2026 Best Value Other International Relations & National Security Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Other International Relations & National Security Studies](/majors/social-sciences/international-relations-national-security/international-relations-and-national-security-studies-other/) 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 5 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value other international relations & national security studies schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Other International Relations & National Security Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the other international relations & national security studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Other International Relations & National Security Studies Schools
Indiana University Bloomington earned the #1 spot for value among other international relations & national security studies schools in the Great Lakes Region. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,144, while out-of-state students pay about $41,891. Other International Relations & National Security Studies graduates carry a median of $19,250 in student loans. Early-career other international relations & national security studies graduates make about $56,110. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Central Michigan University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in other international relations & national security studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,480. Other International Relations & National Security Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Other International Relations & National Security Studies graduates of Central Michigan University earn a median of $50,688 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Central Michigan University admits about 90% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Depaul University earned it the #3 place for other international relations & national security studies. 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. Students borrow a median of $21,250 to complete the other international relations & national security studies program here. Early-career other international relations & national security studies graduates make about $41,610. That is a strong return on a $21,250 median debt. Depaul University admits about 76% of applicants.
Narrow Other International Relations & National Security Studies Schools by State
More Other International Relations & National Security Studies Rankings
View All Other International Relations & National Security Studies Rankings >
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 · 5 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.