2026 Best Value International Security Schools in California
[International Security](/majors/social-sciences/international-relations-national-security/international-security/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong international security education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 4 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value international security schools.
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2026 Best Value International Security Schools in California
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the international security degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value International Security Schools
California State University San Bernardino earned the #1 spot for value among international security schools in California. Set in the city of San Bernardino, California State University San Bernardino is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,088 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,688. Students borrow a median of $15,149 to complete the international security program here. Early-career international security graduates make about $42,421. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at San Diego State University earned it the #2 place for international security. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,728 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,328. Typical student debt for international security graduates is $17,134. Soon after graduation, international security degree recipients from San Diego State University generally make around $49,617. That is a strong return on a $17,134 median debt. The acceptance rate is 36%.
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 4 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.
