2027 Best International Relations & National Security Bachelor’s Degree Schools
International Relations & National Security programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their international relations & national security programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 115 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for international relations & national security students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for International Relations & National Security in the United States
Below are the best international relations & national security schools at the bachelor’s degree level, ranked by the quality of the education they deliver.
Top Schools in International Relations & National Security
University Of Chicago is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in international relations & national security. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 19 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at University Of Chicago in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $66,182. Typical student debt for the program is $15,854.
Read more about the international relations & national security program at University Of Chicago
Georgetown University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best international relations & national security schools. Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Georgetown University graduates 95% of students within six years. About 285 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at Georgetown University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $50,588. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in international relations & national security from Georgetown University
Students looking for a strong international relations & national security program will find one at Brown University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit university. Brown University graduates 96% of students within six years. Brown University awarded about 110 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. International Relations & National Security graduates of Brown University earn a median of $46,284 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000.
More information about a degree in international relations & national security from Brown University
A rank of #4 makes Stanford University one of the top schools for international relations & national security. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Stanford. About 92% of students finish within six years. Stanford University awarded about 79 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the international relations & national security program make about $76,166 in their early career. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.
More information about a degree in international relations & national security from Stanford University
Johns Hopkins University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best international relations & national security schools. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. Johns Hopkins University graduates 94% of students within six years. About 99 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University generally make around $44,004. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree.
See the full international relations & national security program report for Johns Hopkins University
University Of Pennsylvania came in at #6 for international relations & national security this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 36 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $65,559. Typical student debt for the program is $10,470.
Get the full international relations & national security details for University Of Pennsylvania
Claremont Mckenna College earned the #7 position for international relations & national security this year. Claremont Mckenna College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Claremont. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. Claremont Mckenna College awarded about 29 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from Claremont Mckenna College generally make around $66,028. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000.
Read more about the international relations & national security program at Claremont Mckenna College
Yale University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best international relations & national security schools. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. Yale University awarded about 76 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from Yale University earn around $74,578 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,357 to complete this degree.
See the full international relations & national security program report for Yale University
Tufts University placed #9 among the best international relations & national security schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Medford. Tufts University graduates 94% of students within six years. Tufts University awarded about 134 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from Tufts University generally make around $54,079. Students borrow a median of $16,375 to complete this degree.
Read more about the international relations & national security program at Tufts University
Lafayette College placed #10 among the best international relations & national security schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Easton. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 21 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Lafayette College in the most recent data year. International Relations & National Security graduates of Lafayette College earn a median of $58,433 early in their careers. Lafayette College graduates carry a median of $16,620 in student loans.
See the full international relations & national security program report for Lafayette College
University Of Virginia Main Campus came in at #11 for international relations & national security this year. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 124 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the international relations & national security program make about $46,870 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,672.
More information about a degree in international relations & national security from University Of Virginia Main Campus
Colgate University came in at #12 for international relations & national security this year. Colgate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Hamilton. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. There were roughly 35 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Colgate University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from Colgate University earn around $52,924 in the first couple years of their career. Colgate University graduates carry a median of $16,286 in student loans.
See the full international relations & national security program report for Colgate University
University Of Southern California placed #13 among the best international relations & national security schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 92% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 128 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from University Of Southern California earn around $52,262 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,765 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in international relations & national security from University Of Southern California
College Of William And Mary earned the #14 position for international relations & national security this year. Located in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public university. College Of William And Mary graduates 89% of students within six years. About 87 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at College Of William And Mary in the most recent year. Graduates of the international relations & national security program make about $47,270 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,000.
See the full international relations & national security program report for College Of William And Mary
George Washington University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best international relations & national security schools. Located in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 426 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at George Washington University in the most recent year. International Relations & National Security graduates of George Washington University earn a median of $52,933 early in their careers. George Washington University graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in international relations & national security from George Washington University
Middlebury College landed the #16 spot for international relations & national security this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Middlebury. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 51 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Middlebury College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the international relations & national security program make about $68,344 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,948 to complete this degree.
See the full international relations & national security program report for Middlebury College
University Of California Davis came in at #17 for international relations & national security this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Davis. University Of California Davis graduates 86% of students within six years. University Of California Davis awarded about 115 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from University Of California Davis earn around $34,949 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,416.
See the full international relations & national security program report for University Of California Davis
Wellesley College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best international relations & national security schools. Located in the suburb of Wellesley, Wellesley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 11 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Wellesley College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from Wellesley College earn around $48,902 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,075.
Get the full international relations & national security details for Wellesley College
James Madison University landed the #19 spot for international relations & national security this year. James Madison University is a very large public school located in the city of Harrisonburg. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. About 41 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at James Madison University in the most recent year. Graduates of the international relations & national security program make about $44,667 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,460 to complete this degree.
Get the full international relations & national security details for James Madison University
Carnegie Mellon University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best international relations & national security schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Pittsburgh. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 16 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent data year. International Relations & National Security graduates of Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of $89,327 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete this degree.
See the full international relations & national security program report for Carnegie Mellon University
Brigham Young University Provo landed the #21 spot for international relations & national security this year. Set in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. Brigham Young University Provo awarded about 26 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from Brigham Young University Provo generally make around $50,563. Typical student debt for the program is $12,184.
Get the full international relations & national security details for Brigham Young University Provo
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus placed #22 among the best international relations & national security schools. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public university. About 94% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 50 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the international relations & national security program make about $83,560 in their early career. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates carry a median of $24,323 in student loans.
Read more about the international relations & national security program at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
University Of California San Diego placed #23 among the best international relations & national security schools. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. University Of California San Diego graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 16 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at University Of California San Diego in the most recent data year. Graduates of the international relations & national security program make about $68,368 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,101.
Get the full international relations & national security details for University Of California San Diego
New York University placed #24 among the best international relations & national security schools. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 78 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at New York University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from New York University generally make around $59,814. New York University graduates carry a median of $21,897 in student loans.
See the full international relations & national security program report for New York University
Pomona College earned the #25 position for international relations & national security this year. Set in the suburb of Claremont, Pomona College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Pomona College graduates 93% of students within six years. There were roughly 16 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Pomona College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from Pomona College earn around $75,954 in the first couple years of their career.
Get the full international relations & national security details for Pomona College
Rest of the Top 50 International Relations & National Security Schools
These schools also placed among the best for international relations & national security this year:
Other International Relations & National Security Degree Levels
Explore the best international relations & national security schools at other degree levels:
View All International Relations & National Security Rankings >
Notes and References
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 · 115 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.