2026 Best Value International Relations & National Security Schools in the New England Region
[International Relations & National Security](/majors/social-sciences/international-relations-national-security/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong international relations & national security education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 39 schools to find the best return on investment for international relations & national security students.
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2026 Best Value International Relations & National Security Schools in the New England 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
For return on investment in international relations & national security, no school beat Harvard University this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $61,676 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the international relations & national security program here. Early-career international relations & national security graduates make about $95,207. That is a strong return on a $16,616 median debt. Harvard University admits about 4% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Massachusetts Lowell one of the best values for international relations & national security. Located in the suburb of Lowell, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,966, while out-of-state students pay about $36,264. Students borrow a median of $25,574 to complete the international relations & national security program here. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Lowell generally make around $67,146. That is a strong return on a $25,574 median debt. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in international relations & national security will find it at University Of Massachusetts Amherst, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $17,772 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,449. Students borrow a median of $25,234 to complete the international relations & national security program here. International Relations & National Security graduates of University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn a median of $53,543 early in their careers. Set against $25,234 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Massachusetts Amherst admits about 60% of applicants.
University Of Rhode Island is a great value for students pursuing a degree in international relations & national security, landing the #4 spot this year. University Of Rhode Island is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kingston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,942, while out-of-state students pay about $37,146. Students borrow a median of $23,432 to complete the international relations & national security program here. International Relations & National Security graduates of University Of Rhode Island earn a median of $52,821 early in their careers. Set against $23,432 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Massachusetts Boston earned it the #5 place for international relations & national security. Located in the city of Boston, University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,898, with out-of-state students paying around $38,115. Students borrow a median of $26,236 to complete the international relations & national security program here. International Relations & National Security graduates of University Of Massachusetts Boston earn a median of $52,885 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,236 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Wellesley College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value international relations & national security schools. Located in the suburb of Wellesley, Wellesley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,176. International Relations & National Security graduates carry a median of $11,075 in student loans. International Relations & National Security graduates of Wellesley College earn a median of $48,902 early in their careers. Set against $11,075 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 14%.
University Of Maine earned the #7 position for value in international relations & national security this year. Set in the suburb of Orono, University Of Maine is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,326, while out-of-state students pay about $36,756. International Relations & National Security graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career international relations & national security graduates make about $35,337. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Brown University came in at #8 for value in international relations & national security this year. Located in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $71,312. 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 $46,284. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Middlebury College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value international relations & national security schools. Located in the town of Middlebury, Middlebury College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $67,600. International Relations & National Security graduates carry a median of $15,948 in student loans. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from Middlebury College generally make around $68,770. Set against $15,948 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
Norwich University came in at #10 for value in international relations & national security this year. Set in the rural area of Northfield, Norwich University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $49,740. Students borrow a median of $16,850 to complete the international relations & national security program here. International Relations & National Security graduates of Norwich University earn a median of $54,985 early in their careers. Set against $16,850 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Boston University placed #11 among the best values for international relations & national security. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Students from in state pay about $68,102 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for international relations & national security graduates is $25,000. Early-career international relations & national security graduates make about $48,622. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Yale University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value international relations & national security schools. Yale University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,250. Students borrow a median of $14,357 to complete the international relations & national security program here. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from Yale University generally make around $74,578. That is a strong return on a $14,357 median debt. Yale University admits about 4% of applicants.
Suffolk University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value international relations & national security schools. Suffolk University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. In-state tuition and fees average $47,550. International Relations & National Security graduates carry a median of $26,990 in student loans. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from Suffolk University generally make around $57,261. Set against $26,990 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
New England College earned the #14 position for value in international relations & national security this year. Located in the rural area of Henniker, New England College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $27,474 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $35,038 to complete the international relations & national security program here. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from New England College generally make around $68,950. Set against $35,038 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. New England College admits about 92% of applicants.
Northeastern University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value international relations & national security schools. Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Students from in state pay about $66,162 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for international relations & national security graduates is $21,125. Early-career international relations & national security graduates make about $60,311. Set against $21,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Southern New Hampshire University landed the #16 spot for international relations & national security value this year. Located in the suburb of Manchester, Southern New Hampshire University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $17,200. Typical student debt for international relations & national security graduates is $29,103. International Relations & National Security graduates of Southern New Hampshire University earn a median of $53,211 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,103 median debt. Southern New Hampshire University admits about 100% of applicants.
University Of New Haven ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value international relations & national security schools. University Of New Haven is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of West Haven. Students from in state pay about $47,332 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for international relations & national security graduates is $26,244. Early-career international relations & national security graduates make about $49,615. That is a strong return on a $26,244 median debt. University Of New Haven admits about 60% of applicants.
Tufts University landed the #18 spot for international relations & national security value this year. Located in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,704. Typical student debt for international relations & national security graduates is $16,375. International Relations & National Security graduates of Tufts University earn a median of $63,706 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 12%.
Salve Regina University came in at #19 for value in international relations & national security this year. Set in the suburb of Newport, Salve Regina University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $50,100 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for international relations & national security graduates is $27,000. Early-career international relations & national security graduates make about $56,636. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 68%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 39 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
