2026 Best Value International Relations Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
[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.
College Factual analyzed 10 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value international relations schools.
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2026 Best Value International Relations Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in international relations, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value International Relations Schools
Brigham Young University Provo earned the #1 spot for value among international relations schools in the Rocky Mountains Region. Set in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $6,688 in tuition and fees. International Relations graduates carry a median of $12,184 in student loans. International Relations graduates of Brigham Young University Provo earn a median of $50,563 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 68%.
University Of Idaho came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value international relations schools. University Of Idaho is a large public school located in the town of Moscow. In-state tuition and fees average $9,084, with out-of-state students paying around $28,320. Typical student debt for international relations graduates is $24,400. Early-career international relations graduates make about $30,261. That is a strong return on a $24,400 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
University Of Denver is a great value for students pursuing a degree in international relations, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Denver, University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,398. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the international relations program here. Soon after graduation, international relations degree recipients from University Of Denver generally make around $46,375. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
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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 · 10 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.
