2026 Best Value International Studies Schools in New York
[International Studies](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/international-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong international studies education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 29 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value international studies schools.
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2026 Best Value International Studies Schools in New York
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in international studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value International Studies Schools
Stony Brook University earned the #1 spot for value among international studies schools in New York. Stony Brook University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Stony Brook. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,931, with out-of-state students paying around $32,741. Students borrow a median of $20,537 to complete the international studies program here. International Studies graduates of Stony Brook University earn a median of $60,047 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,537 median debt. The acceptance rate is 49%.
A rank of #2 makes St Lawrence University one of the best values for international studies. Located in the town of Canton, St Lawrence University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $65,900. Typical student debt for international studies graduates is $27,000. International Studies graduates of St Lawrence University earn a median of $26,016 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. St Lawrence University admits about 54% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes The New School one of the best values for international studies. Located in the city of New York, The New School is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $58,730 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for international studies graduates is $22,792. Early-career international studies graduates make about $27,652. Set against $22,792 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 64%.
More International Studies Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 29 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
