2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the Plains States Region
19
Ranked Colleges
410
Degrees Awarded
$22,900
Avg Net Price*
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Best Value International Relations Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
In 2020-2021, 14,306 people earned their degree in international relations and national security, making the major the 67th most popular in the United States. 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 Plains States region, there were 410 international relations and national security graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,421 and $22,849 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value International Relations Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking, we looked at 19 colleges that offer a degree in international relations and national security. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great international relations and national security programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the international relations and national security program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
More Ways to Rank International Relations & National Security Schools
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 Plains States Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
Best Value International Relations Schools in the Plains States Region
The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region international relations students.
Top 19 Best Value Colleges for International Relations & National Security in the Plains States Region
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Webster University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value International Relations Schools in the Plains States Region. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s international relations degrees to 53 students in 2020-2021.
Webster did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Webster is $23,248 for plains states region international relations students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Webster University International Relations & National Security Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the Plains States Region list. University of Minnesota - Duluth is a public institution located in Duluth, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 12 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UMN Duluth also made our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #8. The yearly cost to attend UMN Duluth is $18,505 for Plains States 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%.
Read full report on International Relations & National Security at University of Minnesota - Duluth
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Bellevue University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value International Relations Schools in the Plains States Region. Located in Bellevue, Nebraska, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 14 diplomas to qualified ’s international relations students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region international relations students list, Bellevue University has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $17,288 for Plains States Region International Relations students per year to attend Bellevue University.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% 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 Bellevue University
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Saint Cloud State University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value International Relations Schools in the Plains States Region. Located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, this fairly large public school handed out 23 degrees to qualified ’s international relations students in 2020-2021.
St. Cloud State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for St. Cloud State University is $14,581 for Plains States Region International Relations students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about International Relations & National Security at Saint Cloud State University
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Minnesota State University - Mankato. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value International Relations Schools in the Plains States Region. Minnesota State University - Mankato is a public institution located in Mankato, Minnesota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 13 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Minnesota State Mankato did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Minnesota State University - Mankato is $17,159 for Plains States Region International Relations students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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%.
Read full report on International Relations & National Security at Minnesota State Mankato
Lindenwood University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value International Relations Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Saint Charles, Missouri, and it awarded 8 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region international relations students list, Lindenwood University has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Lindenwood University is $17,366 for plains states region international relations students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on International Relations & National Security at Lindenwood University
Kansas State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #7. Located in Manhattan, Kansas, this large public school awarded 10 diplomas to qualified ’s international relations students in 2020-2021.
K -State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $18,433 for Plains States Region International Relations students per year to attend Kansas State University.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, 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 full report on International Relations & National Security at K -State
University of Iowa came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value International Relations Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. University of Iowa is a large public school situated in Iowa City, Iowa. It awarded 35 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.
Iowa also made our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #5. It costs about $19,401 for plains states region international relations students per year to attend University of Iowa.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about International Relations & National Security at University of Iowa
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, this large public school handed out 99 diplomas to qualified ’s international relations students in 2020-2021.
UMN Twin Cities not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is $17,878 for Plains States Region International Relations students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.
Full UMN Twin Cities International Relations & National Security Report
Loras College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #10. This small school is located in Dubuque, Iowa, and it awarded 8 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.
Loras not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Loras is $21,629 for plains states region international relations students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on International Relations & National Security at Loras College
With a ranking of #11, Bethel University Minnesota did quite well on the 2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the Plains States Region list. Saint Paul, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s international relations degrees to 5 students in 2020-2021.
Bethel University Minnesota did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Bethel University Minnesota is $28,178 for plains states region international relations students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Bethel University Minnesota International Relations & National Security Report
Creighton University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value International Relations Schools in the Plains States Region list. Creighton University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Omaha, Nebraska. It awarded 8 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Creighton, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $31,218 for Plains States Region International Relations students per year to attend Creighton.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%.
Read more about International Relations & National Security at Creighton University
With a ranking of #13, Augsburg University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the Plains States Region list. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s international relations degrees to 6 students in 2020-2021.
Augsburg did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Augsburg University is $23,898 for Plains States Region International Relations students.
Full Augsburg University International Relations & National Security Report
Drake University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value International Relations Schools in the Plains States Region list. Drake University is a small school located in Des Moines, Iowa that handed out 12 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.
Drake not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Drake University is $29,903 for Plains States Region International Relations students.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 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 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Drake International Relations & National Security Report
University of St Thomas Minnesota landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Saint Paul, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s international relations degrees to 5 students in 2020-2021.
UST MN not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $31,066 for Plains States Region International Relations students per year to attend UST MN.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. 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%.
Read full report on International Relations & National Security at University of St Thomas Minnesota
Cornell College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #16. Cornell College is located in Mount Vernon, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 9 ’s international relations degrees to qualified students.
Cornell College also made our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #19. It costs about $23,694 for Plains States Region International Relations students per year to attend Cornell College.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about International Relations & National Security at Cornell College
Saint Louis University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value International Relations Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 13 diplomas to qualified ’s international relations students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at SLU, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Saint Louis University is $25,039 for plains states region international relations students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 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 Saint Louis University
Carleton College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #18. Carleton College is located in Northfield, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 38 ’s international relations degrees to qualified students.
Carleton not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $28,928 for plains states region international relations students per year to attend Carleton College.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. 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. 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%.
Read more about International Relations & National Security at Carleton
Washington University in St Louis did quite well in the 2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #19. Washington University in St Louis is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5 ’s international relations degrees to qualified students.
WUSTL also took the #1 spot in our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $26,921 for Plains States Region International Relations students per year to attend WUSTL.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% 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 Washington University in St Louis 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.
Credits
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