2027 Best Value International Relations & National Security Schools in Maryland

[International Relations & National Security](/majors/social-sciences/international-relations-national-security/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 4 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for international relations & national security students.
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2027 Best Value International Relations & National Security Schools in Maryland
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in international relations & national security, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value International Relations & National Security Schools
For return on investment in international relations & national security, no school beat University Of Baltimore this year. Set in the city of Baltimore, University Of Baltimore is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $23,984. Students borrow a median of $29,681 to complete the international relations & national security program here. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from University Of Baltimore generally make around $56,837. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Baltimore admits about 79% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Maryland College Park one of the best values for international relations & national security. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,809, with out-of-state students paying around $41,186. International Relations & National Security graduates carry a median of $20,836 in student loans. International Relations & National Security graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $57,901 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,836 median debt. University Of Maryland College Park admits about 45% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Johns Hopkins University earned it the #3 place for international relations & national security. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,730. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the international relations & national security program here. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University generally make around $60,277. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
Towson University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value international relations & national security schools. Located in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,728, with out-of-state students paying around $29,820. International Relations & National Security graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. International Relations & National Security graduates of Towson University earn a median of $39,208 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.