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2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major

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Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2020-2021, 13,117 people earned their degree in international relations, making the major the 63rd most popular in the United States.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major” ranking looked at 411 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in international relations. That schools that top this list have a program in international relations in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank International Relations Schools

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major”.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for International Relations

1
Institute of World Politics crest
Institute of World Politics
Washington, District of Columbia

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Institute of World Politics. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major. Institute of World Politics is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Washington, District of Columbia. It awarded 45 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about International Relations at Institute of World Politics

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. The school came in at #2 for the Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major. Middlebury Institute is a small school located in Monterey, California that handed out 49 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 1 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on International Relations at Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Schiller International University. The school came in at #3 for the Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major. Largo, Florida is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out ’s international relations degrees to 2 students in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. With a freshman retention rate of 100%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on International Relations at Schiller International University

4
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American University
Washington, District of Columbia

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend American University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major list. Washington, District of Columbia is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s international relations degrees to 700 students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on International Relations at The American University

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major list. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Prescott, Arizona. It awarded 86 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on International Relations at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott

6
VMI crest
Virginia Military Institute
Lexington, Virginia

Virginia Military Institute ranked #6 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major list. This small school is located in Lexington, Virginia, and it awarded 56 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Virginia Military Institute International Relations Report

7

Virginia International University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking. Virginia International University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Fairfax, Virginia. It awarded 6 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about International Relations at Virginia International University

8
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Tufts University
Medford, Massachusetts

Tufts University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking. Tufts is a private not-for-profit institution located in Medford, Massachusetts. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 478 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Tufts International Relations Report

9

Center for Advanced Studies On Puerto Rico and the Caribbean did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking, coming in at #9. Centro de Estudios Avanzados de Puerto Rico y El Caribe is a small school located in San Juan, that handed out 6 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Center for Advanced Studies On Puerto Rico and the Caribbean International Relations Report

9
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SIT Graduate Institute
Brattleboro, Vermont

SIT Graduate Institute landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking. SIT Graduate Institute is a private not-for-profit institution located in Brattleboro, Vermont. The school has a small population, and it awarded 5 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about International Relations at SIT Graduate Institute

11
GWU crest
George Washington University
Washington, District of Columbia

George Washington University ranked #11 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major list. GWU is a large school located in Washington, District of Columbia that handed out 948 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.

Read more about International Relations at GWU

12
Georgetown crest
Georgetown University
Washington, District of Columbia

With a ranking of #12, Georgetown University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major list. Georgetown University is located in Washington, District of Columbia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 572 ’s international relations degrees to qualified students.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on International Relations at Georgetown

13
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Carleton College
Northfield, Minnesota

Carleton College landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking. Northfield, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s international relations degrees to 38 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about International Relations at Carleton College

14
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Agnes Scott College
Decatur, Georgia

Agnes Scott College landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking. Decatur, Georgia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s international relations degrees to 18 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Agnes Scott College International Relations Report

15
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Hampden - Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney, Virginia

With a ranking of #15, Hampden - Sydney College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major list. Hampden-Sydney, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s international relations degrees to 15 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about International Relations at Hampden - Sydney College

16
Oxy crest
Occidental College
Los Angeles, California

Occidental College ranked #16 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major list. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s international relations degrees to 31 students in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on International Relations at Oxy

17
Norwich crest
Norwich University
Northfield, Vermont

Norwich University ranked #17 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major list. Norwich is located in Northfield, Vermont and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 74 ’s international relations degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Norwich University International Relations Report

18
Johns Hopkins crest
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, Maryland

Johns Hopkins University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking. Located in Baltimore, Maryland, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 686 degrees to qualified ’s international relations students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about International Relations at Johns Hopkins University

19
Lafayette crest
Lafayette College
Easton, Pennsylvania

Lafayette College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking, coming in at #19. Lafayette College is a small school located in Easton, Pennsylvania that handed out 41 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Full Lafayette International Relations Report

20
Claremont McKenna crest
Claremont McKenna College
Claremont, California

Claremont McKenna College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking, coming in at #20. Claremont McKenna is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Claremont, California. It awarded 24 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about International Relations at Claremont McKenna College

21
Rhodes College crest
Rhodes College
Memphis, Tennessee

With a ranking of #21, Rhodes College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major list. Rhodes College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Memphis, Tennessee. It awarded 26 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on International Relations at Rhodes College

22
Hamilton crest
Hamilton College
Clinton, New York

Hamilton College ranked #22 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major list. Hamilton is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Clinton, New York. It awarded 29 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%.

Full Hamilton College International Relations Report

23
Conn College crest
Connecticut College
New London, Connecticut

Connecticut College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking. Located in New London, Connecticut, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 23 degrees to qualified ’s international relations students in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Conn College International Relations Report

24
The College of Idaho crest
The College of Idaho
Caldwell, Idaho

The College of Idaho did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking, coming in at #24. The College of Idaho is a private not-for-profit institution located in Caldwell, Idaho. The school has a small population, and it awarded 12 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about International Relations at The College of Idaho

25
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Hollins University
Roanoke, Virginia

Hollins University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking. Hollins University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Roanoke, Virginia. It awarded 10 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on International Relations at Hollins University

Rest of the Best 50 in Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major

Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
West Point crest
United States Military Academy
West Point, New York
27
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Dickinson College
Carlisle, Pennsylvania
28
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Colgate University
Hamilton, New York
29
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Mount Holyoke College
South Hadley, Massachusetts
30
Beloit crest
Beloit College
Beloit, Wisconsin
31
Wheaton College Illinois crest
Wheaton College Illinois
Wheaton, Illinois
32
Principia crest
Principia College
Elsah, Illinois
33
Seton Hall crest
Seton Hall University
South Orange, New Jersey
34
Middlebury crest
Middlebury College
Middlebury, Vermont
35
SUNY Geneseo crest
SUNY Geneseo
Geneseo, New York
36
NEC crest
New England College
Henniker, New Hampshire
37
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Lewis & Clark College
Portland, Oregon
38
39
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University of Denver
Denver, Colorado
40
Lake Forest crest
Lake Forest College
Lake Forest, Illinois
41
Rollins crest
Rollins College
Winter Park, Florida
42
43
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Transylvania University
Lexington, Kentucky
44
Cornell College crest
Cornell College
Mount Vernon, Iowa
45
Denison crest
Denison University
Granville, Ohio
46
Wheaton College Massachusetts crest
Wheaton College Massachusetts
Norton, Massachusetts
47
Bucknell crest
Bucknell University
Lewisburg, Pennsylvania
48
Allegheny crest
Allegheny College
Meadville, Pennsylvania
49
Florida State crest
Florida State University
Tallahassee, Florida
50
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Skidmore College
Saratoga Springs, New York

Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major

While not in the ‘top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

Rank College Location
51 Knox College Galesburg, IL
52 Linfield University - McMinnville Campus McMinnville, OR
53 Wells College Aurora, NY
54 Goucher College Baltimore, MD
55 University of Virginia - Main Campus Charlottesville, VA
56 William & Mary Williamsburg, VA
57 Boston University Boston, MA
58 St. Mary’s University San Antonio, TX
59 Syracuse University Syracuse, NY
60 Pomona College Claremont, CA
61 Oglethorpe University Atlanta, GA
62 Gettysburg College Gettysburg, PA

Notes and References

References

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