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2024 Best International Relations & National Security Schools in Massachusetts

10 Colleges in Massachusetts
1,181 International Relations Degrees Awarded
$45,858 Avg Early-Career Salary
International Relations & National Security is above average in terms of popularity with it being the #67 most popular degree program in the country. So, you have a fair amount of options to choose from when looking for a school.

For its 2024 ranking, College Factual looked at 10 schools in Massachusetts to determine which ones were the best for international relations & national security students pursuing a degree. Combined, these schools handed out 1,181 degrees in international relations & national security to qualified students.

What's on this page: * Degree-Level Rankings

Choosing a Great International Relations & National Security School

Best International Relations & National Security Schools in Massachusetts Your choice of international relations & national security school matters, so we have put together these rankings to help you make your decision. In order to come up with a best overall ranking for international relations & national security schools, we combine our degree-level rankings, weighting them by the number of degrees awarded at each level.

In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.

Pick Your International Relations & National Security Degree Level

Bachelor's Degrees in International Relations
Master's Degrees in International Relations
Doctor's Degrees in International Relations

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we've developed a number of rankings, including this Best International Relations & National Security Schools in Massachusetts list, to help you choose the best school for you. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.

To further help you make the college decision, we've developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Read more about College Factual's methodology.

Best Schools for International Relations & National Security in Massachusetts

The schools below may not offer all types of international relations degrees so you may want to filter by degree level first. However, they are great for the degree levels they do offer.

10 Top Massachusetts Schools in International Relations

1
Harvard crest
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
4th Most Popular In MA
149 International Relations Degrees Awarded

Harvard University is a good choice for students pursuing a degree in international relations & national security. Located in the midsize city of Cambridge, Harvard is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #6 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means Harvard is a great university overall.

There were about 149 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Harvard in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in international relations & national security from Harvard University

2
Tufts crest
Tufts University
Medford, MA
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
478 International Relations Degrees Awarded
17.2% Growth in Graduates

Tufts University is one of the best schools in the United States for getting a degree in international relations & national security. Located in the large suburb of Medford, Tufts is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #40 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means Tufts is a great university overall.

There were roughly 478 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Tufts in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the international relations & national security program at Tufts University make $11,375 more than the typical college grad with the same degree shortly after graduation.

More information about a degree in international relations & national security from Tufts University

3
Boston U crest
Boston University
Boston, MA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
278 International Relations Degrees Awarded
7.2% Growth in Graduates

Boston University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in international relations & national security. Located in the large city of Boston, Boston U is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #54 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means Boston U is a great university overall.

There were approximately 278 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Boston U in the most recent data year. Students who graduate with their degree from the international relations program state that they receive average early career wages of $40,313.

More information about a degree in international relations & national security from Boston University

4
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
78 International Relations Degrees Awarded
$42,014 Median Starting Salary

Northeastern University is one of the best schools in the United States for getting a degree in international relations & national security. Located in the city of Boston, Northeastern is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #59 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means Northeastern is a great university overall.

There were about 78 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern in the most recent year we have data available. After graduation, international relations degree recipients usually make an average of $42,014 in their early careers.

More information about a degree in international relations & national security from Northeastern University

5
Mt. Holyoke crest
Mount Holyoke College
South Hadley, MA
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
$39,377 Median Starting Salary

Located in the suburb of South Hadley, Mt. Holyoke is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population. This college ranks 20th out of 63 schools for overall quality in the state of Massachusetts.

There were about 28 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Mt. Holyoke in the most recent data year. After graduation, international relations degree recipients usually make around $39,377 at the beginning of their careers.

More information about a degree in international relations & national security from Mount Holyoke College

6
Wellesley crest
Wellesley College
Wellesley, MA
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
8th Most Popular In MA
21.4% Growth in Graduates

Wellesley is a small private not-for-profit college located in the suburb of Wellesley. A Best Colleges rank of #88 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means Wellesley is a great college overall.

There were about 14 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Wellesley in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in international relations & national security from Wellesley College

7
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
9th Most Popular In MA

Wheaton College Massachusetts is a small private not-for-profit college located in the large suburb of Norton. This college ranks 36th out of 63 schools for overall quality in the state of Massachusetts.

There were approximately 13 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Wheaton College Massachusetts in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in international relations & national security from Wheaton College Massachusetts

8
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
46 International Relations Degrees Awarded
4.3% Growth in Graduates

UMass Lowell is a large public university located in the large suburb of Lowell. This university ranks 21st out of 63 colleges for overall quality in the state of Massachusetts.

There were roughly 46 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at UMass Lowell in the most recent year we have data available. Those international relations & national security students who get their degree from University of Massachusetts - Lowell receive $15,378 more than the standard international relations grad.

More information about a degree in international relations & national security from University of Massachusetts - Lowell

9
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
$29,146 Median Starting Salary

Located in the large city of Boston, Suffolk is a private not-for-profit university with a medium-sized student population. This university ranks 16th out of 63 schools for overall quality in the state of Massachusetts.

There were approximately 1 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Suffolk in the most recent year we have data available. Graduates who receive their degree from the international relations program make an average of $29,146 in the first couple years of their career.

More information about a degree in international relations & national security from Suffolk University

10
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
10th Most Popular In MA

Northeastern University Professional Advancement Network is a medium-sized private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Boston. This university ranks 63rd out of 63 schools for overall quality in the state of Massachusetts.

There were approximately 10 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern University Professional Advancement Network in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in international relations & national security from Northeastern University Professional Advancement Network

Best International Relations & National Security Colleges in the New England Region

Explore all the Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the New England Area or other specific states within that region.

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
Connecticut 241 145
New Hampshire 210 78
Maine 202 19
Rhode Island 200 70
Vermont 194 165

View All Rankings >

International Relations & National Security is one of 13 different types of Social Sciences programs to choose from.

International Relations Focus Areas

Major Annual Graduates
International Relations 1,104
International Security 60
Other International Relations & National Security Studies 17

View All International Relations Focus Areas >

Majors Similar to International Relations

Related Major Annual Graduates
Economics 3,401
Political Science & Government 1,924
Sociology 1,035
Anthropology 319
General Social Sciences 277
Geography & Cartography 192
Other Social Sciences 162
Urban Studies 47
Archeology 23
Sociology & Anthropology 15

View All International Relations Related Majors >

Notes and References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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