2026 Best Value International Relations & National Security Schools in North Carolina
[International Relations & National Security](/majors/social-sciences/international-relations-national-security/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. 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 11 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 North Carolina
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 East Carolina University, our #1 best value for international relations & national security in North Carolina. Located in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,361, compared with $23,638 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for international relations & national security graduates is $24,747. International Relations & National Security graduates of East Carolina University earn a median of $51,931 early in their careers. Set against $24,747 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in international relations & national security will find it at North Carolina State University At Raleigh, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,799, with out-of-state students paying around $32,847. International Relations & National Security graduates carry a median of $22,113 in student loans. Early-career international relations & national security graduates make about $51,555. Set against $22,113 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. North Carolina State University At Raleigh admits about 42% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Duke University one of the best values for international relations & national security. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $68,758 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $13,296 to complete the international relations & national security program here. International Relations & National Security graduates of Duke University earn a median of $71,278 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 6%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
