2023 Best Value Colleges for International Relations & National Security in the New England Region
23
Ranked Colleges
1,681
Degrees Awarded
$25,700
Avg Net Price*
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value International Relations Schools in the New England Region” ranking - to help you make that decision.
International Relations & National Security is the 67th most popular major in the country with 14,306 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, international relations and national security graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $41,288 and had an average of $21,455 in loans still to pay off.
Across the New England region, there were 1,681 international relations and national security graduates with average earnings and debt of $46,654 and $21,771 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value International Relations Schools in the New England Region” ranking analyzed 23 colleges that offered a degree in international relations and national security. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality international relations and national security programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the international relations and national security program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value International Relations Schools in the New England Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.
Best Value International Relations Schools in the New England Region
The colleges and universities below are the best for new england region international relations students.
Top 23 Best Value Colleges for International Relations & National Security in the New England Region
Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value International Relations Schools in the New England Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Norwich University landed the #1 spot on the list. This small school is located in Northfield, Vermont, and it awarded 110 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.
Norwich not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the New England Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Norwich is $23,985 for New England Region International Relations students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on International Relations & National Security at Norwich
Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value International Relations Schools in the New England Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Massachusetts - Lowell landed the #2 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Lowell, Massachusetts, and it awarded 46 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.
UMass Lowell also took the #20 spot in our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the New England Region” ranking. It costs about $20,079 for new england region international relations students per year to attend UMass Lowell.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on International Relations & National Security at UMass Lowell
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Rhode Island. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the New England Region list. URI is a fairly large school located in Kingston, Rhode Island that handed out 17 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our new england region international relations students list, URI has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the New England Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend URI is $18,638 for new england region international relations students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about International Relations & National Security at University of Rhode Island
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of New Hampshire - Main Campus. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value International Relations Schools in the New England Region. Durham, New Hampshire is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s international relations degrees to 32 students in 2020-2021.
UNH also took the #14 spot in our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the New England Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UNH is $24,160 for new england region international relations students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about International Relations & National Security at UNH
Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value International Relations Schools in the New England Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Maine landed the #5 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Orono, Maine, and it awarded 19 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.
UMaine did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the New England Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Maine is $16,033 for new england region international relations students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on International Relations & National Security at UMaine
University of Bridgeport did quite well in the 2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the New England Region ranking, coming in at #6. University of Bridgeport is a small school located in Bridgeport, Connecticut that handed out 20 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UBridgeport, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the New England Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Bridgeport is $25,084 for new england region international relations students.
Read more about International Relations & National Security at UBridgeport
University of Massachusetts - Boston landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the New England Region ranking. UMass Boston is a fairly large public school situated in Boston, Massachusetts. It awarded 32 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.
UMass Boston did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the New England Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Massachusetts - Boston is $17,752 for new england region international relations students.
Read more about International Relations & National Security at University of Massachusetts - Boston
Saint Anselm College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value International Relations Schools in the New England Region list. This small school is located in Manchester, New Hampshire, and it awarded 7 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.
St. Anselm College also took the #15 spot in our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the New England Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for St. Anselm College is $32,819 for New England Region International Relations students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Saint Anselm College International Relations & National Security Report
Simmons University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value International Relations Schools in the New England Region list. Simmons is located in Boston, Massachusetts and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 6 ’s international relations degrees to qualified students.
Simmons did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the New England Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Simmons is $27,920 for new england region international relations students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Full Simmons University International Relations & National Security Report
Saint Michael’s College landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the New England Region ranking. Saint Michael’s is a small school located in Colchester, Vermont that handed out 7 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.
Saint Michael’s also made our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the New England Region” list, coming in at #17. The estimated yearly cost for Saint Michael’s is $29,361 for New England Region International Relations students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Saint Michael’s International Relations & National Security Report
Yale University landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the New England Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in New Haven, Connecticut, and it awarded 88 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.
Yale not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the New England Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Yale is $15,296 for new england region international relations students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read full report on International Relations & National Security at Yale
Harvard University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the New England Region ranking, coming in at #12. Cambridge, Massachusetts is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s international relations degrees to 149 students in 2020-2021.
Harvard not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the New England Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Harvard is $13,872 for New England Region International Relations students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read full report on International Relations & National Security at Harvard
Northeastern University Professional Advancement Network landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the New England Region ranking. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 10 diplomas to qualified ’s international relations students in 2020-2021.
Northeastern University Professional Advancement Network did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the New England Region” list.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on International Relations & National Security at Northeastern University Professional Advancement Network
Fairfield University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value International Relations Schools in the New England Region ranking. Fairfield U is located in Fairfield, Connecticut and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 10 ’s international relations degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our new england region international relations students list, Fairfield U has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the New England Region” ranking. It costs about $36,633 for New England Region International Relations students per year to attend Fairfield U.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Fairfield U International Relations & National Security Report
Northeastern University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the New England Region ranking, coming in at #15. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 78 diplomas to qualified ’s international relations students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northeastern, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the New England Region” ranking. It costs about $29,714 for New England Region International Relations students per year to attend Northeastern University.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Northeastern International Relations & National Security Report
Tufts University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value International Relations Schools in the New England Region list. Medford, Massachusetts is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s international relations degrees to 478 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our new england region international relations students list, Tufts has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the New England Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Tufts is $37,494 for new england region international relations students.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about International Relations & National Security at Tufts University
Mount Holyoke College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value International Relations Schools in the New England Region list. Located in South Hadley, Massachusetts, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 28 degrees to qualified ’s international relations students in 2020-2021.
Mt. Holyoke also took the #8 spot in our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the New England Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Mt. Holyoke is $28,724 for New England Region International Relations students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Full Mount Holyoke College International Relations & National Security Report
Wheaton College Massachusetts landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the New England Region ranking. Wheaton College Massachusetts is located in Norton, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 13 ’s international relations degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Wheaton College Massachusetts, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the New England Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Wheaton College Massachusetts is $26,575 for New England Region International Relations students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about International Relations & National Security at Wheaton College Massachusetts
Boston University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the New England Region ranking, coming in at #19. Boston U is a private not-for-profit institution located in Boston, Massachusetts. The school has a large population, and it awarded 278 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our new england region international relations students list, Boston U has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the New England Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Boston University is $30,395 for New England Region International Relations students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read more about International Relations & National Security at Boston U
Middlebury College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value International Relations Schools in the New England Region list. Middlebury, Vermont is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s international relations degrees to 38 students in 2020-2021.
Middlebury not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the New England Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Middlebury is $26,525 for new england region international relations students.
With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Full Middlebury College International Relations & National Security Report
Connecticut College landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the New England Region ranking. Connecticut College is a private not-for-profit institution located in New London, Connecticut. The school has a small population, and it awarded 23 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Conn College also made our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the New England Region” list, coming in at #11. The yearly cost to attend Connecticut College is $30,977 for New England Region International Relations students.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about International Relations & National Security at Conn College
Brown University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value International Relations Schools in the New England Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Providence, Rhode Island, and it awarded 39 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Brown, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the New England Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Brown is $29,544 for New England Region International Relations students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about International Relations & National Security at Brown
With a ranking of #23, Wellesley College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the New England Region list. Wellesley is located in Wellesley, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 14 ’s international relations degrees to qualified students.
Wellesley also took the #7 spot in our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the New England Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Wellesley is $23,908 for new england region international relations students.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.
Full Wellesley College International Relations & National Security Report
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Notes and References
References
- 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
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