International & Comparative Education is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for international & comparative education students pursuing a degree.
Choosing a Great International & Comparative Education School
The international & comparative education program you select can have a big impact on your future. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for International & Comparative Education rankings. For our Best Overall International & Comparative Education School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
International & Comparative Education Rankings by Degree Level
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best International & Comparative Education Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Best Schools for International & Comparative Education in the United States
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 & comparative education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in International & Comparative Education
Leading the list is New York University, our #1 school for international & comparative education. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. New York University graduates 88% of students within six years. About 25 international & comparative education degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Students who receive their international & comparative education degree from New York University earn around $64,516 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,897.
More information about a degree in international & comparative education from New York University
Students looking for a strong international & comparative education program will find one at Duke University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 97%. About 21 international & comparative education degrees were awarded at Duke University in the most recent year. Students who receive their international & comparative education degree from Duke University earn around $40,723 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,000.
Read more about the international & comparative education program at Duke University
A rank of #3 makes George Washington University one of the top schools for international & comparative education. Located in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit university. George Washington University graduates 84% of students within six years. About 55 international & comparative education degrees were awarded at George Washington University in the most recent year. Graduates of the international & comparative education program make about $59,211 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,910.
More information about a degree in international & comparative education from George Washington University
A rank of #4 makes Arizona State University Skysong one of the top schools for international & comparative education. Set in the city of Scottsdale, Arizona State University Skysong is a very large public institution. There were roughly 14 international & comparative education students who graduated with this degree at Arizona State University Skysong in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, international & comparative education degree recipients from Arizona State University Skysong generally make around $55,394. Students borrow a median of $22,870 to complete this degree.
See the full international & comparative education program report for Arizona State University Skysong
Teachers College At Columbia University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best international & comparative education schools. Set in the city of New York, Teachers College At Columbia University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. There were roughly 75 international & comparative education students who graduated with this degree at Teachers College At Columbia University in the most recent data year. International & Comparative Education graduates of Teachers College At Columbia University earn a median of $66,758 early in their careers.
See the full international & comparative education program report for Teachers College At Columbia University
Sit Graduate Institute landed the #6 spot for international & comparative education this year. Set in the rural area of Brattleboro, Sit Graduate Institute is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 15 international & comparative education degrees were awarded at Sit Graduate Institute in the most recent year. Graduates of the international & comparative education program make about $49,200 in their early career.
More information about a degree in international & comparative education from Sit Graduate Institute
International & Comparative Education Related Rankings by Major
International & Comparative Education is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. Browse the parent area of study.
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 6 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
