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2023 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for International Relations & National Security

115 Ranked Colleges
4,426 Degrees Awarded
$56,002 Avg Salary
Schools for a Master's Highly Focused on International Relations Major

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major” 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.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 4,426 international relations and national security graduates with average earnings and debt of $58,425 and $0 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major” ranking, we looked at 115 colleges that offer a degree in international relations and national security. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in international relations and national security.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major

The colleges and universities below are the best for master’s degree international relations students.

Top 25 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for International Relations & National Security

1
Institute of World Politics crest
Institute of World Politics
Washington, District of Columbia

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Institute of World Politics. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major list. Located in Washington, District of Columbia, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 41 degrees to qualified masters’s international relations students in 2020-2021.

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

Read full report on International Relations & National Security at Institute of World Politics

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. The school came in at #2 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major. Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey is a private not-for-profit institution located in Monterey, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 46 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 1 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. 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 full report on International Relations & National Security at Middlebury Institute

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Virginia International University. The school came in at #3 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major. Virginia International University is a small school located in Fairfax, Virginia that handed out 6 masters’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Virginia International University International Relations & National Security Report

4
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SIT Graduate Institute
Brattleboro, Vermont

Out of the 115 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major that were part of this year’s ranking, SIT Graduate Institute landed the #4 spot on the list. SIT Graduate Institute is located in Brattleboro, Vermont and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5 masters’s international relations degrees to qualified students.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 4 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 1.7% 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 SIT Graduate Institute International Relations & National Security Report

4

Out of the 115 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Center for Advanced Studies On Puerto Rico and the Caribbean landed the #4 spot on the list. Center for Advanced Studies On Puerto Rico and the Caribbean is a private not-for-profit institution located in San Juan, . The school has a small population, and it awarded 6 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on International Relations & National Security at Centro de Estudios Avanzados de Puerto Rico y El Caribe

6
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Naval Postgraduate School
Monterey, California

Naval Postgraduate School came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking. Naval Postgraduate School is located in Monterey, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 193 masters’s international relations degrees to qualified students.

Full Naval Postgraduate School International Relations & National Security Report

7
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Tufts University
Medford, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #7, Tufts University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major list. This fairly large school is located in Medford, Massachusetts, and it awarded 311 masters’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 92%, 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 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

8
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Norwich University
Northfield, Vermont

Norwich University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking. Located in Northfield, Vermont, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 74 diplomas to qualified masters’s international relations students in 2020-2021.

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%.

Full Norwich University International Relations & National Security Report

9
The American University crest
American University
Washington, District of Columbia

American University landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking. American University is a fairly large school located in Washington, District of Columbia that handed out 279 masters’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Full American University International Relations & National Security Report

10
Johns Hopkins crest
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, Maryland

With a ranking of #10, Johns Hopkins University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major list. Johns Hopkins University is located in Baltimore, Maryland and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 490 masters’s international relations degrees to qualified students.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 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 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default 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 Johns Hopkins International Relations & National Security Report

11
Georgetown crest
Georgetown University
Washington, District of Columbia

With a ranking of #11, Georgetown University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major list. Georgetown University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Washington, District of Columbia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 283 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Georgetown University International Relations & National Security Report

12
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George Washington University
Washington, District of Columbia

George Washington University ranked #12 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major list. Washington, District of Columbia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s international relations degrees to 381 students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. 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 George Washington University International Relations & National Security Report

13
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Angelo State University
San Angelo, Texas

Angelo State University landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking. Located in San Angelo, Texas, this fairly large public school handed out 56 diplomas to qualified masters’s international relations students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on International Relations & National Security at Angelo State

14
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Notre Dame College
Cleveland, Ohio

Notre Dame College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking, coming in at #14. Cleveland, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s international relations degrees to 8 students in 2020-2021.

Full NDC International Relations & National Security Report

15
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New England College
Henniker, New Hampshire

New England College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking. Henniker, New Hampshire is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s international relations degrees to 27 students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on International Relations & National Security at New England College

16
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St. Mary's University
San Antonio, Texas

St. Mary’s University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking. St. Mary’s University is a private not-for-profit institution located in San Antonio, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 22 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on International Relations & National Security at St. Mary’s

17
Hawaii Pacific University crest
Hawaii Pacific University
Honolulu, Hawaii

With a ranking of #17, Hawaii Pacific University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major list. Hawaii Pacific University is a small school located in Honolulu, Hawaii that handed out 15 masters’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on International Relations & National Security at Hawaii Pacific University

18
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Troy University
Troy, Alabama

Troy University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking. Troy, Alabama is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s international relations degrees to 73 students in 2020-2021.

Full Troy University International Relations & National Security Report

19
Seton Hall crest
Seton Hall University
South Orange, New Jersey

Seton Hall University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking, coming in at #19. Seton Hall is a medium-sized school located in South Orange, New Jersey that handed out 51 masters’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.

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%.

Full Seton Hall International Relations & National Security Report

20
New School University crest
The New School
New York, New York

The New School landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking. This fairly large school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 41 masters’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.

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 full report on International Relations & National Security at New School University

21
Claremont Graduate University crest
Claremont Graduate University
Claremont, California

Claremont Graduate University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking. Claremont Graduate University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Claremont, California. It awarded 10 masters’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Claremont Graduate University International Relations & National Security Report

22
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Webster University
Saint Louis, Missouri

Webster University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking. Webster is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 46 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about International Relations & National Security at Webster University

23
DU crest
University of Denver
Denver, Colorado

University of Denver landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking. DU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Denver, Colorado. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 60 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

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%.

Full University of Denver International Relations & National Security Report

24

Columbia University in the City of New York did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking, coming in at #24. Columbia University in the City of New York is a large private not-for-profit school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 156 masters’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 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 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Columbia University in the City of New York International Relations & National Security Report

25
Salve Regina crest
Salve Regina University
Newport, Rhode Island

Salve Regina University landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking. Newport, Rhode Island is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s international relations degrees to 9 students in 2020-2021.

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 more about International Relations & National Security at Salve Regina University

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