2026 Best International Relations & National Security Schools in Pennsylvania
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.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 35 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for international relations & national security students pursuing a degree.
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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
Our analysis ranked Pennsylvania State University Main Campus 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 University Park. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 97 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in international relations & national security from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
University Of Pennsylvania is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in international relations & national security, ranking #2. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 22 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. University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $10,470 in student loans.
More information about a degree in international relations & national security from University Of Pennsylvania
A rank of #3 makes Lafayette College one of the top schools for international relations & national security. Set in the suburb of Easton, Lafayette College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 25 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Lafayette College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the international relations & national security program make about $58,433 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,620.
Read more about the international relations & national security program at 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 #4. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Pittsburgh. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 41 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
Carnegie Mellon University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in international relations & national security, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 23 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent year. Graduates of the international relations & national security program make about $89,327 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,529.
See the full international relations & national security program report for Carnegie Mellon University
Dickinson College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best international relations & national security schools. Set in the city of Carlisle, Dickinson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Dickinson College graduates 80% of students within six years. About 14 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at Dickinson College in the most recent year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from Dickinson College earn around $39,937 in the first couple years of their career. Dickinson College graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans.
Read more about the international relations & national security program at Dickinson College
Pennsylvania State University World Campus landed the #7 spot for international relations & national security this year. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 34%. About 24 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University World Campus in the most recent year.
Get the full international relations & national security details for Pennsylvania State University World Campus
Bucknell University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best international relations & national security schools. 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. About 32 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at Bucknell University in the most recent year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from Bucknell University earn around $77,312 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,951 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in international relations & national security from Bucknell University
Lehigh University placed #9 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. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. About 14 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.
Get the full international relations & national security details for Lehigh University
Duquesne University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best international relations & national security schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Pittsburgh. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at Duquesne University in the most recent year. Graduates of the international relations & national security program make about $39,630 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,113.
See the full international relations & national security program report for Duquesne University
More International Relations & National Security Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 35 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.