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2022 Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

43 Ranked Colleges
1,120 Degrees Awarded
$11,600 Avg Net Price*
Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2019-2020, 14,762 people earned their degree in international relations and national security, making the major the 65th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, international relations and national security graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $38,051 and had an average of $28,099 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 1,340 international relations and national security graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,821 and $24,013 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,120 international relations and national security graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,075 and $25,381 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 43 colleges that offered a degree in international relations and national security. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent international relations and national security programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the international relations and national security program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank International Relations & National Security Schools

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region bachelor’s degree international relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for International Relations & National Security (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois

Out of the 43 schools in the Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #1 spot on the list. Northwestern University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Evanston, Illinois. It awarded 37 bachelors’s international relations degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree international relations students whose families make $0-$30k list, Northwestern has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best International Relations & National Security Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $1,866 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree International Relations students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Northwestern.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low 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%.

Read full report on International Relations & National Security at Northwestern University

#2

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Chicago. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 17 bachelors’s international relations degrees in 2019-2020.

UChicago also made our “Best International Relations & National Security Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #2. It costs about $2,712 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree international relations students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Chicago.

With a freshman retention rate of 100%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 0.6% 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 impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 5 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 & National Security at UChicago

#3

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Michigan State University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in East Lansing, Michigan, this large public school awarded 116 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s international relations students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Michigan State, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best International Relations & National Security Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $6,686 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree International Relations students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Michigan State University.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, 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 91%.

Read more about International Relations & National Security at Michigan State

#4

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana

Out of the 43 schools in the Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Indiana University - Bloomington landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Bloomington, Indiana, this large public school handed out 100 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s international relations students in 2019-2020.

IU Bloomington did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best International Relations & National Security Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - Bloomington is $4,969 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree International Relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.3% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about International Relations & National Security at Indiana University - Bloomington

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ohio State University - Main Campus. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Ohio State is a large school located in Columbus, Ohio that handed out 178 bachelors’s international relations degrees in 2019-2020.

Ohio State also made our “Best International Relations & National Security Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #6. It costs about $8,194 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree international relations students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus.

The low student loan default rate of 4.4% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Ohio State University - Main Campus International Relations & National Security Report

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and it awarded 16 bachelors’s international relations degrees in 2019-2020.

IUPUI also made our “Best International Relations & National Security Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #20. The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is $5,052 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree international relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on International Relations & National Security at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

#7

Beloit College

Beloit, Wisconsin

Beloit College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. Beloit College is a small school located in Beloit, Wisconsin that handed out 7 bachelors’s international relations degrees in 2019-2020.

Beloit not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best International Relations & National Security Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $8,574 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree International Relations students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Beloit.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about International Relations & National Security at Beloit

#8

University of Southern Indiana

Evansville, Indiana
#25 in overall quality

University of Southern Indiana did quite well in the 2022 Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. University of Southern Indiana is a fairly large school located in Evansville, Indiana that handed out 8 bachelors’s international relations degrees in 2019-2020.

USI also took the #25 spot in our “Best International Relations & National Security Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Southern Indiana is $8,244 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree international relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full USI International Relations & National Security Report

#9

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan

Grand Valley State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. Located in Allendale, Michigan, this large public school awarded 35 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s international relations students in 2019-2020.

GVSU also made our “Best International Relations & National Security Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #13. The yearly cost to attend GVSU is $11,578 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree international relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about International Relations & National Security at GVSU

#10

Denison University

Granville, Ohio

With a ranking of #10, Denison University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Denison is a private not-for-profit institution located in Granville, Ohio. The school has a small population, and it awarded 18 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Denison not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best International Relations & National Security Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Denison University is $18,990 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree International Relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The impressive 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. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on International Relations & National Security at Denison University

Miami University - Oxford did quite well in the 2022 Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. Miami University - Oxford is located in Oxford, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 121 bachelors’s international relations degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree international relations students whose families make $0-$30k list, Miami University - Oxford has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best International Relations & National Security Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $13,759 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree international relations students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Miami University - Oxford.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Miami University - Oxford International Relations & National Security Report

#12

Wheaton College Illinois

Wheaton, Illinois

Wheaton College Illinois ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Wheaton, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 34 degrees to qualified bachelors’s international relations students in 2019-2020.

