2026 Best International Relations & National Security Schools in Wisconsin

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.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 8 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for international relations & national security students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

• Best International Relations & National Security Schools in Wisconsin

Best Schools for International Relations & National Security in Wisconsin

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall international relations & national security education in Wisconsin.

Top Schools in International Relations & National Security

1

University Of Wisconsin Madison
Madison, WI

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

13 International Relations & National Security Degrees Awarded

$59,877 Median Starting Salary

Our analysis ranked University Of Wisconsin Madison the best school in the country for a degree in international relations & national security. This very large public university is located in the city of Madison. About 90% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 13 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. International Relations & National Security graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $59,877 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,813. Read more about the international relations & national security program at University Of Wisconsin Madison

2

Marquette University
Milwaukee, WI

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

20 International Relations & National Security Degrees Awarded

$43,290 Median Starting Salary

Students looking for a strong international relations & national security program will find one at Marquette University, which ranked #2. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Milwaukee. Marquette University graduates 83% of students within six years. Marquette University awarded about 20 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the international relations & national security program make about $43,290 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,750. Read more about the international relations & national security program at Marquette University

Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 8 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.