2027 Best Value Other International Relations & National Security Studies Schools
[Other International Relations & National Security Studies](/majors/social-sciences/international-relations-national-security/international-relations-and-national-security-studies-other/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 18 schools to find the best return on investment for other international relations & national security studies students.
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Finding the Best Value Other International Relations & National Security Studies School for You
Where you study other international relations & national security studies affects both what you pay and what you earn. That is why we developed our Best Value Other International Relations & National Security Studies Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
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2027 Best Value Other International Relations & National Security Studies Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in other international relations & national security studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Other International Relations & National Security Studies Schools
For return on investment in other international relations & national security studies, no school beat Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus this year. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Atlanta. In-state tuition and fees average $12,058, compared with $34,484 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,323 to complete the other international relations & national security studies program here. Other International Relations & National Security Studies graduates of Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn a median of $83,560 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,323 median debt. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus admits about 14% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in other international relations & national security studies will find it at California State University San Bernardino, which ranked #2. Set in the city of San Bernardino, California State University San Bernardino is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,088, while out-of-state students pay about $20,688. Other International Relations & National Security Studies graduates carry a median of $15,149 in student loans. Other International Relations & National Security Studies graduates of California State University San Bernardino earn a median of $42,421 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes American Public University System one of the best values for other international relations & national security studies. American Public University System is a very large private for-profit school located in the town of Charles Town. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,400. Students borrow a median of $13,410 to complete the other international relations & national security studies program here. Early-career other international relations & national security studies graduates make about $63,624. Set against $13,410 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at San Diego State University earned it the #4 place for other international relations & national security studies. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,728, compared with $21,328 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,134 to complete the other international relations & national security studies program here. Other International Relations & National Security Studies graduates of San Diego State University earn a median of $49,617 early in their careers. Set against $17,134 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 36% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Bloomington came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value other international relations & national security studies schools. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. Students from in state pay about $12,144 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $41,891. Typical student debt for other international relations & national security studies graduates is $19,250. Soon after graduation, other international relations & national security studies degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $56,110. That is a strong return on a $19,250 median debt. Indiana University Bloomington admits about 78% of applicants.
University Of Arizona ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value other international relations & national security studies schools. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,573, compared with $39,903 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for other international relations & national security studies graduates is $21,861. Other International Relations & National Security Studies graduates of University Of Arizona earn a median of $75,863 early in their careers. Set against $21,861 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Arizona admits about 86% of applicants.
George Mason University placed #7 among the best values for other international relations & national security studies. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,220, compared with $38,688 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete the other international relations & national security studies program here. Early-career other international relations & national security studies graduates make about $59,015. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Norwich University earned the #8 position for value in other international relations & national security studies this year. Located in the rural area of Northfield, Norwich University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,740. Students borrow a median of $16,850 to complete the other international relations & national security studies program here. Other International Relations & National Security Studies graduates of Norwich University earn a median of $54,985 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Norwich University admits about 74% of applicants.
King College came in at #9 for value in other international relations & national security studies this year. Located in the city of Bristol, King College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $20,397 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for other international relations & national security studies graduates is $25,579. Soon after graduation, other international relations & national security studies degree recipients from King College generally make around $49,297. That is a strong return on a $25,579 median debt. King College admits about 100% of applicants.
University Of Iowa came in at #10 for value in other international relations & national security studies this year. Located in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,283, while out-of-state students pay about $33,371. Typical student debt for other international relations & national security studies graduates is $26,030. Soon after graduation, other international relations & national security studies degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $36,376. That is a strong return on a $26,030 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Boston University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value other international relations & national security studies schools. Located in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $68,102. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the other international relations & national security studies program here. Soon after graduation, other international relations & national security studies degree recipients from Boston University generally make around $48,622. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #12 for value in other international relations & national security studies this year. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,948, with out-of-state students paying around $37,764. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the other international relations & national security studies program here. Early-career other international relations & national security studies graduates make about $44,638. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Webster University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value other international relations & national security studies schools. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, Webster University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $31,750. Other International Relations & National Security Studies graduates carry a median of $25,939 in student loans. Other International Relations & National Security Studies graduates of Webster University earn a median of $66,017 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,939 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Depaul University came in at #14 for value in other international relations & national security studies this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $45,405 in tuition and fees. Other International Relations & National Security Studies graduates carry a median of $21,250 in student loans. Early-career other international relations & national security studies graduates make about $41,610. Set against $21,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Northeastern University came in at #15 for value in other international relations & national security studies this year. Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,162. Other International Relations & National Security Studies graduates carry a median of $21,125 in student loans. Other International Relations & National Security Studies graduates of Northeastern University earn a median of $60,311 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Seton Hall University landed the #16 spot for other international relations & national security studies value this year. Located in the suburb of South Orange, Seton Hall University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,170. Typical student debt for other international relations & national security studies graduates is $22,500. Early-career other international relations & national security studies graduates make about $63,871. Set against $22,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Middlebury College earned the #17 position for value in other international relations & national security studies this year. Middlebury College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Middlebury. Students from in state pay about $67,600 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for other international relations & national security studies graduates is $15,948. Early-career other international relations & national security studies graduates make about $68,770. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Middlebury College admits about 11% of applicants.
Carnegie Mellon University landed the #18 spot for other international relations & national security studies value this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $65,636. Typical student debt for other international relations & national security studies graduates is $23,529. Other International Relations & National Security Studies graduates of Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of $89,327 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 12%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
