2026 Best Value International/Global Studies Schools in Illinois
[International/Global Studies](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/international-studies/international-global-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 19 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value international/global studies schools.
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2026 Best Value International/Global Studies Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in international/global studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value International/Global Studies Schools
For return on investment in international/global studies, no school beat University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Students borrow a median of $21,628 to complete the international/global studies program here. International/global Studies graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $30,438 early in their careers. Set against $21,628 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
Depaul University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in international/global studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $45,405 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for international/global studies graduates is $23,989. Early-career international/global studies graduates make about $41,636. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in international/global studies will find it at Loyola University Chicago, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $53,710 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for international/global studies graduates is $23,521. International/global Studies graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $58,568 early in their careers. Set against $23,521 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
