2026 Best Value International Studies Schools in Pennsylvania
[International Studies](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/international-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 30 schools to find the best return on investment for international studies students.
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Featured International Studies Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
2026 Best Value International Studies Schools in Pennsylvania
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the international studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value International Studies Schools
For return on investment in international studies, no school beat Temple University this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,005, compared with $38,805 for out-of-state students. International Studies graduates carry a median of $25,125 in student loans. International Studies graduates of Temple University earn a median of $30,754 early in their careers. Set against $25,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Temple University admits about 80% of applicants.
University Of Pennsylvania is a great value for students pursuing a degree in international studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $68,686 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete the international studies program here. Early-career international studies graduates make about $204,927. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value international studies schools. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $20,644 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $41,790. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $63,435. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Drexel University one of the best values for international studies. Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. In-state tuition and fees average $62,412. Students borrow a median of $29,046 to complete the international studies program here. Soon after graduation, international studies degree recipients from Drexel University generally make around $40,189. That is a strong return on a $29,046 median debt. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Bryn Mawr College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in international studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Bryn Mawr College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bryn Mawr. In-state tuition and fees average $65,920. Students borrow a median of $23,069 to complete the international studies program here. Early-career international studies graduates make about $35,668. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 29% of applicants are accepted.
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 30 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
- 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.
