2026 Best Value International Relations & National Security Schools in California
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the international relations & national security degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value International Relations & National Security Schools
California State University San Bernardino earned the #1 spot for value among international relations & national security schools in California. California State University San Bernardino is a very large public school located in the city of San Bernardino. Students from in state pay about $8,088 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,688. Typical student debt for international relations & national security graduates is $15,149. International Relations & National Security graduates of California State University San Bernardino earn a median of $42,421 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in international relations & national security will find it at Stanford University, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,910. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete the international relations & national security program here. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $76,166. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California San Diego came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value international relations & national security schools. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,788, with out-of-state students paying around $47,676. International Relations & National Security graduates carry a median of $17,101 in student loans. Early-career international relations & national security graduates make about $68,368. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 27%.
Students looking for strong value in international relations & national security will find it at San Francisco State University, which ranked #4. San Francisco State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Francisco. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,846, compared with $20,446 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for international relations & national security graduates is $16,750. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from San Francisco State University generally make around $31,254. That is a strong return on a $16,750 median debt. San Francisco State University admits about 96% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes University Of California Riverside one of the best values for international relations & national security. University Of California Riverside is a very large public school located in the city of Riverside. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,636, compared with $46,524 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for international relations & national security graduates is $18,914. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from University Of California Riverside generally make around $27,021. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
University Of California Davis landed the #6 spot for international relations & national security value this year. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,804, while out-of-state students pay about $47,692. International Relations & National Security graduates carry a median of $12,416 in student loans. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $34,949. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California Davis admits about 42% of applicants.
San Diego State University came in at #7 for value in international relations & national security this year. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,728 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,328. Typical student debt for international relations & national security graduates is $17,134. International Relations & National Security graduates of San Diego State University earn a median of $49,617 early in their careers. Set against $17,134 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. San Diego State University admits about 36% of applicants.
Claremont Mckenna College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value international relations & national security schools. Set in the suburb of Claremont, Claremont Mckenna College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $67,980. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the international relations & national security program here. Early-career international relations & national security graduates make about $66,028. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 10%.
University Of San Diego landed the #9 spot for international relations & national security value this year. Located in the city of San Diego, University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $59,486. Students borrow a median of $24,100 to complete the international relations & national security program here. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from University Of San Diego generally make around $50,948. That is a strong return on a $24,100 median debt. The acceptance rate is 52%.
University Of Southern California placed #10 among the best values for international relations & national security. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $71,647. Typical student debt for international relations & national security graduates is $13,765. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $52,262. Set against $13,765 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 10%.
Occidental College came in at #11 for value in international relations & national security this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Occidental College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,274. International Relations & National Security graduates carry a median of $19,275 in student loans. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from Occidental College generally make around $35,231. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 44%.
University Of San Francisco earned the #12 position for value in international relations & national security this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $60,522. Students borrow a median of $24,508 to complete the international relations & national security program here. International Relations & National Security graduates of University Of San Francisco earn a median of $36,669 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of San Francisco admits about 62% of applicants.
Loyola Marymount University earned the #13 position for value in international relations & national security this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $61,867. International Relations & National Security graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from Loyola Marymount University generally make around $34,575. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 52 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
[International Relations & National Security](/majors/social-sciences/international-relations-national-security/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong international relations & national security education at a price that pays off.
