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2023 Most Focused Colleges for International Relations in the Great Lakes Region

64 Ranked Colleges
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Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in the Great Lakes Region

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking - to help you make that decision.

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

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 1,086 international relations graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, we looked at 64 colleges that offer a degree in international relations. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their international relations program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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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 in the Great Lakes Region”.

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. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in the Great Lakes Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region international relations students.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for International Relations in the Great Lakes Region

1
Beloit crest
Beloit College
Beloit, Wisconsin

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Beloit College. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Beloit is a small school located in Beloit, Wisconsin that handed out 11 ’s international relations degrees 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. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, 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 88%.

Read full report on International Relations at Beloit

2
Wheaton College Illinois crest
Wheaton College Illinois
Wheaton, Illinois

Out of the 64 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Wheaton College Illinois landed the #2 spot on the list. Wheaton College Illinois is a small school located in Wheaton, Illinois that handed out 24 ’s international relations degrees in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on International Relations at Wheaton College Illinois

3
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Principia College
Elsah, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Principia College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Elsah, Illinois 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 impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Principia College International Relations Report

4
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Lake Forest College
Lake Forest, Illinois

Out of the 64 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Lake Forest College landed the #4 spot on the list. This small school is located in Lake Forest, Illinois, and it awarded 10 ’s international relations degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, 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 87%.

Read full report on International Relations at Lake Forest College

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The College of Wooster. The school came in at #5 for the Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in the Great Lakes Region. Wooster College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Wooster, Ohio. It awarded 8 ’s international relations degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% 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%.

Full Wooster College International Relations Report

6
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Denison University
Granville, Ohio

Denison University landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Denison is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Granville, Ohio. It awarded 14 ’s international relations degrees in 2021-2022.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate 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%.

Read full report on International Relations at Denison University

7
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Knox College
Galesburg, Illinois

Knox College landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This small school is located in Galesburg, Illinois, and it awarded 9 ’s international relations degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about International Relations at Knox

8
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Wittenberg University
Springfield, Ohio

Wittenberg University ranked #8 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Wittenberg University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Springfield, Ohio. It awarded 2 ’s international relations degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about International Relations at Wittenberg

9
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Kalamazoo College
Kalamazoo, Michigan

Kalamazoo College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #9. This small school is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and it awarded 7 ’s international relations degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.3%, 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 85%. 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.

Full K College International Relations Report

10
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Taylor University
Upland, Indiana

Taylor University ranked #10 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Taylor U is a private not-for-profit institution located in Upland, Indiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 5 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Taylor U International Relations Report

11

With a ranking of #11, Miami University - Oxford did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Oxford, Ohio, this fairly large public school awarded 44 degrees to qualified ’s international relations students in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about International Relations at Miami University - Oxford

12
Loyola Chicago crest
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Loyola University Chicago came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Loyola Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 64 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.

Read full report on International Relations at Loyola Chicago

13
Marquette crest
Marquette University
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Marquette University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #13. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 26 diplomas to qualified ’s international relations students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Read full report on International Relations at Marquette

14

Ohio State University - Main Campus came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Ohio State University - Main Campus is a large public school situated in Columbus, Ohio. It awarded 144 ’s international relations degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, 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 94%.

Read more about International Relations at Ohio State University - Main Campus

15
Aquinas College Michigan crest
Aquinas College Michigan
Grand Rapids, Michigan

Aquinas College Michigan landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Grand Rapids, Michigan is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s international relations degrees to 3 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on International Relations at Aquinas College Michigan

16
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University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

With a ranking of #16, University of Chicago did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Chicago is a fairly large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 163 ’s international relations degrees in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 99%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% 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 more about International Relations at UChicago

17

Indiana University - Bloomington ranked #17 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Bloomington, Indiana, this large public school handed out 103 diplomas to qualified ’s international relations students in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about International Relations at IU Bloomington

18

With a ranking of #18, Indiana Wesleyan University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in the Great Lakes Region list. IWU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Marion, Indiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about International Relations at Indiana Wesleyan University

19
Tiffin University crest
Tiffin University
Tiffin, Ohio

With a ranking of #19, Tiffin University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in the Great Lakes Region list. This small school is located in Tiffin, Ohio, and it awarded 1 ’s international relations degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about International Relations at Tiffin University

20
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

Michigan State University landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Michigan State University is a public institution located in East Lansing, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 87 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Michigan State International Relations Report

21
Earlham crest
Earlham College
Richmond, Indiana

Earlham College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #21. Located in Richmond, Indiana, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 2 diplomas to qualified ’s international relations students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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 7 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Earlham College International Relations Report

22
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Calvin University
Grand Rapids, Michigan

Calvin University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Calvin is a small school located in Grand Rapids, Michigan that handed out 12 ’s international relations degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.4%, 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 86%.

Read full report on International Relations at Calvin

23

Indiana University - Southeast ranked #23 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Indiana University - Southeast is a small public school situated in New Albany, Indiana. It awarded 9 ’s international relations degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on International Relations at Indiana University - Southeast

24
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Walsh University
North Canton, Ohio

Walsh University ranked #24 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Walsh is a small private not-for-profit school situated in North Canton, Ohio. It awarded 1 ’s international relations degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% 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 Walsh

25
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Rockford University
Rockford, Illinois

Rockford University ranked #25 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on International Relations Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Rockford is a small school located in Rockford, Illinois that handed out 2 ’s international relations degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% 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 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.

Read more about International Relations at Rockford University

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