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

24 Ranked Colleges
373 Degrees Awarded
$15,200 Avg Net Price*
Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its “Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

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 Plains States region, there were 482 international relations and national security graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,167 and $26,620 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 373 international relations and national security graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 24 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the international relations and national security program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

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

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 24 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for International Relations & National Security (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

#1

Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Washington University in St Louis. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. WUSTL is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

WUSTL did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best International Relations & National Security Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Washington University in St Louis is $5,273 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree International Relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 7 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 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 1.4% 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%.

Full Washington University in St Louis International Relations & National Security Report

#2

Carleton College

Northfield, Minnesota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Carleton College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Northfield, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s international relations degrees to 48 students in 2019-2020.

Carleton also took the #1 spot in our “Best International Relations & National Security Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Carleton is $9,579 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree International Relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low student loan default rate of 1.3% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Read more about International Relations & National Security at Carleton

#3

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UMN Twin Cities is a large public school situated in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It awarded 94 bachelors’s international relations degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Twin Cities also took the #4 spot in our “Best International Relations & National Security Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $7,266 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree International Relations students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities.

The low student loan default rate of 2.2% 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 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about International Relations & National Security at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Duluth. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. UMN Duluth is a fairly large public school situated in Duluth, Minnesota. It awarded 16 bachelors’s international relations degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Duluth not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best International Relations & National Security Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UMN Duluth is $7,443 for plains states region bachelor’s degree international relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about International Relations & National Security at University of Minnesota - Duluth

#5

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Out of the 24 schools in the Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Saint Cloud State University landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, this fairly large public school handed out 31 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s international relations students in 2019-2020.

St. Cloud State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best International Relations & National Security Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Saint Cloud State University is $10,688 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree International Relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about International Relations & National Security at Saint Cloud State University

Minnesota State University - Mankato did quite well in the 2022 Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. Mankato, Minnesota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s international relations degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Minnesota State Mankato, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best International Relations & National Security Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Minnesota State Mankato is $11,057 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree International Relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

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%.

Full Minnesota State Mankato International Relations & National Security Report

#7

University of Missouri - St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
#23 in overall quality

University of Missouri - St Louis did quite well in the 2022 Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. UMSL is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 bachelors’s international relations degrees to qualified students.

UMSL also took the #23 spot in our “Best International Relations & National Security Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $7,401 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree International Relations students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Missouri - St Louis.

Read full report on International Relations & National Security at University of Missouri - St Louis

#24 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, Missouri Southern State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Missouri Southern is a medium-sized public school situated in Joplin, Missouri. It awarded 8 bachelors’s international relations degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Missouri Southern, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best International Relations & National Security Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Missouri Southern State University is $7,882 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree International Relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about International Relations & National Security at Missouri Southern

#9

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa

University of Iowa came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Iowa City, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s international relations degrees to 40 students in 2019-2020.

Iowa also took the #9 spot in our “Best International Relations & National Security Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $12,975 for plains states region bachelor’s degree international relations students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Iowa.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 3.5% 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%.

Full University of Iowa International Relations & National Security Report

#10

Lindenwood University

Saint Charles, Missouri
#18 in overall quality

Lindenwood University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Saint Charles, Missouri, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 7 degrees to qualified bachelors’s international relations students in 2019-2020.

Lindenwood University also took the #18 spot in our “Best International Relations & National Security Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $14,388 for plains states region bachelor’s degree international relations students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Lindenwood University.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

#11

Wartburg College

Waverly, Iowa
#6 in overall quality

Wartburg College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Waverly, Iowa, and it awarded 9 bachelors’s international relations degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Wartburg, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best International Relations & National Security Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Wartburg College is $16,334 for plains states region bachelor’s degree international relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about International Relations & National Security at Wartburg College

#12

Simpson College

Indianola, Iowa
#13 in overall quality

Simpson College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Simpson College is located in Indianola, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 bachelors’s international relations degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree international relations students whose families make $0-$30k list, Simpson College has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best International Relations & National Security Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Simpson College is $15,357 for plains states region bachelor’s degree international relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Simpson College International Relations & National Security Report

