2026 Best Value International Relations Schools in Maryland
[International Relations](/majors/social-sciences/international-relations-national-security/international-relations/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 9 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for international relations students.
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2026 Best Value International Relations Schools in Maryland
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in international relations, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value International Relations Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Maryland College Park the best value for a degree in international relations in Maryland. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. Students from in state pay about $11,809 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $41,186. Typical student debt for international relations graduates is $20,836. Early-career international relations graduates make about $57,901. Set against $20,836 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 45%.
Towson University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in international relations, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,728, with out-of-state students paying around $29,820. International Relations graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career international relations graduates make about $39,208. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Johns Hopkins University one of the best values for international relations. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,730. International Relations graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. International Relations graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of $60,277 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
More International Relations Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
