2027 Best Value International Relations & National Security Schools in the New England Region
[International Relations & National Security](/majors/social-sciences/international-relations-national-security/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 18 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value international relations & national security schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value International Relations & National Security Schools in the New England Region
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
University Of Massachusetts Lowell tops our 2027 list of the best value international relations & national security schools in the New England Region. Located in the suburb of Lowell, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $16,966 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $36,264. Typical student debt for international relations & national security graduates is $25,574. International Relations & National Security graduates of University Of Massachusetts Lowell earn a median of $67,146 early in their careers. Set against $25,574 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Massachusetts Lowell admits about 83% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in international relations & national security will find it at Harvard University, which ranked #2. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,676. International Relations & National Security graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Early-career international relations & national security graduates make about $95,207. That is a strong return on a $16,616 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Students looking for strong value in international relations & national security will find it at University Of Massachusetts Amherst, which ranked #3. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,772, while out-of-state students pay about $40,449. Typical student debt for international relations & national security graduates is $25,195. International Relations & National Security graduates of University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn a median of $53,666 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Boston came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value international relations & national security schools. Set in the city of Boston, University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,898 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,115 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for international relations & national security graduates is $26,236. 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. The acceptance rate is 84%.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Rhode Island one of the best values for international relations & national security. University Of Rhode Island is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kingston. Students from in state pay about $16,942 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $37,146. International Relations & National Security graduates carry a median of $23,432 in student loans. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from University Of Rhode Island generally make around $52,821. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Rhode Island admits about 72% of applicants.
Yale University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value international relations & national security schools. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $67,250 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $14,357 to complete the international relations & national security program here. International Relations & National Security graduates of Yale University earn a median of $74,578 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Norwich University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value international relations & national security schools. Norwich University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Northfield. In-state tuition and fees average $49,740. International Relations & National Security graduates carry a median of $16,850 in student loans. Early-career international relations & national security graduates make about $54,985. That is a strong return on a $16,850 median debt. Norwich University admits about 74% of applicants.
Brown University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value international relations & national security schools. Brown University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. In-state tuition and fees average $71,312. Typical student debt for international relations & national security graduates is $12,000. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from Brown University generally make around $46,284. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Boston University placed #9 among the best values for international relations & national security. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $68,102 in tuition and fees. International Relations & National Security graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from Boston University generally make around $48,622. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
Wellesley College earned the #10 position for value in international relations & national security this year. Wellesley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Wellesley. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,176. Typical student debt for international relations & national security graduates is $11,075. International Relations & National Security graduates of Wellesley College earn a median of $48,902 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 14% of applicants are accepted.
Mount Holyoke College placed #11 among the best values for international relations & national security. Set in the suburb of South Hadley, Mount Holyoke College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $67,018 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $18,486 to complete the international relations & national security program here. International Relations & National Security graduates of Mount Holyoke College earn a median of $26,306 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Mount Holyoke College admits about 36% of applicants.
New England College landed the #12 spot for international relations & national security value this year. New England College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Henniker. In-state tuition and fees average $27,474. Students borrow a median of $35,038 to complete the international relations & national security program here. Early-career international relations & national security graduates make about $68,950. That is a strong return on a $35,038 median debt. New England College admits about 92% of applicants.
Suffolk University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value international relations & national security schools. Set in the city of Boston, Suffolk University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,550. Students borrow a median of $26,990 to complete the international relations & national security program here. International Relations & National Security graduates of Suffolk University earn a median of $57,261 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,990 median debt. Suffolk University admits about 82% of applicants.
Northeastern University came in at #14 for value in international relations & national security this year. Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. In-state tuition and fees average $66,162. Students borrow a median of $21,125 to complete the international relations & national security program here. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from Northeastern University generally make around $60,311. Set against $21,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Middlebury College earned the #15 position for value in international relations & national security this year. Middlebury College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Middlebury. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,600. International Relations & National Security graduates carry a median of $15,948 in student loans. Early-career international relations & national security graduates make about $68,770. Set against $15,948 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
Connecticut College came in at #16 for value in international relations & national security this year. Connecticut College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of New London. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,242. Students borrow a median of $25,855 to complete the international relations & national security program here. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from Connecticut College generally make around $45,543. That is a strong return on a $25,855 median debt. Connecticut College admits about 37% of applicants.
Southern New Hampshire University placed #17 among the best values for international relations & national security. Located in the suburb of Manchester, Southern New Hampshire University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,200. International Relations & National Security graduates carry a median of $29,103 in student loans. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from Southern New Hampshire University generally make around $53,211. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Tufts University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value international relations & national security schools. Located in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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. Set against $16,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 12%.
Narrow International Relations & National Security Schools by State
More International Relations & National Security Rankings
View All International Relations & National Security Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 18 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.
