2026 Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the The Plains States Region
International Relations & National Security degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 35 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best international relations & national security schools.
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Best Schools for International Relations & National Security in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall international relations & national security education in the The Plains States Region.
Top Schools in International Relations & National Security
No school ranked higher than University Of Missouri Columbia this year for international relations & national security. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. University Of Missouri Columbia awarded about 15 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia generally make around $53,134. University Of Missouri Columbia graduates carry a median of $21,818 in student loans.
More information about a degree in international relations & national security from University Of Missouri Columbia
Carleton College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in international relations & national security, landing the #2 spot this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Northfield. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. About 38 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at Carleton College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, international relations & national security degree recipients from Carleton College generally make around $45,096. Carleton College graduates carry a median of $17,566 in student loans.
More information about a degree in international relations & national security from Carleton College
A rank of #3 makes University Of Minnesota Twin Cities one of the top schools for international relations & national security. This very large public university is located in the city of Minneapolis. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 38 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent data year. Graduates of the international relations & national security program make about $28,596 in their early career. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates carry a median of $21,167 in student loans.
More information about a degree in international relations & national security from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
Drake University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in international relations & national security, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 73% of students finish within six years. About 10 international relations & national security degrees were awarded at Drake University in the most recent year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from Drake University earn around $56,228 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,273 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in international relations & national security from Drake University
University Of Iowa came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best international relations & national security schools. University Of Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City. University Of Iowa graduates 75% of students within six years. University Of Iowa awarded about 30 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from University Of Iowa earn around $36,376 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,030.
More information about a degree in international relations & national security from University Of Iowa
Bellevue University came in at #6 for international relations & national security this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Bellevue. About 33% of students finish within six years. Bellevue University awarded about 33 international relations & national security degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their international relations & national security degree from Bellevue University earn around $61,548 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,852 to complete this degree.
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Webster University landed the #7 spot for international relations & national security this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Saint Louis. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 45 international relations & national security students who graduated with this degree at Webster University in the most recent data year. International Relations & National Security graduates of Webster University earn a median of $66,017 early in their careers. Webster University graduates carry a median of $25,939 in student loans.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 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.