Wheaton College Illinois also took the #3 spot in our “Best International Relations & National Security Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Wheaton College Illinois is $18,440 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree International Relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on International Relations & National Security at Wheaton College Illinois

#13

Saint Xavier University

Chicago, Illinois

Saint Xavier University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s international relations degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $11,266 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree International Relations students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend SXU.

Full Saint Xavier University International Relations & National Security Report

#14

Oakland University

Rochester Hills, Michigan

Oakland University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Rochester Hills, Michigan, and it awarded 14 bachelors’s international relations degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $7,490 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree international relations students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Oakland University.

Full Oakland International Relations & National Security Report

#15

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Central Michigan University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Central Michigan University is a fairly large school located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan that handed out 25 bachelors’s international relations degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Central Michigan University is $11,598 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree International Relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on International Relations & National Security at Central Michigan

#16

The College of Wooster

Wooster, Ohio
#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, The College of Wooster did quite well on the 2022 Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. The College of Wooster is a small school located in Wooster, Ohio that handed out 7 bachelors’s international relations degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree international relations students whose families make $0-$30k list, Wooster College has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best International Relations & National Security Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $14,942 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree international relations students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend The College of Wooster.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full The College of Wooster International Relations & National Security Report

#17

Northern Michigan University

Marquette, Michigan

Northern Michigan University landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Northern Michigan University is located in Marquette, Michigan and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 bachelors’s international relations degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Northern Michigan University is $9,137 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree international relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Northern Michigan University International Relations & National Security Report

#18

Aquinas College Michigan

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Aquinas College Michigan did quite well in the 2022 Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #18. Aquinas College Michigan is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It awarded 2 bachelors’s international relations degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Aquinas College Michigan is $13,510 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree international relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Aquinas College Michigan International Relations & National Security Report

#19

Lake Forest College

Lake Forest, Illinois

Lake Forest College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Lake Forest is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Lake Forest, Illinois. It awarded 11 bachelors’s international relations degrees in 2019-2020.

Lake Forest not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best International Relations & National Security Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Lake Forest is $18,192 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree International Relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.5% 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 & National Security at Lake Forest College

With a ranking of #20, Kent State University at Kent did quite well on the 2022 Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Kent, Ohio, and it awarded 17 bachelors’s international relations degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Kent State, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best International Relations & National Security Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Kent State University at Kent is $13,915 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree International Relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on International Relations & National Security at Kent State University at Kent

#21

Walsh University

North Canton, Ohio

Walsh University landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. North Canton, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s international relations degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Walsh University is $12,864 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree International Relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about International Relations & National Security at Walsh

#16 in overall quality

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #22. This large school is located in Cincinnati, Ohio, and it awarded 38 bachelors’s international relations degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best International Relations & National Security Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Cincinnati - Main Campus is $15,078 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree International Relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.

Read full report on International Relations & National Security at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus

#23

Bradley University

Peoria, Illinois
#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #23, Bradley University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Peoria, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 6 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s international relations students in 2019-2020.

Bradley also took the #12 spot in our “Best International Relations & National Security Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $17,205 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree international relations students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Bradley.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about International Relations & National Security at Bradley

#24

Knox College

Galesburg, Illinois

With a ranking of #24, Knox College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Knox College is located in Galesburg, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 bachelors’s international relations degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree international relations students whose families make $0-$30k list, Knox has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best International Relations & National Security Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Knox College is $16,828 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree international relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.8% 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 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.

Read full report on International Relations & National Security at Knox College

#25

Marquette University

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Marquette University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #25. Marquette University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 23 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree international relations students whose families make $0-$30k list, Marquette has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best International Relations & National Security Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Marquette is $19,169 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree International Relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 1.5% 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 & National Security at Marquette

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to RepubFan12.

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