2026 Best Value Other International Relations & National Security Studies Schools in the Southeast Region
[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 schools below stand out for delivering a strong other international relations & national security studies education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 10 schools to find the best return on investment for other international relations & national security studies students.
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2026 Best Value Other International Relations & National Security Studies Schools in the Southeast Region
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
Leading the list is Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus, our #1 best value for other international relations & national security studies in the Southeast Region. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Atlanta. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,058, while out-of-state students pay about $34,484. Other International Relations & National Security Studies graduates carry a median of $24,323 in student loans. Other International Relations & National Security Studies graduates of Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn a median of $83,560 early in their careers. Set against $24,323 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus admits about 14% of applicants.
George Mason University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value other international relations & national security studies schools. George Mason University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. Students from in state pay about $14,220 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $38,688. Other International Relations & National Security Studies graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Early-career other international relations & national security studies graduates make about $59,015. That is a strong return on a $23,000 median debt. George Mason University admits about 88% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Regent University one of the best values for other international relations & national security studies. Regent University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Virginia Beach. Students from in state pay about $21,650 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for other international relations & national security studies graduates is $29,451. Soon after graduation, other international relations & national security studies degree recipients from Regent University generally make around $50,406. That is a strong return on a $29,451 median debt. Regent University admits about 38% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earned it the #4 place for other international relations & national security studies. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,948, while out-of-state students pay about $37,764. Typical student debt for other international relations & national security studies graduates is $21,500. Soon after graduation, other international relations & national security studies degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $44,638. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University admits about 55% of applicants.
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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 · 10 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.
