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2022 Best Value International Relations Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k

13 Ranked Colleges
373 Degrees Awarded
$16,700 Avg Net Price*
Best Value International Relations Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value International Relations Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

International Relations & National Security is the 65th most popular major in the country with 14,762 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. 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 Illinois, there were 373 international relations and national security graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,500 and $26,096 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value International Relations Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 13 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.

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.

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 in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value International Relations Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for illinois international relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 13 Best Value Colleges for International Relations & National Security (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northwestern University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value International Relations Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k. Northwestern is a large school located in Evanston, Illinois that handed out 37 ’s international relations degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwestern not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Northwestern is $1,866 for Illinois International Relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

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 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%. 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.

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

#2

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value International Relations Schools in Illinois 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 fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 143 ’s international relations degrees in 2019-2020.

UChicago also made our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #2. The estimated yearly cost for UChicago is $2,712 for illinois international relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

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. 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%.

Read full report on International Relations & National Security at UChicago

#3

Wheaton College Illinois

Wheaton, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Wheaton College Illinois. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value International Relations Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Wheaton, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 34 diplomas to qualified ’s international relations students in 2019-2020.

Wheaton College Illinois did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Wheaton College Illinois is $18,440 for Illinois 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 student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. 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.

Read more about International Relations & National Security at Wheaton College Illinois

#4

Saint Xavier University

Chicago, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Saint Xavier University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value International Relations Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k. This small school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 2 ’s international relations degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois international relations students whose families make $0-$30k list, SXU has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $11,266 for Illinois International Relations students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend SXU.

Read full report on International Relations & National Security at Saint Xavier University

#5

Lake Forest College

Lake Forest, Illinois

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value International Relations Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Lake Forest College landed the #5 spot on the list. Lake Forest College is located in Lake Forest, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 ’s international relations degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Lake Forest, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Lake Forest College is $18,192 for illinois international relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

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%.

Read full report on International Relations & National Security at Lake Forest

#6

Bradley University

Peoria, Illinois

Bradley University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value International Relations Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Bradley is a private not-for-profit institution located in Peoria, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 6 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Bradley not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Bradley University is $17,205 for Illinois 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 86%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on International Relations & National Security at Bradley

#7

Knox College

Galesburg, Illinois

Knox College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value International Relations Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. Located in Galesburg, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 7 degrees to qualified ’s international relations students in 2019-2020.

Knox not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $16,828 for illinois international relations students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Knox College.

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%. 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.

Full Knox International Relations & National Security Report

#8

Dominican University

River Forest, Illinois

With a ranking of #8, Dominican University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value International Relations Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Dominican University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in River Forest, Illinois. It awarded 5 ’s international relations degrees in 2019-2020.

Dominican U not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $17,060 for Illinois International Relations students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Dominican University.

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.

Read full report on International Relations & National Security at Dominican U

#9

McKendree University

Lebanon, Illinois

McKendree University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value International Relations Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. McKendree is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lebanon, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois international relations students whose families make $0-$30k list, McKendree has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend McKendree is $15,184 for Illinois International Relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full McKendree International Relations & National Security Report

#10

Roosevelt University

Chicago, Illinois

With a ranking of #10, Roosevelt University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value International Relations Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Roosevelt University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 4 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Roosevelt also took the #12 spot in our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Roosevelt is $20,398 for Illinois International Relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Roosevelt International Relations & National Security Report

#11

Rockford University

Rockford, Illinois

With a ranking of #11, Rockford University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value International Relations Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Rockford, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 1 diplomas to qualified ’s international relations students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois international relations students whose families make $0-$30k list, Rockford has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Rockford is $21,868 for illinois international relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 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 Rockford

#12

Loyola University Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

Loyola University Chicago came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value International Relations Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Loyola University Chicago is a fairly large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 68 ’s international relations degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois international relations students whose families make $0-$30k list, Loyola Chicago has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Loyola Chicago is $29,440 for illinois 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 school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on International Relations & National Security at Loyola Chicago

#13

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois

DePaul University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value International Relations Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. DePaul University is a large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 50 ’s international relations degrees in 2019-2020.

DePaul did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $26,173 for Illinois International Relations students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend DePaul.

The low student loan default rate of 4.5% 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 DePaul International Relations & National Security Report

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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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