2026 Best Value International Relations Schools in Ohio

[International Relations](/majors/social-sciences/international-relations-national-security/international-relations/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong international relations education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for international relations students.
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2026 Best Value International Relations Schools in Ohio
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in international relations, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value International Relations Schools
For return on investment in international relations, no school beat Ohio State University Main Campus this year. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,244, while out-of-state students pay about $40,022. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the international relations program here. Early-career international relations graduates make about $38,584. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in international relations will find it at Cleveland State University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,982 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,502. Typical student debt for international relations graduates is $25,500. Early-career international relations graduates make about $31,434. Set against $25,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Kent State University At Kent came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value international relations schools. Located in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,220, compared with $21,575 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for international relations graduates is $25,500. Early-career international relations graduates make about $44,776. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Kent State University At Kent admits about 86% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in international relations will find it at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,363, while out-of-state students pay about $28,697. Students borrow a median of $25,625 to complete the international relations program here. International Relations graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $32,543 early in their careers. Set against $25,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Miami University Oxford earned it the #5 place for international relations. Set in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,519, while out-of-state students pay about $38,965. Typical student debt for international relations graduates is $21,977. Soon after graduation, international relations degree recipients from Miami University Oxford generally make around $38,766. That is a strong return on a $21,977 median debt. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.