2026 Best Value International Relations Schools in the Southwest Region
[International Relations](/majors/social-sciences/international-relations-national-security/international-relations/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 23 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for international relations students.
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2026 Best Value International Relations Schools in the Southwest 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
Our analysis ranked Rice University the best value for a degree in international relations in the Southwest Region. Set in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $61,247. Students borrow a median of $11,904 to complete the international relations program here. Early-career international relations graduates make about $82,320. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Rice University admits about 8% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The University Of Texas At San Antonio earned it the #2 place for international relations. Set in the city of San Antonio, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,326, while out-of-state students pay about $22,249. Typical student debt for international relations graduates is $24,343. Early-career international relations graduates make about $25,879. Set against $24,343 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Northern Arizona University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value international relations schools. Northern Arizona University is a very large public school located in the city of Flagstaff. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,619, with out-of-state students paying around $20,044. International Relations graduates carry a median of $20,632 in student loans. International Relations graduates of Northern Arizona University earn a median of $29,924 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,632 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
A rank of #4 makes Texas State University San Marcos one of the best values for international relations. Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public school located in the city of San Marcos. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,930. International Relations graduates carry a median of $18,344 in student loans. Soon after graduation, international relations degree recipients from Texas State University San Marcos generally make around $20,547. That is a strong return on a $18,344 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value international relations schools. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. Students from in state pay about $11,688 in tuition and fees, compared with $44,908 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,275 to complete the international relations program here. International Relations graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $61,625 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 27%.
Texas A And M University College Station came in at #6 for value in international relations this year. Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public school located in the city of College Station. Students from in state pay about $12,995 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,124 for out-of-state students. International Relations graduates carry a median of $20,031 in student loans. Soon after graduation, international relations degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station generally make around $62,296. That is a strong return on a $20,031 median debt. Texas A And M University College Station admits about 57% of applicants.
St Marys University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value international relations schools. St Marys University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Antonio. Students from in state pay about $37,434 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for international relations graduates is $25,040. International Relations graduates of St Marys University earn a median of $56,547 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. St Marys University admits about 98% of applicants.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value international relations schools. Set in the city of Prescott, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $43,974. Students borrow a median of $22,901 to complete the international relations program here. Early-career international relations graduates make about $46,868. That is a strong return on a $22,901 median debt. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott admits about 77% of applicants.
Baylor University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value international relations schools. Set in the city of Waco, Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,100. Students borrow a median of $22,409 to complete the international relations program here. Early-career international relations graduates make about $37,507. That is a strong return on a $22,409 median debt. The acceptance rate is 51%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 23 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
