2027 Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
International Relations & National Security programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 37 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 Schools for International Relations & National Security in the Middle Atlantic 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
Georgetown University tops our 2027 ranking of the best international relations & national security schools. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Georgetown University graduates 95% of students within six years. About 597 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at Georgetown University in the most recent year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from Georgetown University earn around $69,394 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,500.
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University Of Pennsylvania came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best international relations & national security schools. University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 36 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $65,559. Students borrow a median of $10,470 to complete this degree.
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Lafayette College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best international relations & national security schools. Lafayette College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Easton. Lafayette College graduates 88% of students within six years. Lafayette College awarded about 21 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. International Relations & National Security graduates of Lafayette College earn a median of $58,433 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,620 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in international relations & national security from Lafayette College
Students looking for a strong international relations & national security program will find one at Colgate University, which ranked #4. Set in the rural area of Hamilton, Colgate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 35 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Colgate University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from Colgate University earn around $52,924 in the first couple years of their career. Colgate University graduates carry a median of $16,286 in student loans.
See the full international relations & national security program report for Colgate University
Johns Hopkins University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best international relations & national security schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Baltimore. Johns Hopkins University graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 872 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the international relations & national security program make about $60,277 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000.
See the full international relations & national security program report for Johns Hopkins University
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best international relations & national security schools. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 31 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn around $60,025 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus graduates carry a median of $24,958 in student loans.
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Cornell University landed the #7 spot for international relations & national security this year. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 16 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Cornell University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the international relations & national security program make about $75,976 in their early career. Cornell University graduates carry a median of $15,005 in student loans.
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George Washington University earned the #8 position for international relations & national security this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. George Washington University graduates 84% of students within six years. George Washington University awarded about 720 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from George Washington University generally make around $61,820. George Washington University graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans.
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Columbia University In The City Of New York earned the #9 position for international relations & national security this year. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. Columbia University In The City Of New York awarded about 190 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. International Relations & National Security graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $80,448 early in their careers. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans.
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Carnegie Mellon University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best international relations & national security schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Pittsburgh. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 21 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent data year. International Relations & National Security graduates of Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of $89,327 early in their careers. Carnegie Mellon University graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans.
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University Of Maryland College Park landed the #11 spot for international relations & national security this year. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 26 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent year. International Relations & National Security graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $57,901 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,836.
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American University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best international relations & national security schools. American University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. American University graduates 76% of students within six years. American University awarded about 686 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from American University generally make around $58,712. American University graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
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New York University earned the #13 position for international relations & national security this year. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 186 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Graduates of the international relations & national security program make about $59,814 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,897 to complete this degree.
See the full international relations & national security program report for New York University
Hamilton College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best international relations & national security schools. Hamilton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Clinton. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. Hamilton College awarded about 16 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the international relations & national security program make about $45,332 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000.
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Bucknell University placed #15 among the best international relations & national security schools. Bucknell University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Lewisburg. About 86% of students finish within six years. Bucknell University awarded about 16 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the international relations & national security program make about $77,312 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,951.
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Lehigh University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best international relations & national security schools. Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bethlehem. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 26 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at Lehigh University in the most recent year. International Relations & National Security graduates of Lehigh University earn a median of $36,147 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,250 to complete this degree.
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Fordham University earned the #17 position for international relations & national security this year. Located in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit university. Fordham University graduates 82% of students within six years. There were roughly 110 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Fordham University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from Fordham University generally make around $53,681. Typical student debt for the program is $25,843.
See the full international relations & national security program report for Fordham University
Excelsior College placed #18 among the best international relations & national security schools. Located in the city of Albany, Excelsior College is a large private not-for-profit university. There were roughly 18 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Excelsior College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from Excelsior College generally make around $70,677. Students borrow a median of $19,311 to complete this degree.
See the full international relations & national security program report for Excelsior College
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus landed the #19 spot for international relations & national security this year. This very large public university is located in the city of University Park. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. About 97 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earn around $45,858 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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Long Island University C W Post Campus landed the #20 spot for international relations & national security this year. Set in the suburb of Brookville, Long Island University C W Post Campus is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. There were roughly 16 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Long Island University C W Post Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the international relations & national security program make about $61,547 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,211.
See the full international relations & national security program report for Long Island University C W Post Campus
Suny At Albany came in at #21 for international relations & national security this year. Suny At Albany is a very large public school located in the city of Albany. About 61% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 13 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Suny At Albany in the most recent data year. Graduates of the international relations & national security program make about $44,736 in their early career. Suny At Albany graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans.
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Syracuse University earned the #22 position for international relations & national security this year. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Syracuse University graduates 84% of students within six years. Syracuse University awarded about 166 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. International Relations & National Security graduates of Syracuse University earn a median of $62,805 early in their careers. Syracuse University graduates carry a median of $24,443 in student loans.
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University Of Rochester came in at #23 for international relations & national security this year. Located in the city of Rochester, University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 14 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at University Of Rochester in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from University Of Rochester earn around $60,865 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,750.
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Cuny Bernard M Baruch College landed the #24 spot for international relations & national security this year. This very large public university is located in the city of New York. About 72% of students finish within six years. About 27 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at Cuny Bernard M Baruch College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from Cuny Bernard M Baruch College generally make around $67,588. Typical student debt for the program is $11,691.
See the full international relations & national security program report for Cuny Bernard M Baruch College
Vassar College came in at #25 for international relations & national security this year. Located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Vassar College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. Vassar College awarded about 19 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the international relations & national security program make about $31,956 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,232.
Read more about the international relations & national security program at Vassar College
Rest of the Top 37 International Relations & National Security Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong international relations & national security education:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 37 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.