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2023 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for International Relations & National Security

115 Ranked Colleges
4,650 Degrees Awarded
$56,002 Avg Salary
Schools for a Master's 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 was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major” ranking is part of that endeavor.

International Relations & National Security is the 67th most popular major in the country with 13,958 degrees awarded in 2021-2022. In , international relations & national security graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $41,264 and had an average of $27,636 in loans still to pay off.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 4,650 international relations & national security graduates with average earnings and debt of $58,979 and $43,370 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major” ranking, we looked at 115 colleges that offer a degree in international relations & national security. That schools that top this list have a program in international relations & national security in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major

The colleges and universities below are the best for master’s degree international relations students.

Top 25 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for International Relations & National Security

1
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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 for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major list. Institute of World Politics is a private not-for-profit institution located in Washington, District of Columbia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 31 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 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 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on International Relations & National Security at Institute of World Politics

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. The school came in at #2 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major. Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey is located in Monterey, California and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 50 masters’s international relations degrees to qualified students.

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 more about International Relations & National Security at Middlebury Institute

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Virginia International University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major list. Virginia International University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Fairfax, Virginia. It awarded 0 masters’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 & National Security at Virginia International University

4
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SIT Graduate Institute
Brattleboro, Vermont

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend SIT Graduate Institute. The school came in at #4 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major. SIT Graduate Institute is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Brattleboro, Vermont. It awarded 4 masters’s international relations degrees in 2021-2022.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on International Relations & National Security at SIT Graduate Institute

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Center for Advanced Studies On Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. The school came in at #4 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major. Centro de Estudios Avanzados de Puerto Rico y El Caribe is located in San Juan, Puerto Rico and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 7 masters’s international relations degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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 full report on International Relations & National Security at Center for Advanced Studies On Puerto Rico and the Caribbean

6
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Naval Postgraduate School
Monterey, California

Naval Postgraduate School did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking, coming in at #6. Naval Postgraduate School is a small school located in Monterey, California that handed out 167 masters’s international relations degrees in 2021-2022.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on International Relations & National Security at Naval Postgraduate School

7
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Tufts University
Medford, Massachusetts

Tufts University landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking. Medford, Massachusetts is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s international relations degrees to 243 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 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 & National Security at Tufts

8
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Norwich University
Northfield, Vermont

Norwich University ranked #8 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major list. Norwich is located in Northfield, Vermont and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 48 masters’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%.

Full Norwich University International Relations & National Security Report

9
The American University crest
American University
Washington, District of Columbia

American University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking, coming in at #9. American University is a fairly large school located in Washington, District of Columbia that handed out 349 masters’s international relations degrees in 2021-2022.

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 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 American University International Relations & National Security Report

10
Johns Hopkins crest
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, Maryland

Johns Hopkins University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking, coming in at #10. This large school is located in Baltimore, Maryland, and it awarded 597 masters’s international relations degrees in 2021-2022.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about International Relations & National Security at Johns Hopkins

11
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Georgetown University
Washington, District of Columbia

Georgetown University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking. Georgetown University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Washington, District of Columbia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 294 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 98%. 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 more about International Relations & National Security at Georgetown

12
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George Washington University
Washington, District of Columbia

George Washington University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking, coming in at #12. GWU is located in Washington, District of Columbia and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 311 masters’s international relations degrees to qualified students.

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 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%.

Full GWU International Relations & National Security Report

13
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Angelo State University
San Angelo, Texas

Angelo State University landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking. Angelo State is a fairly large public school situated in San Angelo, Texas. It awarded 66 masters’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%.

Full Angelo State University International Relations & National Security Report

14
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Notre Dame College
Cleveland, Ohio

With a ranking of #14, Notre Dame College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major list. Notre Dame College is located in Cleveland, Ohio and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 0 masters’s international relations degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Notre Dame College International Relations & National Security Report

15
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New England College
Henniker, New Hampshire

New England College landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking. New England College is located in Henniker, New Hampshire and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 25 masters’s international relations degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.9% 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%. 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.

Full NEC International Relations & National Security Report

16
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St. Mary's University
San Antonio, Texas

St. Mary’s University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking. This small school is located in San Antonio, Texas, and it awarded 13 masters’s international relations 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%.

Full St. Mary’s University International Relations & National Security Report

17

Hawaii Pacific University landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking. Hawaii Pacific University is a small school located in Honolulu, Hawaii that handed out 8 masters’s international relations degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on International Relations & National Security at Hawaii Pacific University

18
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Troy University
Troy, Alabama

Troy University landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking. Troy University is a fairly large school located in Troy, Alabama that handed out 96 masters’s international relations degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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%.

Full TROY International Relations & National Security Report

19
Seton Hall crest
Seton Hall University
South Orange, New Jersey

Seton Hall University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking, coming in at #19. Seton Hall is a private not-for-profit institution located in South Orange, New Jersey. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 42 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.

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 Seton Hall International Relations & National Security Report

20
New School University crest
The New School
New York, New York

The New School did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking, coming in at #20. This fairly large school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 56 masters’s international relations degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. 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.

Full New School University International Relations & National Security Report

21
Claremont Graduate University crest
Claremont Graduate University
Claremont, California

Claremont Graduate University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking. Claremont Graduate University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Claremont, California. It awarded 5 masters’s international relations degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Claremont Graduate University International Relations & National Security Report

22
Webster crest
Webster University
Saint Louis, Missouri

With a ranking of #22, Webster University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major list. Webster is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 41 masters’s international relations degrees in 2021-2022.

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 full report on International Relations & National Security at Webster

23
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University of Denver
Denver, Colorado

University of Denver came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking. Located in Denver, Colorado, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 112 diplomas to qualified masters’s international relations students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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%. 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.

Read full report on International Relations & National Security at DU

24

Columbia University in the City of New York did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking, coming in at #24. New York, New York is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s international relations degrees to 154 students in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 99%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Columbia University in the City of New York International Relations & National Security Report

25
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Salve Regina University
Newport, Rhode Island

Salve Regina University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on International Relations Major ranking, coming in at #25. Salve Regina University is a small school located in Newport, Rhode Island that handed out 7 masters’s international relations degrees in 2021-2022.

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%.

Full Salve Regina University International Relations & National Security Report

Notes and References

References

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