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2023 Most Popular Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for International Studies

352 Ranked Colleges
6,197 Degrees Awarded
$30,329 Avg Salary
Most Well Attended International Studies Major for a Bachelor's

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Most Well Attended International Studies Major for a Bachelor’s” ranking.

In 2020-2021, 7,368 people earned their degree in international studies, making the major the 100th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, international studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $34,198 and had an average of $21,594 in loans still to pay off.

At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 6,197 international studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,682 and $26,217 respectively.

This year’s “Most Well Attended International Studies Major for a Bachelor’s” ranking looked at 352 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in international studies. To top this list, a school must have a successful international studies program that graduates more students in the field than other colleges that offer the same major.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Most Well Attended International Studies Major for a Bachelor’s” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Most Well Attended International Studies Major for a Bachelor’s

The colleges and universities below are the best for bachelor’s degree international studies students.

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - San Diego. The school came in at #1 for the Most Well Attended International Studies Major for a Bachelor’s. This large school is located in La Jolla, California, and it awarded 585 bachelors’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Read more about International Studies at UCSD

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Santa Barbara. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Well Attended International Studies Major for a Bachelor’s list. University of California - Santa Barbara is a public institution located in Santa Barbara, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 290 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Read more about International Studies at UCSB

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Well Attended International Studies Major for a Bachelor’s list. This large school is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and it awarded 209 bachelors’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on International Studies at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Texas at Austin. The school came in at #4 for the Most Well Attended International Studies Major for a Bachelor’s. Located in Austin, Texas, this large public school awarded 198 degrees to qualified bachelors’s international studies students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full UT Austin International Studies Report

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Colorado Boulder. The school came in at #5 for the Most Well Attended International Studies Major for a Bachelor’s. This large school is located in Boulder, Colorado, and it awarded 180 bachelors’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about International Studies at University of Colorado Boulder

6

University of California - Irvine did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended International Studies Major for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #6. University of California - Irvine is located in Irvine, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 172 bachelors’s international studies degrees to qualified students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on International Studies at University of California - Irvine

7

Texas A&M University - College Station ranked #7 on this year’s Most Well Attended International Studies Major for a Bachelor’s list. Texas A&M College Station is a large school located in College Station, Texas that handed out 160 bachelors’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Read more about International Studies at Texas A&M College Station

8
U of U crest
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah

University of Utah came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended International Studies Major for a Bachelor’s ranking. University of Utah is located in Salt Lake City, Utah and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 133 bachelors’s international studies degrees to qualified students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on International Studies at University of Utah

9

University of California - Berkeley landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended International Studies Major for a Bachelor’s ranking. This large school is located in Berkeley, California, and it awarded 128 bachelors’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.

Read full report on International Studies at UC Berkeley

10

With a ranking of #10, Arizona State University - Tempe did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended International Studies Major for a Bachelor’s list. ASU - Tempe is a large public school situated in Tempe, Arizona. It awarded 105 bachelors’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on International Studies at Arizona State University - Tempe

11

University of Wisconsin - Madison came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended International Studies Major for a Bachelor’s ranking. UW - Madison is a large school located in Madison, Wisconsin that handed out 95 bachelors’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of Wisconsin - Madison International Studies Report

12
American Military University crest
American Public University System
Charles Town, West Virginia

With a ranking of #12, American Public University System did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended International Studies Major for a Bachelor’s list. American Military University is a large school located in Charles Town, West Virginia that handed out 94 bachelors’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 98%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full American Public University System International Studies Report

13
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida

University of Florida ranked #13 on this year’s Most Well Attended International Studies Major for a Bachelor’s list. Located in Gainesville, Florida, this large public school handed out 90 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s international studies students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on International Studies at University of Florida

14
Boston College crest
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts

Boston College landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended International Studies Major for a Bachelor’s ranking. This fairly large school is located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, and it awarded 86 bachelors’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about International Studies at Boston College

