2026 Best Value International Relations Schools in Iowa
[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 8 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value international relations schools.
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2026 Best Value International Relations Schools in Iowa
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 University Of Iowa this year. Located in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,283, with out-of-state students paying around $33,371. Typical student debt for international relations graduates is $26,030. International Relations graduates of University Of Iowa earn a median of $36,376 early in their careers. Set against $26,030 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Drake University earned it the #2 place for international relations. Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Des Moines. In-state tuition and fees average $51,960. International Relations graduates carry a median of $22,273 in student loans. International Relations graduates of Drake University earn a median of $56,228 early in their careers. Set against $22,273 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 64% 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
