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2023 Most Focused Colleges for International Relations & National Security in Illinois

16 Ranked Colleges
389 Degrees Awarded
$32,100 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in Illinois

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in Illinois” ranking.

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 Illinois, there were 389 international relations and national security graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,470 and $21,784 respectively.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in Illinois” ranking looked at 16 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in international relations and national security. That schools that top this list have a program in international relations and national security in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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The international relations school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in Illinois”.

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.

Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in Illinois

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in Illinois”.

Top 16 Most Focused Colleges for International Relations & National Security in Illinois

1
Wheaton College Illinois crest
Wheaton College Illinois
Wheaton, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Wheaton College Illinois. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in Illinois. Located in Wheaton, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 34 diplomas to qualified ’s international relations students in 2020-2021.

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 impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.5%, 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 90%.

Full Wheaton College Illinois International Relations & National Security Report

2
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Principia College
Elsah, Illinois

Out of the 16 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Principia College landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Elsah, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 4 diplomas to qualified ’s international relations students in 2020-2021.

Full Principia College International Relations & National Security Report

3
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Lake Forest College
Lake Forest, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Lake Forest College. The school came in at #3 for the Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in Illinois. Lake Forest College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lake Forest, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 16 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on International Relations & National Security at Lake Forest College

4
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Knox College
Galesburg, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Knox College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in Illinois list. This small school is located in Galesburg, Illinois, and it awarded 8 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. 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.

Read more about International Relations & National Security at Knox College

5
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Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Loyola University Chicago. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in Illinois list. Loyola Chicago is a fairly large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 62 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% 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%.

Read more about International Relations & National Security at Loyola Chicago

6
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University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

University of Chicago came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in Illinois ranking. UChicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 162 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.

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. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.0% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 100%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about International Relations & National Security at University of Chicago

7
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DePaul University
Chicago, Illinois

DePaul University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #7. DePaul University is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 39 ’s international relations degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% 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%.

Full DePaul International Relations & National Security Report

8
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Rockford University
Rockford, Illinois

Rockford University ranked #8 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in Illinois list. Rockford University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Rockford, Illinois. It awarded 2 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about International Relations & National Security at Rockford University

9
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Dominican University
River Forest, Illinois

Dominican University landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in Illinois ranking. River Forest, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s international relations degrees to 4 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% 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%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on International Relations & National Security at Dominican University

10
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Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

Northwestern University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #10. Northwestern is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Evanston, Illinois. It awarded 42 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Northwestern International Relations & National Security Report

11
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Roosevelt University
Chicago, Illinois

Roosevelt University ranked #11 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in Illinois list. Roosevelt University is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7 ’s international relations degrees to qualified students.

Read more about International Relations & National Security at Roosevelt University

12
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Bradley University
Peoria, Illinois

Bradley University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in Illinois ranking. Bradley is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Peoria, Illinois. It awarded 7 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Bradley University International Relations & National Security Report

13
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Saint Xavier University
Chicago, Illinois

Saint Xavier University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #13. This small school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 2 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about International Relations & National Security at SXU

14
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McKendree University
Lebanon, Illinois

McKendree University ranked #14 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in Illinois list. McKendree University is located in Lebanon, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 0 ’s international relations degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% 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 full report on International Relations & National Security at McKendree University

14
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Benedictine University
Lisle, Illinois

Benedictine University ranked #14 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in Illinois list. Benedictine University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Lisle, Illinois. It awarded 0 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on International Relations & National Security at Benedictine University

14
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Lewis University
Romeoville, Illinois

Lewis University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #14. Lewis University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Romeoville, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 0 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Lewis International Relations & National Security Report

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