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2026 Best Value International Relations Schools in Minnesota

[International Relations](/majors/social-sciences/international-relations-national-security/international-relations/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.

College Factual analyzed 9 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value international relations schools.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value International Relations Schools in Minnesota

2026 Best Value International Relations Schools in Minnesota

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

1

University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN

$17,214 In-State Tuition & Fees

$21,167 Avg Student Debt

$69,020 Median Earnings (10yr)

Leading the list is University Of Minnesota Twin Cities, our #1 best value for international relations in Minnesota. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. In-state tuition and fees average $17,214, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. Students borrow a median of $21,167 to complete the international relations program here. International Relations graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $28,596 early in their careers. Set against $21,167 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.

2

Carleton College
Northfield, MN

$68,892 In-State Tuition & Fees

$17,566 Avg Student Debt

$75,525 Median Earnings (10yr)

Carleton College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value international relations schools. Located in the town of Northfield, Carleton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,892. Students borrow a median of $17,566 to complete the international relations program here. Soon after graduation, international relations degree recipients from Carleton College generally make around $45,096. That is a strong return on a $17,566 median debt. Roughly 20% of applicants are accepted.

View All International Relations Rankings >

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 · 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.