2026 Best International Relations Schools in Maryland
International Relations is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for international relations students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for International Relations in Maryland
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall international relations education in Maryland.
Top Schools in International Relations
Leading the list is Johns Hopkins University, our #1 school for international relations. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Johns Hopkins University graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 839 international relations students who graduated with this degree at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the international relations program make about $60,277 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000.
See the full international relations program report for Johns Hopkins University
University Of Maryland College Park is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in international relations, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. About 18 international relations degrees were awarded at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent year. Graduates of the international relations program make about $57,901 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,836 to complete this degree.
Get the full international relations details for University Of Maryland College Park
Towson University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in international relations, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 16 international relations students who graduated with this degree at Towson University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international relations degree from Towson University earn around $39,208 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in international relations from Towson University
More International Relations Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 9 schools evaluated.
- 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.