15
UO crest
University of Oregon
Eugene, Oregon

University of Oregon landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended International Studies Major for a Bachelor’s ranking. Located in Eugene, Oregon, this large public school awarded 77 degrees to qualified bachelors’s international studies students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about International Studies at UO

16

Brigham Young University - Idaho landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended International Studies Major for a Bachelor’s ranking. Located in Rexburg, Idaho, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 68 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s international studies students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Brigham Young University - Idaho International Studies Report

17

With a ranking of #17, University of Central Florida did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended International Studies Major for a Bachelor’s list. Located in Orlando, Florida, this large public school handed out 67 degrees to qualified bachelors’s international studies students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on International Studies at University of Central Florida

17

With a ranking of #17, University of Oklahoma Norman Campus did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended International Studies Major for a Bachelor’s list. University of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a public institution located in Norman, Oklahoma. The school has a large population, and it awarded 67 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full University of Oklahoma Norman Campus International Studies Report

19
Brandeis crest
Brandeis University
Waltham, Massachusetts

Brandeis University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended International Studies Major for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #19. Brandeis University is a medium-sized school located in Waltham, Massachusetts that handed out 66 bachelors’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on International Studies at Brandeis

20

With a ranking of #20, Washington University in St Louis did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended International Studies Major for a Bachelor’s list. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 64 degrees to qualified bachelors’s international studies students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full WUSTL International Studies Report

21

University of North Texas did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended International Studies Major for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #21. UNT is a large public school situated in Denton, Texas. It awarded 60 bachelors’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about International Studies at UNT

22
USAFA crest
United States Air Force Academy
USAF Academy, Colorado

With a ranking of #22, United States Air Force Academy did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended International Studies Major for a Bachelor’s list. USAF Academy, Colorado is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s international studies degrees to 57 students in 2020-2021.

Full USAFA International Studies Report

22

University of North Carolina at Charlotte came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended International Studies Major for a Bachelor’s ranking. UNC Charlotte is a large school located in Charlotte, North Carolina that handed out 57 bachelors’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about International Studies at University of North Carolina at Charlotte

24
Texas State crest
Texas State University
San Marcos, Texas

Texas State University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended International Studies Major for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #24. Texas State University is located in San Marcos, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 56 bachelors’s international studies degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on International Studies at Texas State University

25

Arizona State University - Skysong landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended International Studies Major for a Bachelor’s ranking. Arizona State University - Skysong is a large public school situated in Scottsdale, Arizona. It awarded 55 bachelors’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about International Studies at ASU - Skysong

25
NC State crest
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina

North Carolina State University landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended International Studies Major for a Bachelor’s ranking. North Carolina State University is located in Raleigh, North Carolina and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 55 bachelors’s international studies degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about International Studies at North Carolina State University

Rest of the Best 50 in Most Well Attended International Studies Major for a Bachelor’s

Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

27
27
29
30
30
UPenn crest
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
32
Temple crest
Temple University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
33
C of C crest
College of Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
33
Pepperdine crest
Pepperdine University
Malibu, California
35
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan
36
37
Elon crest
Elon University
Elon, North Carolina
38
39
UNF crest
University of North Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
40
41
42
UK crest
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
43
43
45
46
Southeast Missouri State University crest
Southeast Missouri State University
Cape Girardeau, Missouri
46
KU crest
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas
48
Notre Dame crest
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, Indiana
49
50
Colby crest
Colby College
Waterville, Maine
50
Holy Cross crest
College of the Holy Cross
Worcester, Massachusetts

Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Most Well Attended International Studies Major for a Bachelor’s

While not in the ’top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

RankCollegeLocation
52Macalester CollegeSaint Paul, MN
52University of Maryland - Baltimore CountyBaltimore, MD
52Kansas State UniversityManhattan, KS
52Providence CollegeProvidence, RI
52Liberty UniversityLynchburg, VA

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Notes and References

References

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