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2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major

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Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2021-2022, 12,541 people earned their degree in international relations, making the major the 63rd most popular in the United States.

For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major” ranking, we looked at 411 colleges that offer a degree in international relations. That schools that top this list have a program in international relations in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank International Relations Schools

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The international relations school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major”.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major”.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for International Relations

1
Institute of World Politics crest
Institute of World Politics
Washington, District of Columbia

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Institute of World Politics. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major list. Institute of World Politics is located in Washington, District of Columbia and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 38 ’s international relations degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about International Relations at Institute of World Politics

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major list. Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey is a private not-for-profit institution located in Monterey, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 58 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 1 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on International Relations at Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Schiller International University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major list. Schiller International University is located in Tampa, Florida and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 0 ’s international relations degrees to qualified students.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 100%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about International Relations at Schiller International University

4
The American University crest
American University
Washington, District of Columbia

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend American University. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major. American University is located in Washington, District of Columbia and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 749 ’s international relations degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%.

Read full report on International Relations at The American University

5

Out of the 411 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott landed the #5 spot on the list. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott is located in Prescott, Arizona and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 67 ’s international relations degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott International Relations Report

6
VMI crest
Virginia Military Institute
Lexington, Virginia

Virginia Military Institute ranked #6 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major list. Virginia Military Institute is located in Lexington, Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 45 ’s international relations degrees to qualified students.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on International Relations at VMI

7

Virginia International University ranked #7 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major list. Virginia International University is a small school located in Fairfax, Virginia that handed out 0 ’s international relations degrees in 2021-2022.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about International Relations at Virginia International University

8
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Tufts University
Medford, Massachusetts

Tufts University ranked #8 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major list. Tufts University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Medford, Massachusetts. It awarded 383 ’s international relations degrees in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Tufts University International Relations Report

9

Center for Advanced Studies On Puerto Rico and the Caribbean landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking. Center for Advanced Studies On Puerto Rico and the Caribbean is a private not-for-profit institution located in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The school has a small population, and it awarded 7 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Center for Advanced Studies On Puerto Rico and the Caribbean International Relations Report

9
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SIT Graduate Institute
Brattleboro, Vermont

SIT Graduate Institute did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking, coming in at #9. Brattleboro, Vermont is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s international relations degrees to 4 students in 2021-2022.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on International Relations at SIT

11
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George Washington University
Washington, District of Columbia

George Washington University landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking. George Washington University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Washington, District of Columbia. It awarded 852 ’s international relations degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full George Washington University International Relations Report

12
Georgetown crest
Georgetown University
Washington, District of Columbia

With a ranking of #12, Georgetown University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major list. Georgetown University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Washington, District of Columbia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 562 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 98%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about International Relations at Georgetown University

13
Carleton crest
Carleton College
Northfield, Minnesota

With a ranking of #13, Carleton College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major list. This small school is located in Northfield, Minnesota, and it awarded 56 ’s international relations degrees in 2021-2022.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Carleton College International Relations Report

14
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Agnes Scott College
Decatur, Georgia

Agnes Scott College ranked #14 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major list. Agnes Scott is a small school located in Decatur, Georgia that handed out 9 ’s international relations degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on International Relations at Agnes Scott

15
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Hampden - Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney, Virginia

Hampden - Sydney College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking. Hampden - Sydney College is located in Hampden-Sydney, Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 14 ’s international relations degrees to qualified students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about International Relations at Hampden - Sydney

16
Oxy crest
Occidental College
Los Angeles, California

Occidental College ranked #16 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major list. Occidental College is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 53 ’s international relations degrees to qualified students.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on International Relations at Occidental College

17
Norwich crest
Norwich University
Northfield, Vermont

With a ranking of #17, Norwich University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major list. This small school is located in Northfield, Vermont, and it awarded 48 ’s international relations degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about International Relations at Norwich

18
Johns Hopkins crest
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, Maryland

Johns Hopkins University landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking. Johns Hopkins University is located in Baltimore, Maryland and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 760 ’s international relations degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on International Relations at Johns Hopkins University

19
Lafayette crest
Lafayette College
Easton, Pennsylvania

Lafayette College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking, coming in at #19. Located in Easton, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 37 diplomas to qualified ’s international relations students in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about International Relations at Lafayette

20
Claremont McKenna crest
Claremont McKenna College
Claremont, California

Claremont McKenna College landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking. This small school is located in Claremont, California, and it awarded 30 ’s international relations degrees in 2021-2022.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. With a freshman retention rate of 98%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about International Relations at Claremont McKenna College

21
Rhodes College crest
Rhodes College
Memphis, Tennessee

With a ranking of #21, Rhodes College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major list. Located in Memphis, Tennessee, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 16 degrees to qualified ’s international relations students in 2021-2022.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on International Relations at Rhodes College

22
Hamilton crest
Hamilton College
Clinton, New York

Hamilton College ranked #22 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major list. This small school is located in Clinton, New York, and it awarded 25 ’s international relations degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about International Relations at Hamilton College

23
Conn College crest
Connecticut College
New London, Connecticut

Connecticut College landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking. Connecticut College is a private not-for-profit institution located in New London, Connecticut. The school has a small population, and it awarded 26 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on International Relations at Connecticut College

24
The College of Idaho crest
The College of Idaho
Caldwell, Idaho

The College of Idaho came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking. The College of Idaho is a private not-for-profit institution located in Caldwell, Idaho. The school has a small population, and it awarded 14 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on International Relations at The College of Idaho

25
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Hollins University
Roanoke, Virginia

Hollins University landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking. Hollins is located in Roanoke, Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 5 ’s international relations degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about International Relations at Hollins

Rest of the Best 50 in Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major

Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
27
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Dickinson College
Carlisle, PA
28
Colgate crest
Colgate University
Hamilton, NY
29
Mt. Holyoke crest
Mount Holyoke College
South Hadley, MA
30
Beloit crest
Beloit College
Beloit, WI
31
32
33
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Seton Hall University
South Orange, NJ
34
Middlebury crest
Middlebury College
Middlebury, VT
35
SUNY Geneseo crest
SUNY Geneseo
Geneseo, NY
36
37
38
39
40
Lake Forest crest
Lake Forest College
Lake Forest, IL
41
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Rollins College
Winter Park, FL
42
43
44
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Cornell College
Mount Vernon, IA
45
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Denison University
Granville, OH
46
47
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Bucknell University
Lewisburg, PA
48
Allegheny crest
Allegheny College
Meadville, PA
49
50
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Skidmore College
Saratoga Springs, NY

Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major

While not in the ’top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

RankCollegeLocation
51Knox CollegeGalesburg, IL
52Linfield University - McMinnville CampusMcMinnville, OR
53Wells CollegeAurora, NY
54Goucher CollegeBaltimore, MD
55University of Virginia - Main CampusCharlottesville, VA
56William & MaryWilliamsburg, VA
57Boston UniversityBoston, MA
58St. Mary’s UniversitySan Antonio, TX
59Syracuse UniversitySyracuse, NY
60Pomona CollegeClaremont, CA
61Oglethorpe UniversityAtlanta, GA
62Gettysburg CollegeGettysburg, PA

Notes and References

References

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