2023 Best Value Colleges for International Relations & National Security (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
37
Ranked Colleges
1,355
Degrees Awarded
$10,300
Avg Net Price*
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.
In 2020-2021, 14,306 people earned their degree in international relations and national security, making the major the 67th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, international relations and national security graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $41,288 and had an average of $21,455 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 1,355 international relations and national security graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,297 and $22,820 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 37 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in international relations and national security. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great international relations and national security programs and 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.
More Ways to Rank International Relations & National Security Schools
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 in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.
One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region international relations students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for International Relations & National Security (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
Out of the 37 schools in the Best Value International Relations Schools 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 is a large school located in Evanston, Illinois that handed out 42 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.
Northwestern also made our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #1. The estimated yearly cost for Northwestern is $245 for great lakes region international relations students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad 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%.
Read full report on International Relations & National Security at Northwestern
Out of the 37 schools in the Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Chicago landed the #2 spot on the list. UChicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 162 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UChicago also took the #2 spot in our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UChicago is $2,500 for great lakes region international relations students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate 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. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 100%.
Read full report on International Relations & National Security at University of Chicago
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Bloomington. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. IU Bloomington is a public institution located in Bloomington, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 124 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
IU Bloomington did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $5,752 for great lakes region international relations students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend IU Bloomington.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on International Relations & National Security at IU Bloomington
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a public institution located in Madison, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 20 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - Madison also took the #10 spot in our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UW - Madison is $3,981 for great lakes region 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 95%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full UW - Madison International Relations & National Security Report
Out of the 37 schools in the Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #5 spot on the list. Columbus, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s international relations degrees to 176 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region international relations students whose families make $0-$30k list, Ohio State has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus is $7,068 for Great Lakes Region International Relations students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Ohio State International Relations & National Security Report
Michigan State University landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. East Lansing, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s international relations degrees to 106 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region international relations students whose families make $0-$30k list, Michigan State has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Michigan State is $6,927 for Great Lakes Region International Relations students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on International Relations & National Security at Michigan State
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. IUPUI is a large public school situated in Indianapolis, Indiana. It awarded 20 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.
IUPUI also made our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #20. It costs about $7,026 for great lakes region international relations students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about International Relations & National Security at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis
Beloit College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Beloit is located in Beloit, Wisconsin and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 13 ’s international relations degrees to qualified students.
Beloit also made our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #12. It costs about $7,970 for great lakes region international relations students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Beloit College.
The undergraduate 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. The low undergrad 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%. 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 more about International Relations & National Security at Beloit College
Miami University - Oxford ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Miami University - Oxford is a fairly large school located in Oxford, Ohio that handed out 91 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region international relations students whose families make $0-$30k list, Miami University - Oxford has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Miami University - Oxford is $13,956 for Great Lakes Region International Relations students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about International Relations & National Security at Miami University - Oxford
With a ranking of #10, University of Southern Indiana did quite well on the 2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. USI is a medium-sized school located in Evansville, Indiana that handed out 9 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.
USI did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $7,815 for great lakes region international relations students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Southern Indiana.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on International Relations & National Security at University of Southern Indiana
Oakland University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Oakland University is a fairly large school located in Rochester Hills, Michigan that handed out 16 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $8,949 for Great Lakes Region International Relations students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Oakland.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on International Relations & National Security at Oakland University
Grand Valley State University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Allendale, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s international relations degrees to 36 students in 2020-2021.
GVSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend GVSU is $10,259 for Great Lakes Region International Relations students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% 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 Grand Valley State University
Indiana University - Southeast did quite well in the 2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. Indiana University - Southeast is located in New Albany, Indiana and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7 ’s international relations degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Southeast is $7,587 for great lakes region international relations students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about International Relations & National Security at Indiana University - Southeast
Denison University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. Denison University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Granville, Ohio. It awarded 17 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.
Denison also made our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #5. It costs about $15,242 for great lakes region international relations students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Denison University.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read full report on International Relations & National Security at Denison
Wheaton College Illinois did quite well in the 2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. Wheaton College Illinois is located in Wheaton, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 34 ’s international relations degrees to qualified students.
Wheaton College Illinois did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Wheaton College Illinois is $15,933 for Great Lakes Region International Relations students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergraduate 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. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on International Relations & National Security at Wheaton College Illinois
Central Michigan University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, and it awarded 22 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.
Central Michigan did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Central Michigan is $10,805 for great lakes region international relations students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Central Michigan University International Relations & National Security Report
Northern Michigan University landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Marquette, Michigan, and it awarded 3 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Northern Michigan University is $8,958 for Great Lakes Region International Relations students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about International Relations & National Security at Northern Michigan University
Marquette University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and it awarded 39 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.
Marquette also made our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #7. It costs about $18,589 for Great Lakes Region International Relations students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Marquette.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on International Relations & National Security at Marquette
Wright State University - Main Campus landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Dayton, Ohio, this fairly large public school awarded 16 diplomas to qualified ’s international relations students in 2020-2021.
Wright State University - Main Campus also took the #21 spot in our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Wright State University - Main Campus is $11,980 for Great Lakes Region International Relations students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Wright State University - Main Campus International Relations & National Security Report
Walsh University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #20. This small school is located in North Canton, Ohio, and it awarded 5 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $13,297 for great lakes region international relations students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Walsh.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about International Relations & National Security at Walsh University
University of Cincinnati - Main Campus ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Cincinnati, Ohio, this large public school handed out 42 diplomas to qualified ’s international relations students in 2020-2021.
UC also took the #17 spot in our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Cincinnati - Main Campus is $15,061 for great lakes region international relations students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. 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 University of Cincinnati - Main Campus International Relations & National Security Report
Lake Forest College landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Lake Forest, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 16 degrees to qualified ’s international relations students in 2020-2021.
Lake Forest also made our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #11. The estimated yearly cost for Lake Forest College is $15,933 for Great Lakes Region International Relations students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad 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%.
Full Lake Forest College International Relations & National Security Report
The College of Wooster ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. The College of Wooster is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Wooster, Ohio. It awarded 14 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.
Wooster College also took the #22 spot in our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $12,636 for great lakes region international relations students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Wooster College.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% 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%.
Read more about International Relations & National Security at The College of Wooster
Kent State University at Kent came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Kent, Ohio, and it awarded 10 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Kent State University at Kent is $13,793 for Great Lakes Region International Relations students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about International Relations & National Security at Kent State
With a ranking of #25, University of Akron Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Akron Main Campus is a public institution located in Akron, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 7 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
University of Akron Main Campus not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $14,420 for great lakes region international relations students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Akron Main Campus.
Full University of Akron Main Campus International Relations & National Security Report
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