2026 Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Far Western Region
International Relations & National Security is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 67 schools to find the best for international relations & national security students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for International Relations & National Security in the Far Western Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the international relations & national security degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in International Relations & National Security
Leading the list is Stanford University, our #1 school for international relations & national security. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. About 87 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $76,166. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in international relations & national security from Stanford University
Students looking for a strong international relations & national security program will find one at University Of Southern California, which ranked #2. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. There were roughly 127 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Graduates of the international relations & national security program make about $52,262 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,765.
Read more about the international relations & national security program at University Of Southern California
A rank of #3 makes University Of Washington Seattle Campus one of the top schools for international relations & national security. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 17 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the international relations & national security program make about $65,681 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,481 to complete this degree.
Read more about the international relations & national security program at University Of Washington Seattle Campus
A rank of #4 makes Claremont Mckenna College one of the top schools for international relations & national security. Located in the suburb of Claremont, Claremont Mckenna College is a small private not-for-profit university. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 20 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Claremont Mckenna College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the international relations & national security program make about $66,028 in their early career. Claremont Mckenna College graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans.
See the full international relations & national security program report for Claremont Mckenna College
University Of California San Diego is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in international relations & national security, ranking #5. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California San Diego awarded about 93 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from University Of California San Diego earn around $68,368 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California San Diego graduates carry a median of $17,101 in student loans.
More information about a degree in international relations & national security from University Of California San Diego
University Of California Davis came in at #6 for international relations & national security this year. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 94 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at University Of California Davis in the most recent year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from University Of California Davis earn around $34,949 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,416 to complete this degree.
Get the full international relations & national security details for University Of California Davis
Claremont Graduate University earned the #7 position for international relations & national security this year. Located in the suburb of Claremont, Claremont Graduate University is a small private not-for-profit university. There were roughly 14 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Claremont Graduate University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the international relations & national security program make about $68,239 in their early career.
Read more about the international relations & national security program at Claremont Graduate University
Occidental College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best international relations & national security schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Occidental College is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 81% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 26 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Occidental College in the most recent data year. International Relations & National Security graduates of Occidental College earn a median of $35,231 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,275.
See the full international relations & national security program report for Occidental College
San Diego State University came in at #9 for international relations & national security this year. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. San Diego State University awarded about 70 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. International Relations & National Security graduates of San Diego State University earn a median of $49,617 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,134.
See the full international relations & national security program report for San Diego State University
University Of San Diego earned the #10 position for international relations & national security this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Diego. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 48 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at University Of San Diego in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from University Of San Diego generally make around $50,948. Students borrow a median of $24,100 to complete this degree.
Read more about the international relations & national security program at University Of San Diego
University Of California Riverside ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best international relations & national security schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Riverside. University Of California Riverside graduates 76% of students within six years. About 56 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at University Of California Riverside in the most recent year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from University Of California Riverside earn around $27,021 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,914 to complete this degree.
Read more about the international relations & national security program at University Of California Riverside
Loyola Marymount University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best international relations & national security schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 79% of students finish within six years. About 37 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at Loyola Marymount University in the most recent year. Graduates of the international relations & national security program make about $34,575 in their early career. Loyola Marymount University graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
Get the full international relations & national security details for Loyola Marymount University
California State University San Bernardino came in at #13 for international relations & national security this year. Set in the city of San Bernardino, California State University San Bernardino is a very large public institution. California State University San Bernardino graduates 55% of students within six years. California State University San Bernardino awarded about 18 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from California State University San Bernardino generally make around $42,421. Students borrow a median of $15,149 to complete this degree.
See the full international relations & national security program report for California State University San Bernardino
University Of San Francisco earned the #14 position for international relations & national security this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. University Of San Francisco awarded about 29 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. International Relations & National Security graduates of University Of San Francisco earn a median of $36,669 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,508 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in international relations & national security from University Of San Francisco
San Francisco State University landed the #15 spot for international relations & national security this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public university. San Francisco State University graduates 50% of students within six years. San Francisco State University awarded about 44 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from San Francisco State University generally make around $31,254. San Francisco State University graduates carry a median of $16,750 in student loans.
More information about a degree in international relations & national security from San Francisco State University
Monterey Institute Of International Studies landed the #16 spot for international relations & national security this year. Set in the suburb of Monterey, Monterey Institute Of International Studies is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 48 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at Monterey Institute Of International Studies in the most recent year. Graduates of the international relations & national security program make about $68,770 in their early career.
More information about a degree in international relations & national security from Monterey Institute Of International Studies
Lewis And Clark College placed #17 among the best international relations & national security schools. Set in the city of Portland, Lewis And Clark College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 30 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Lewis And Clark College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the international relations & national security program make about $43,381 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the international relations & national security program at Lewis And Clark College
University Of Nevada Reno placed #18 among the best international relations & national security schools. Set in the city of Reno, University Of Nevada Reno is a very large public institution. About 61% of students finish within six years. About 17 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at University Of Nevada Reno in the most recent year. International Relations & National Security graduates of University Of Nevada Reno earn a median of $29,539 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,437 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in international relations & national security from University Of Nevada Reno
Portland State University placed #19 among the best international relations & national security schools. Set in the city of Portland, Portland State University is a very large public institution. About 53% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 11 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Portland State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from Portland State University generally make around $30,253. Students borrow a median of $24,250 to complete this degree.
See the full international relations & national security program report for Portland State University
Narrow International Relations & National Security Schools by State
More International Relations & National Security Rankings
View All International Relations & National Security Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 67 schools evaluated.
- 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.