#13

St Catherine University

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#21 in overall quality

St Catherine University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and it awarded 4 bachelors’s international relations degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at St. Kate’s, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best International Relations & National Security Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for St. Kate’s is $15,102 for plains states region bachelor’s degree international relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on International Relations & National Security at St Catherine University

#14

Saint Louis University

Saint Louis, Missouri

Saint Louis University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 11 degrees to qualified bachelors’s international relations students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree international relations students whose families make $0-$30k list, SLU has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best International Relations & National Security Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Saint Louis University is $20,051 for plains states region bachelor’s degree international relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

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 school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full SLU International Relations & National Security Report

#15

Loras College

Dubuque, Iowa

Loras College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Loras is a small school located in Dubuque, Iowa that handed out 10 bachelors’s international relations degrees in 2019-2020.

Loras not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best International Relations & National Security Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Loras is $16,154 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree International Relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Loras College International Relations & National Security Report

#16

Cornell College

Mount Vernon, Iowa

Cornell College landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Mount Vernon, Iowa, and it awarded 3 bachelors’s international relations degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree international relations students whose families make $0-$30k list, Cornell College has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best International Relations & National Security Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Cornell College is $20,458 for plains states region bachelor’s degree international relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Cornell College International Relations & National Security Report

#17

William Jewell College

Liberty, Missouri

William Jewell College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. William Jewell is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Liberty, Missouri. It awarded 7 bachelors’s international relations degrees in 2019-2020.

William Jewell also made our “Best International Relations & National Security Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #16. It costs about $16,989 for plains states region bachelor’s degree international relations students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend William Jewell College.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. 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%.

Read more about International Relations & National Security at William Jewell

#18

Webster University

Saint Louis, Missouri
#12 in overall quality

Webster University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Webster University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 5 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Webster, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best International Relations & National Security Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $18,661 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree International Relations students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Webster University.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Webster University International Relations & National Security Report

#19

Bellevue University

Bellevue, Nebraska
#22 in overall quality

With a ranking of #19, Bellevue University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Bellevue, Nebraska, and it awarded 6 bachelors’s international relations degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree international relations students whose families make $0-$30k list, Bellevue University has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best International Relations & National Security Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Bellevue University is $14,933 for plains states region bachelor’s degree international relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about International Relations & National Security at Bellevue University

#20

Augsburg University

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#14 in overall quality

Augsburg University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #20. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s international relations degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Augsburg, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best International Relations & National Security Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Augsburg is $21,179 for plains states region bachelor’s degree international relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on International Relations & National Security at Augsburg

#21

Creighton University

Omaha, Nebraska
#7 in overall quality

Creighton University landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Creighton is located in Omaha, Nebraska and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 bachelors’s international relations degrees to qualified students.

Creighton also made our “Best International Relations & National Security Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #7. The yearly cost to attend Creighton University is $24,458 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree International Relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

#22

Bethel University Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#19 in overall quality

Bethel University Minnesota landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Bethel University Minnesota is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 bachelors’s international relations degrees to qualified students.

Bethel University Minnesota also made our “Best International Relations & National Security Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #19. The estimated yearly cost for Bethel University Minnesota is $18,396 for plains states 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 student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Bethel University Minnesota International Relations & National Security Report

#23

Drake University

Des Moines, Iowa

Drake University landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Des Moines, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 12 degrees to qualified bachelors’s international relations students in 2019-2020.

Drake did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best International Relations & National Security Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Drake is $25,212 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree International Relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.2% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. 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 more about International Relations & National Security at Drake

#24

University of St Thomas Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#5 in overall quality

University of St Thomas Minnesota did quite well in the 2022 Best Value International Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #24. UST MN is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 5 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UST MN, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best International Relations & National Security Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $27,460 for plains states region bachelor’s degree international relations students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of St Thomas Minnesota.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about International Relations & National Security at University of St Thomas Minnesota

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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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