2027 Best International Relations Schools in the Southeast Region
International Relations is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their international relations programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 35 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 the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall international relations education in the Southeast Region.
Top Schools in International Relations
University Of Virginia Main Campus tops our 2027 ranking of the best international relations schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Charlottesville. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates 96% of students within six years. About 131 international relations degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent year. International Relations graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $46,870 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,672 to complete this degree.
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College Of William And Mary came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best international relations schools. College Of William And Mary is a large public school located in the suburb of Williamsburg. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. There were roughly 87 international relations students who graduated with this degree at College Of William And Mary in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, international relations degree recipients from College Of William And Mary generally make around $47,270. Typical student debt for the program is $21,000.
See the full international relations program report for College Of William And Mary
Duke University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in international relations, ranking #3. Duke University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Durham. The six-year graduation rate is 97%. About 37 international relations degrees were awarded at Duke University in the most recent year. International Relations graduates of Duke University earn a median of $71,278 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,296.
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A rank of #4 makes James Madison University one of the top schools for international relations. Located in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public university. James Madison University graduates 80% of students within six years. About 41 international relations degrees were awarded at James Madison University in the most recent year. International Relations graduates of James Madison University earn a median of $44,667 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,460.
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Tulane University Of Louisiana is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in international relations, landing the #5 spot this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New Orleans. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 47 international relations degrees were awarded at Tulane University Of Louisiana in the most recent year. Students who receive their international relations degree from Tulane University Of Louisiana earn around $47,956 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
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Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earned the #6 position for international relations this year. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 41 international relations students who graduated with this degree at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international relations degree from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn around $83,560 in the first couple years of their career. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates carry a median of $24,323 in student loans.
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University Of Georgia earned the #7 position for international relations this year. University Of Georgia is a very large public school located in the city of Athens. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Georgia awarded about 200 international relations degrees in the most recent data year. International Relations graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of $39,275 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in international relations from University Of Georgia
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earned the #7 position for international relations this year. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. About 86% of students finish within six years. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University awarded about 99 international relations degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, international relations degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $44,638. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
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Emory University earned the #9 position for international relations this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Atlanta. Emory University graduates 91% of students within six years. There were roughly 19 international relations students who graduated with this degree at Emory University in the most recent data year. International Relations graduates of Emory University earn a median of $45,022 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
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University Of Miami ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best international relations schools. Located in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 46 international relations students who graduated with this degree at University Of Miami in the most recent data year. International Relations graduates of University Of Miami earn a median of $31,813 early in their careers. University Of Miami graduates carry a median of $17,250 in student loans.
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Florida State University placed #11 among the best international relations schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Tallahassee. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. Florida State University awarded about 243 international relations degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, international relations degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $40,628. Typical student debt for the program is $17,767.
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George Mason University landed the #12 spot for international relations this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fairfax. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 155 international relations degrees were awarded at George Mason University in the most recent year. Students who receive their international relations degree from George Mason University earn around $59,015 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,000.
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University Of South Carolina Columbia came in at #13 for international relations this year. University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 24 international relations degrees were awarded at University Of South Carolina Columbia in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, international relations degree recipients from University Of South Carolina Columbia generally make around $33,612. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
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University Of North Florida ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best international relations schools. This large public university is located in the city of Jacksonville. About 65% of students finish within six years. About 14 international relations degrees were awarded at University Of North Florida in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, international relations degree recipients from University Of North Florida generally make around $49,208. University Of North Florida graduates carry a median of $18,523 in student loans.
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Liberty University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best international relations schools. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Liberty University graduates 67% of students within six years. There were roughly 71 international relations students who graduated with this degree at Liberty University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the international relations program make about $48,897 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,750 to complete this degree.
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University Of South Florida Main Campus came in at #16 for international relations this year. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public university. University Of South Florida Main Campus graduates 77% of students within six years. There were roughly 62 international relations students who graduated with this degree at University Of South Florida Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, international relations degree recipients from University Of South Florida Main Campus generally make around $30,977. Typical student debt for the program is $18,250.
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North Carolina State University At Raleigh placed #17 among the best international relations schools. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates 85% of students within six years. About 25 international relations degrees were awarded at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent year. Students who receive their international relations degree from North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn around $51,555 in the first couple years of their career. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates carry a median of $22,113 in student loans.
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Virginia Military Institute earned the #18 position for international relations this year. Set in the town of Lexington, Virginia Military Institute is a small public institution. About 76% of students finish within six years. About 62 international relations degrees were awarded at Virginia Military Institute in the most recent year. Students who receive their international relations degree from Virginia Military Institute earn around $44,429 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree.
See the full international relations program report for Virginia Military Institute
The University Of Alabama earned the #19 position for international relations this year. Set in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public institution. About 73% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 31 international relations students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Alabama in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international relations degree from The University Of Alabama earn around $35,324 in the first couple years of their career. The University Of Alabama graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
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Rhodes College came in at #20 for international relations this year. Rhodes College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Memphis. About 84% of students finish within six years. About 18 international relations degrees were awarded at Rhodes College in the most recent year. Graduates of the international relations program make about $23,835 in their early career. Rhodes College graduates carry a median of $22,072 in student loans.
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University Of Kentucky placed #21 among the best international relations schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Lexington. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Kentucky awarded about 25 international relations degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the international relations program make about $47,514 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,094.
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Wofford College earned the #22 position for international relations this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Spartanburg. About 84% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 12 international relations students who graduated with this degree at Wofford College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international relations degree from Wofford College earn around $43,428 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,375.
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Florida International University came in at #23 for international relations this year. Florida International University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Miami. About 74% of students finish within six years. Florida International University awarded about 174 international relations degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the international relations program make about $33,417 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,637 to complete this degree.
See the full international relations program report for Florida International University
West Virginia University landed the #24 spot for international relations this year. Located in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public university. West Virginia University graduates 64% of students within six years. West Virginia University awarded about 24 international relations degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international relations degree from West Virginia University earn around $51,750 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,772.
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University Of Mississippi Main Campus placed #25 among the best international relations schools. Set in the town of University, University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 31 international relations students who graduated with this degree at University Of Mississippi Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international relations degree from University Of Mississippi Main Campus earn around $50,876 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,444 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in international relations from University Of Mississippi Main Campus
Rest of the Top 35 International Relations Schools
These schools also placed among the best for international relations this year:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 35 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.