2023 Best Value Colleges for International Relations & National Security in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)
37
Ranked Colleges
1,355
Degrees Awarded
$17,800
Avg Net Price*
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
In 2020-2021, 14,306 people earned their degree in international relations and national security, making the major the 67th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, international relations and national security graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $41,288 and had an average of $21,455 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 1,355 international relations and national security graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,297 and $22,820 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 37 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in international relations and national security. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality international relations and national security programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the international relations and national security program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. 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.
Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region international relations students with aid.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for International Relations & National Security in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Bloomington. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Bloomington, Indiana, this large public school awarded 124 degrees to qualified ’s international relations students in 2020-2021.
IU Bloomington also took the #3 spot in our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - Bloomington is $14,619 for Great Lakes Region International Relations students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about International Relations & National Security at IU Bloomington
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. IUPUI is a public institution located in Indianapolis, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 20 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
IUPUI also took the #20 spot in our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend IUPUI is $12,416 for Great Lakes Region International Relations students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about International Relations & National Security at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Ohio State University - Main Campus is a large public school situated in Columbus, Ohio. It awarded 176 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region international relations students with aid list, Ohio State has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio State University - Main Campus is $16,845 for Great Lakes Region International Relations students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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 & National Security at Ohio State University - Main Campus
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Michigan State University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in East Lansing, Michigan, this large public school handed out 106 diplomas to qualified ’s international relations students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Michigan State, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $19,058 for great lakes region international relations students with aid per year to attend Michigan State.
With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about International Relations & National Security at Michigan State University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a large public school situated in Madison, Wisconsin. It awarded 20 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - Madison also took the #10 spot in our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Madison is $17,234 for great lakes region international relations students with aid.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.
Full University of Wisconsin - Madison International Relations & National Security Report
Northwestern University landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Evanston, Illinois, and it awarded 42 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northwestern, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Northwestern is $23,279 for Great Lakes Region International Relations students with aid.
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%. 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. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Northwestern University International Relations & National Security Report
University of Southern Indiana ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Southern Indiana is a medium-sized school located in Evansville, Indiana that handed out 9 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.
USI also made our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #19. The estimated yearly cost for USI is $13,481 for Great Lakes Region International Relations students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about International Relations & National Security at University of Southern Indiana
Oakland University landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Rochester Hills, Michigan, this fairly large public school handed out 16 degrees to qualified ’s international relations students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Oakland University is $13,449 for great lakes region international relations students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on International Relations & National Security at Oakland
With a ranking of #9, Indiana University - Southeast did quite well on the 2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. This small school is located in New Albany, Indiana, and it awarded 7 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Southeast is $11,446 for great lakes region international relations students with aid.
Read more about International Relations & National Security at Indiana University - Southeast
Grand Valley State University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Allendale, Michigan, this large public school handed out 36 diplomas to qualified ’s international relations students in 2020-2021.
GVSU also made our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #13. It costs about $17,356 for great lakes region international relations students with aid per year to attend Grand Valley State University.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Grand Valley State University International Relations & National Security Report
Wright State University - Main Campus ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Wright State University - Main Campus is a fairly large school located in Dayton, Ohio that handed out 16 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Wright State University - Main Campus, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $15,962 for great lakes region international relations students with aid per year to attend Wright State University - Main Campus.
Full Wright State University - Main Campus International Relations & National Security Report
Central Michigan University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This fairly large school is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, and it awarded 22 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region international relations students with aid list, Central Michigan has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $16,007 for Great Lakes Region International Relations students with aid per year to attend Central Michigan.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.8% 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%.
Full Central Michigan International Relations & National Security Report
Miami University - Oxford landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Miami University - Oxford is located in Oxford, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 91 ’s international relations degrees to qualified students.
Miami University - Oxford did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Miami University - Oxford is $24,756 for Great Lakes Region International Relations students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about International Relations & National Security at Miami University - Oxford
Cleveland State University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Cleveland, Ohio, and it awarded 25 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Cleveland State University is $16,943 for great lakes region international relations students with aid.
Read full report on International Relations & National Security at Cleveland State University
With a ranking of #15, University of Akron Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Akron Main Campus is located in Akron, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7 ’s international relations degrees to qualified students.
University of Akron Main Campus not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Akron Main Campus is $17,945 for Great Lakes Region International Relations students with aid.
Full University of Akron Main Campus International Relations & National Security Report
Dominican University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #16. Dominican University is a private not-for-profit institution located in River Forest, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 4 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Dominican U did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $18,645 for great lakes region international relations students with aid per year to attend Dominican University.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Dominican U International Relations & National Security Report
University of Cincinnati - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #17. University of Cincinnati - Main Campus is a large public school situated in Cincinnati, Ohio. It awarded 42 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.
UC also took the #17 spot in our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UC is $22,415 for Great Lakes Region International Relations students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% 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%.
Read full report on International Relations & National Security at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus
Northern Michigan University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #18. Northern Michigan University is a medium-sized school located in Marquette, Michigan that handed out 3 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Northern Michigan University is $15,214 for Great Lakes Region International Relations students with aid.
Read more about International Relations & National Security at Northern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Eastern Michigan University is a public institution located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 9 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Eastern Michigan is $15,127 for Great Lakes Region International Relations students with aid.
Read more about International Relations & National Security at Eastern Michigan University
Kent State University at Kent landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Kent State is a public institution located in Kent, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 10 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Kent State is $19,117 for great lakes region international relations students with aid.
Read more about International Relations & National Security at Kent State University at Kent
Beloit College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This small school is located in Beloit, Wisconsin, and it awarded 13 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.
Beloit not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $12,246 for great lakes region international relations students with aid per year to attend Beloit.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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%. 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. With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about International Relations & National Security at Beloit
Walsh University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #22. Walsh University is a small school located in North Canton, Ohio that handed out 5 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Walsh University is $16,276 for great lakes region international relations students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% 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%.
Read more about International Relations & National Security at Walsh
With a ranking of #23, Wheaton College Illinois did quite well on the 2023 Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Wheaton College Illinois is a small school located in Wheaton, Illinois that handed out 34 ’s international relations degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region international relations students with aid list, Wheaton College Illinois has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Wheaton College Illinois is $25,692 for Great Lakes Region International Relations students with aid.
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 excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about International Relations & National Security at Wheaton College Illinois
Ashland University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Ashland University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Ashland, Ohio. The school has a small population, and it awarded 3 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $20,974 for Great Lakes Region International Relations students with aid per year to attend Ashland.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Ashland University International Relations & National Security Report
University of Chicago ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value International Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. UChicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 162 ’s international relations degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our great lakes region international relations students with aid list, UChicago has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Chicago is $28,517 for great lakes region international relations students with aid.
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. With a freshman retention rate of 100%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.
Read more about International Relations & National Security at UChicago
