International Studies programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their international studies programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 104 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for international studies students pursuing a degree.
Where you study international studies matters for your future. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for International Studies rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each 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.
We offer several rankings, including this Best International Studies Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Leading the list is Colby College, our #1 school for international studies. Located in the town of Waterville, Colby College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 89% of students finish within six years. About 22 international studies degrees were awarded at Colby College in the most recent year. Graduates of the international studies program make about $42,756 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,016.
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Boston College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in international studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit university. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 67 international studies students who graduated with this degree at Boston College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international studies degree from Boston College earn around $51,371 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000.
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Students looking for a strong international studies program will find one at University Of California Berkeley, which ranked #3. This very large public university is located in the city of Berkeley. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 83 international studies degrees in the most recent data year. International Studies graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $46,660 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,636 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #4 makes Southern Methodist University one of the top schools for international studies. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Dallas. About 84% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 14 international studies students who graduated with this degree at Southern Methodist University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international studies degree from Southern Methodist University earn around $70,632 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,712.
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University Of California Los Angeles is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in international studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 35 international studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, international studies degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $39,082. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000.
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University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned the #6 position for international studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Ann Arbor. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 119 international studies degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Students who receive their international studies degree from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn around $44,446 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,053 to complete this degree.
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Kenyon College placed #7 among the best international studies schools. Set in the rural area of Gambier, Kenyon College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. There were roughly 16 international studies students who graduated with this degree at Kenyon College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, international studies degree recipients from Kenyon College generally make around $37,976. Kenyon College graduates carry a median of $18,114 in student loans.
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University Of California San Diego earned the #8 position for international studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of La Jolla. About 86% of students finish within six years. University Of California San Diego awarded about 369 international studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, international studies degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $45,168. Students borrow a median of $16,500 to complete this degree.
See the full international studies program report for University Of California San Diego
University Of Pennsylvania ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best international studies schools. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 145 international studies degrees were awarded at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. International Studies graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $204,927 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete this degree.
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Washington State University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best international studies schools. Located in the town of Pullman, Washington State University is a very large public university. Washington State University graduates 60% of students within six years. There were roughly 14 international studies students who graduated with this degree at Washington State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the international studies program make about $54,697 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,903 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Santa Barbara landed the #11 spot for international studies this year. Set in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. About 115 international studies degrees were awarded at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, international studies degree recipients from University Of California Santa Barbara generally make around $33,553. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates carry a median of $14,792 in student loans.
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The University Of Texas At Austin landed the #12 spot for international studies this year. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. There were roughly 160 international studies students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international studies degree from The University Of Texas At Austin earn around $42,701 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,535 to complete this degree.
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Depaul University earned the #13 position for international studies this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 45 international studies students who graduated with this degree at Depaul University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international studies degree from Depaul University earn around $55,390 in the first couple years of their career. Depaul University graduates carry a median of $25,340 in student loans.
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University Of Georgia landed the #14 spot for international studies this year. University Of Georgia is a very large public school located in the city of Athens. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. University Of Georgia awarded about 28 international studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international studies degree from University Of Georgia earn around $53,546 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,792.
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University Of Notre Dame landed the #15 spot for international studies this year. Located in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit university. University Of Notre Dame graduates 95% of students within six years. About 59 international studies degrees were awarded at University Of Notre Dame in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, international studies degree recipients from University Of Notre Dame generally make around $69,362. Typical student debt for the program is $19,891.
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Georgetown University placed #16 among the best international studies schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. Georgetown University graduates 95% of students within six years. Georgetown University awarded about 38 international studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the international studies program make about $79,632 in their early career. Georgetown University graduates carry a median of $16,483 in student loans.
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George Mason University came in at #17 for international studies this year. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 29 international studies degrees were awarded at George Mason University in the most recent year. Graduates of the international studies program make about $63,131 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete this degree.
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Texas A And M University College Station ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best international studies schools. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. Texas A And M University College Station awarded about 122 international studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, international studies degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station generally make around $41,886. Texas A And M University College Station graduates carry a median of $18,000 in student loans.
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California Maritime Academy ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best international studies schools. Located in the city of Vallejo, California Maritime Academy is a small public university. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. California Maritime Academy awarded about 13 international studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international studies degree from California Maritime Academy earn around $84,745 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,249 to complete this degree.
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California State University San Marcos came in at #20 for international studies this year. Set in the suburb of San Marcos, California State University San Marcos is a large public institution. About 55% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 12 international studies students who graduated with this degree at California State University San Marcos in the most recent data year. Graduates of the international studies program make about $48,726 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,527.
See the full international studies program report for California State University San Marcos
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #21 for international studies this year. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 75 international studies degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Graduates of the international studies program make about $40,594 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,469 to complete this degree.
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North Carolina State University At Raleigh earned the #22 position for international studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Raleigh. About 85% of students finish within six years. North Carolina State University At Raleigh awarded about 57 international studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, international studies degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $45,648. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete this degree.
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University At Buffalo earned the #23 position for international studies this year. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 14 international studies degrees were awarded at University At Buffalo in the most recent year. Students who receive their international studies degree from University At Buffalo earn around $52,403 in the first couple years of their career. University At Buffalo graduates carry a median of $22,232 in student loans.
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College Of The Holy Cross ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best international studies schools. Set in the city of Worcester, College Of The Holy Cross is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 87% of students finish within six years. College Of The Holy Cross awarded about 13 international studies degrees in the most recent data year. International Studies graduates of College Of The Holy Cross earn a median of $46,530 early in their careers. College Of The Holy Cross graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans.
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Washington University In St Louis placed #25 among the best international studies schools. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. Washington University In St Louis graduates 94% of students within six years. About 57 international studies degrees were awarded at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, international studies degree recipients from Washington University In St Louis generally make around $38,854. Washington University In St Louis graduates carry a median of $20,250 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 International Studies Schools
These schools also placed among the best for international studies this year:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 104 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).
