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2025 Best International Relations & National Security Bachelor's Degree Schools in Illinois

5 Colleges in Illinois
139 Bachelor's Degrees
$41,721 Avg Early-Career Salary
If you plan on getting your bachelor's degree in international relations & national security, you won't be alone since the degree program is ranked #58 in the country in terms of popularity. So, you have a fair amount of options to choose from when looking for a school.

In 2025, College Factual analyzed 5 schools in order to identify the top ones for its Best International Relations & National Security Bachelor's Degree Schools in Illinois ranking. Combined, these schools handed out 139 bachelor's degrees in international relations & national security to qualified students.

Jump to one of the following sections: * Our Methodology

Choosing a Great International Relations & National Security School for Your Bachelor's Degree

Best International Relations & National Security Bachelor's Degree Schools in Illinois The international relations bachelor's degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. Important measures of a quality international relations program can vary widely even among the top schools. Below we explain some of the most important factors to consider before making your choice:

Overall Quality Is a Must

A school that excels in educating for a particular major and degree level must be a great school overall as well. To make it into this list a school must rank well in our overall Best Colleges ranking. This ranking considered factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.

Average Early-Career Salaries

Average early-career salary of those graduating with their bachelor's degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. After all, your bachelor's degree won't mean much if it doesn't help you find a job that will help you earn a living.

Other Factors We Consider

In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:

Our complete ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best colleges for international relations & national security students working on their bachelor's degree.

More Ways to Rank International Relations & National Security Schools

Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More International Relations Rankings Other Ranking Categories

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we've developed a number of rankings, including this Best International Relations & National Security Bachelor's Degree Schools in Illinois list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Schools for Bachelor’s Students to Study International Relations & National Security in Illinois

Below you'll see a list of the best colleges and universities for pursuing a bachelor's degree in international relations & national security.

Top Illinois Schools for a Bachelor's in International Relations

1
23 Annual Graduates

Any student who is interested in a bachelor's degree in international relations & national security has to take a look at University of Chicago. Located in the large city of Chicago, UChicago is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population.More information about a bachelor’s in international relations & national security from University of Chicago

2

It's hard to beat Northwestern University if you wish to pursue a bachelor's degree in international relations & national security. Northwestern is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the small city of Evanston.

Bachelor's recipients from the international relations & national security program at Northwestern University earn $16,605 more than the typical college graduate in this field when they enter the workforce.

More information about a bachelor’s in international relations & national security from Northwestern University

3
DePaul crest
DePaul University
Chicago, IL

DePaul University is one of the finest schools in the United States for getting a bachelor's degree in international relations & national security. Located in the large city of Chicago, DePaul is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population.

Bachelor's students who receive their degree from the international relations program earn an average of $35,792 for their early career.

More information about a bachelor’s in international relations & national security from DePaul University

4

Wheaton College Illinois is one of the best schools in the country for getting a bachelor's degree in international relations & national security. Wheaton College Illinois is a small private not-for-profit college located in the large suburb of Wheaton.

Soon after graduating, international relations bachelor's recipients typically make about $40,084 in the first five years of their career.

More information about a bachelor’s in international relations & national security from Wheaton College Illinois

5
Lake Forest crest
Lake Forest College
Lake Forest, IL
15 Annual Graduates

Located in the large suburb of Lake Forest, Lake Forest is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.More information about a bachelor’s in international relations & national security from Lake Forest College

Best International Relations & National Security Colleges in the Great Lakes Region

Explore all the Best International Relations & National Security Schools in the Great Lakes Area or other specific states within that region.

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
Michigan 261 209
Ohio 252 412
Indiana 235 192
Wisconsin 213 42

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One of 13 majors within the Social Sciences area of study, International Relations & National Security has other similar majors worth exploring.

International Relations Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
International Relations 139

Majors Similar to International Relations

Related Major Annual Graduates
Economics 1,706
Political Science & Government 1,291
Sociology 612
Anthropology 244
Geography & Cartography 107
Sociology & Anthropology 65
Other Social Sciences 46
General Social Sciences 38
Urban Studies 11
Archeology 4

Notes and References

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