2026 Best Value International Relations & National Security Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[International Relations & National Security](/majors/social-sciences/international-relations-national-security/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 68 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value international relations & national security schools.
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2026 Best Value International Relations & National Security Schools in the Great Lakes Region
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
Leading the list is Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne, our #1 best value for international relations & national security in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,532, while out-of-state students pay about $22,887. International Relations & National Security graduates carry a median of $24,119 in student loans. Early-career international relations & national security graduates make about $49,424. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne admits about 84% of applicants.
Indiana University Bloomington came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value international relations & national security schools. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,144, compared with $41,891 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,250 to complete the international relations & national security program here. Early-career international relations & national security graduates make about $56,110. That is a strong return on a $19,250 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Oakland University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value international relations & national security schools. Oakland University is a large public school located in the suburb of Rochester Hills. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,167, compared with $24,735 for out-of-state students. International Relations & National Security graduates carry a median of $25,972 in student loans. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from Oakland University generally make around $54,785. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in international relations & national security will find it at University Of Wisconsin Madison, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. International Relations & National Security graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans. Early-career international relations & national security graduates make about $59,877. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in international relations & national security will find it at University Of Akron Main Campus, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,135, with out-of-state students paying around $20,815. Typical student debt for international relations & national security graduates is $25,347. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from University Of Akron Main Campus generally make around $49,045. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio State University Main Campus placed #6 among the best values for international relations & national security. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. In-state tuition and fees average $13,244, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. International Relations & National Security graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $38,584. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Cleveland State University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value international relations & national security schools. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,982 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,502. Typical student debt for international relations & national security graduates is $25,500. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from Cleveland State University generally make around $31,434. That is a strong return on a $25,500 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Central Michigan University landed the #8 spot for international relations & national security value this year. Central Michigan University is a large public school located in the town of Mount Pleasant. In-state tuition and fees average $15,480. International Relations & National Security graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. International Relations & National Security graduates of Central Michigan University earn a median of $35,802 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Chicago ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value international relations & national security schools. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,324. Typical student debt for international relations & national security graduates is $15,854. International Relations & National Security graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $66,182 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,854 median debt. University Of Chicago admits about 4% of applicants.
Grand Valley State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value international relations & national security schools. Located in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,502, with out-of-state students paying around $21,894. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete the international relations & national security program here. International Relations & National Security graduates of Grand Valley State University earn a median of $28,202 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,000 median debt. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Michigan State University placed #11 among the best values for international relations & national security. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,079, with out-of-state students paying around $44,850. International Relations & National Security graduates carry a median of $24,766 in student loans. Early-career international relations & national security graduates make about $38,810. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Kent State University At Kent earned the #12 position for value in international relations & national security this year. Located in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,220, while out-of-state students pay about $21,575. Typical student debt for international relations & national security graduates is $25,500. International Relations & National Security graduates of Kent State University At Kent earn a median of $44,776 early in their careers. Set against $25,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #13 among the best values for international relations & national security. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,363 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,697. Students borrow a median of $25,625 to complete the international relations & national security program here. International Relations & National Security graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $32,543 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,625 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Wheaton College Illinois came in at #14 for value in international relations & national security this year. Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Wheaton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,546. Students borrow a median of $23,875 to complete the international relations & national security program here. Early-career international relations & national security graduates make about $40,084. Set against $23,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Miami University Oxford landed the #15 spot for international relations & national security value this year. Miami University Oxford is a large public school located in the town of Oxford. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,519, compared with $38,965 for out-of-state students. International Relations & National Security graduates carry a median of $21,977 in student loans. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from Miami University Oxford generally make around $38,766. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Depaul University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value international relations & national security schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $45,405 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for international relations & national security graduates is $21,250. Early-career international relations & national security graduates make about $41,610. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Marquette University placed #17 among the best values for international relations & national security. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,170. Students borrow a median of $20,750 to complete the international relations & national security program here. International Relations & National Security graduates of Marquette University earn a median of $43,290 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Loyola University Chicago landed the #18 spot for international relations & national security value this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,710. Typical student debt for international relations & national security graduates is $21,500. Early-career international relations & national security graduates make about $32,682. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 68 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 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.
