large city of San Diego, SDSU is a public university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #141 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means SDSU is a great university overall.
There were about 99 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at SDSU in the most recent year we have data available. Students who graduate with their degree from the international relations program report average early career income of $28,674.
More information about a degree in international relations & national security from San Diego State University
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