2027 Best Value International Relations Schools in the New England Region
[International Relations](/majors/social-sciences/international-relations-national-security/international-relations/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong international relations education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 17 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value international relations schools.
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2027 Best Value International Relations Schools in the New England Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the international relations degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value International Relations Schools
Leading the list is Harvard University, our #1 best value for international relations in the New England Region. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. In-state tuition and fees average $61,676. Typical student debt for international relations graduates is $16,616. Soon after graduation, international relations degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $95,207. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Harvard University admits about 4% of applicants.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value international relations schools. Set in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,772, while out-of-state students pay about $40,449. Typical student debt for international relations graduates is $25,195. Early-career international relations graduates make about $53,666. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 60%.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Massachusetts Boston one of the best values for international relations. Set in the city of Boston, University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,898, with out-of-state students paying around $38,115. International Relations graduates carry a median of $26,236 in student loans. International Relations graduates of University Of Massachusetts Boston earn a median of $52,885 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,236 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Rhode Island is a great value for students pursuing a degree in international relations, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Kingston, University Of Rhode Island is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,942, while out-of-state students pay about $37,146. International Relations graduates carry a median of $23,432 in student loans. International Relations graduates of University Of Rhode Island earn a median of $52,821 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,432 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Yale University one of the best values for international relations. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,250. Typical student debt for international relations graduates is $14,357. Early-career international relations graduates make about $74,578. That is a strong return on a $14,357 median debt. Yale University admits about 4% of applicants.
Norwich University landed the #6 spot for international relations value this year. Located in the rural area of Northfield, Norwich University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $49,740. Students borrow a median of $16,850 to complete the international relations program here. International Relations graduates of Norwich University earn a median of $54,985 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Norwich University admits about 74% of applicants.
Brown University landed the #7 spot for international relations value this year. Brown University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $71,312. International Relations graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. International Relations graduates of Brown University earn a median of $46,284 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Boston University placed #8 among the best values for international relations. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. In-state tuition and fees average $68,102. International Relations graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career international relations graduates make about $48,622. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Wellesley College placed #9 among the best values for international relations. Located in the suburb of Wellesley, Wellesley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,176. Students borrow a median of $11,075 to complete the international relations program here. Early-career international relations graduates make about $48,902. Set against $11,075 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Wellesley College admits about 14% of applicants.
Mount Holyoke College earned the #10 position for value in international relations this year. Set in the suburb of South Hadley, Mount Holyoke College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,018. Students borrow a median of $18,486 to complete the international relations program here. Soon after graduation, international relations degree recipients from Mount Holyoke College generally make around $26,306. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Mount Holyoke College admits about 36% of applicants.
New England College placed #11 among the best values for international relations. Located in the rural area of Henniker, New England College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,474. Students borrow a median of $35,038 to complete the international relations program here. Early-career international relations graduates make about $68,950. Set against $35,038 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Suffolk University earned the #12 position for value in international relations this year. Set in the city of Boston, Suffolk University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,550. Typical student debt for international relations graduates is $26,990. International Relations graduates of Suffolk University earn a median of $57,261 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Northeastern University came in at #13 for value in international relations this year. Set in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $66,162. Students borrow a median of $21,125 to complete the international relations program here. International Relations graduates of Northeastern University earn a median of $60,311 early in their careers. Set against $21,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Middlebury College earned the #14 position for value in international relations this year. Located in the town of Middlebury, Middlebury College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,600. Students borrow a median of $15,948 to complete the international relations program here. Early-career international relations graduates make about $68,770. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Middlebury College admits about 11% of applicants.
Connecticut College earned the #15 position for value in international relations this year. Connecticut College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of New London. Students from in state pay about $67,242 in tuition and fees. International Relations graduates carry a median of $25,855 in student loans. Early-career international relations graduates make about $45,543. Set against $25,855 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Connecticut College admits about 37% of applicants.
Southern New Hampshire University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value international relations schools. Southern New Hampshire University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Manchester. Students from in state pay about $17,200 in tuition and fees. International Relations graduates carry a median of $29,103 in student loans. Early-career international relations graduates make about $53,211. Set against $29,103 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Tufts University earned the #17 position for value in international relations this year. Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Medford. Students from in state pay about $70,704 in tuition and fees. International Relations graduates carry a median of $16,375 in student loans. Soon after graduation, international relations degree recipients from Tufts University generally make around $63,706. Set against $16,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 12%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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.
