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2026 Best Value International Security Schools in Massachusetts

[International Security](/majors/social-sciences/international-relations-national-security/international-security/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 2 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for international security students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value International Security Schools in Massachusetts

2026 Best Value International Security Schools in Massachusetts

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in international security, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value International Security Schools

1

Harvard University
Cambridge, MA

$61,676 In-State Tuition & Fees

$16,616 Avg Student Debt

$101,817 Median Earnings (10yr)

Harvard University tops our 2026 list of the best value international security schools in Massachusetts. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,676. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the international security program here. International Security graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $95,207 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.

2

University Of Massachusetts Lowell
Lowell, MA

$16,966 In-State Tuition & Fees

$25,574 Avg Student Debt

$64,874 Median Earnings (10yr)

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Massachusetts Lowell earned it the #2 place for international security. Located in the suburb of Lowell, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $16,966, with out-of-state students paying around $36,264. International Security graduates carry a median of $25,574 in student loans. Early-career international security graduates make about $67,146. Set against $25,574 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 83%.

View All International Security Rankings >

Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 2 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.