2027 Best International Relations & National Security Schools in Pennsylvania
International Relations & National Security degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 8 schools to find the best for international relations & national security students.
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Best Schools for International Relations & National Security in Pennsylvania
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
No school ranked higher than University Of Pennsylvania this year for international relations & national security. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. About 96% of students finish within six years. University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 36 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. International Relations & National Security graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $65,559 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $10,470.
See the full international relations & national security program report for University Of Pennsylvania
Lafayette College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best international relations & national security schools. Set in the suburb of Easton, Lafayette College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. Lafayette College awarded about 21 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from Lafayette College earn around $58,433 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,620.
Get the full international relations & national security details for Lafayette College
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in international relations & national security, ranking #3. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 31 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $60,025. Typical student debt for the program is $24,958.
Read more about the international relations & national security program at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
Students looking for a strong international relations & national security program will find one at Carnegie Mellon University, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 94% of students finish within six years. Carnegie Mellon University awarded about 21 international relations & national security degrees 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. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete this degree.
Get the full international relations & national security details for Carnegie Mellon University
A rank of #5 makes Bucknell University one of the top schools for international relations & national security. Located in the town of Lewisburg, Bucknell University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Bucknell University graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 16 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Bucknell University 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.
Read more about the international relations & national security program at Bucknell University
Lehigh University placed #6 among the best international relations & national security schools. Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bethlehem. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 26 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at Lehigh University in the most recent year. Graduates of the international relations & national security program make about $36,147 in their early career. Lehigh University graduates carry a median of $21,250 in student loans.
Read more about the international relations & national security program at Lehigh University
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus placed #7 among the best international relations & national security schools. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 97 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data 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. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
Get the full international relations & national security details for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Pennsylvania State University World Campus ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best international relations & national security schools. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public institution. Roughly 34% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 35 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University World Campus in the most recent year. International Relations & National Security graduates of Pennsylvania State University World Campus earn a median of $45,858 early in their careers. Pennsylvania State University World Campus graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
See the full international relations & national security program report for Pennsylvania State University World Campus
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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 · 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.