2027 Best International Relations & National Security Schools in Illinois
International Relations & National Security degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their international relations & national security programs.
College Factual analyzed 3 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best international relations & national security schools.
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Best Schools for International Relations & National Security in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall international relations & national security education in Illinois.
Top Schools in International Relations & National Security
University Of Chicago tops our 2027 ranking of the best international relations & national security schools. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 121 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at University Of Chicago in the most recent year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from University Of Chicago earn around $66,182 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete this degree.
See the full international relations & national security program report for University Of Chicago
Wheaton College Illinois came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best international relations & national security schools. Set in the suburb of Wheaton, Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 25 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at Wheaton College Illinois in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from Wheaton College Illinois generally make around $40,084. Students borrow a median of $23,875 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in international relations & national security from Wheaton College Illinois
Students looking for a strong international relations & national security program will find one at Depaul University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. Depaul University awarded about 54 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $41,610. Students borrow a median of $21,250 to complete this degree.
See the full international relations & national security program report for Depaul University
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 3 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.
