2026 Best International Studies Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best International Studies certificate degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 433 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor reviewed schools to produce this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 International Studies Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
North Carolina State University At Raleigh earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking in the United States. This public school is set in Raleigh, NC. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,799, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. North Carolina State University At Raleigh International Studies students take on a median of $22,500 in debt. Read the full report on North Carolina State University At Raleigh
A rank of #2 makes American Public University System one of the top choices in the United States. Located in Charles Town, WV, American Public University System is a private for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,400. Graduates carry a median of $13,125 in student loans. Get the full American Public University System report
Washington State University came in at #3 on this year's International Studies ranking in the United States. This public school is set in Pullman, WA. Washington State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 60%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,391, compared with $29,950 for out-of-state students. Typical International Studies student debt is $21,903. See the full Washington State University profile
The strong International Studies programs at Arizona State University earned it the #4 place in the United States. This public school is set in Tempe, AZ. Arizona State University graduates 68% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $12,223, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. The median International Studies program debt is $20,962. Read the full report on Arizona State University
Out of the 433 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus landed the #5 spot. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a public school based in Norman, OK. About 75% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,797, while out-of-state students pay about $27,377. The median International Studies program debt is $21,681. Read the full report on University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus
University Of Kentucky placed #6 among International Studies schools in the United States. Set in Lexington, KY, University Of Kentucky is a public institution. About 71% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $13,502 in tuition and fees, compared with $34,140 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,368 to complete their International Studies program here. More on University Of Kentucky
University Of South Alabama came in at #7 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Mobile, AL. About 52% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,116, compared with $19,092 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,513 to complete their International Studies program here. More on University Of South Alabama
Hawaii Pacific University came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Based in Honolulu, HI, Hawaii Pacific University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 35% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $34,392. Hawaii Pacific University International Studies students take on a median of $25,385 in debt. See the full Hawaii Pacific University profile
Manhattan College did well this year, earning the #9 position. Read the full report on Manhattan College
The University Of Tampa landed the #10 spot in the United States this year. Read more about The University Of Tampa
Benedictine University landed the #11 spot in the United States this year. More on Benedictine University
University Of North Texas placed #12 among International Studies schools in the United States. Read more about University Of North Texas
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus did well this year, earning the #13 position. More on Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
Stony Brook University landed the #14 spot in the United States this year. See the full Stony Brook University profile
Cuny City College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best International Studies schools. Read more about Cuny City College
Benedictine College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best International Studies schools. Get the full Benedictine College report
Morgan State University came in at #17 in this year's ranking. More on Morgan State University
University Of Southern California did well this year, earning the #18 position. See the full University Of Southern California profile
North Central University came in at #19 in this year's ranking. See the full North Central University profile
Northwest University College Of Adult And Professional Studies came in at #20 in this year's ranking. See the full Northwest University College Of Adult And Professional Studies profile
Pennsylvania State University World Campus placed #21 among International Studies schools in the United States. Read more about Pennsylvania State University World Campus
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus landed the #22 spot in the United States this year. See the full University Of Cincinnati Main Campus profile
University Of Northern Colorado did well this year, earning the #23 position. Read the full report on University Of Northern Colorado
Boston College
Boston College did well this year, earning the #24 position. Get the full Boston College report
Brandeis University placed #25 among International Studies schools in the United States. Read more about Brandeis University
Rest of the Top 50 Best International Studies Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
Madison Area Technical College came in at #26 in this year's ranking. See the full Madison Area Technical College profile
Swarthmore College placed #27 among International Studies schools in the United States. More on Swarthmore College
Franklin College
Franklin College landed the #28 spot in the United States this year. More on Franklin College
Morehead State University ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best International Studies schools. Read more about Morehead State University
San Antonio College came in at #30 in this year's ranking. See the full San Antonio College profile
Lebanon Valley College came in at #31 in this year's ranking. More on Lebanon Valley College
Hiram College
Hiram College came in at #32 in this year's ranking. Get the full Hiram College report
The University Of Texas At Arlington ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best International Studies schools. More on The University Of Texas At Arlington
Drexel University ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best International Studies schools. Read more about Drexel University
University Of North Dakota landed the #35 spot in the United States this year. More on University Of North Dakota
New College Of Florida ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best International Studies schools. Get the full New College Of Florida report
Southeast Missouri State University came in at #37 in this year's ranking. See the full Southeast Missouri State University profile
University Of Pennsylvania did well this year, earning the #38 position. Read more about University Of Pennsylvania
University Of Wisconsin Platteville landed the #39 spot in the United States this year. More on University Of Wisconsin Platteville
Concordia University Seward came in at #40 in this year's ranking. Get the full Concordia University Seward report
University Of Maine ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best International Studies schools. Get the full University Of Maine report
University Of Nebraska At Omaha came in at #43 in this year's ranking. More on University Of Nebraska At Omaha
Central Lakes College Brainerd came in at #44 in this year's ranking. Get the full Central Lakes College Brainerd report
Trinity College
Trinity College ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best International Studies schools. Read the full report on Trinity College
Minneapolis Community And Technical College came in at #46 in this year's ranking. More on Minneapolis Community And Technical College
Pacific Lutheran University did well this year, earning the #47 position. More on Pacific Lutheran University
Saint Cloud State University came in at #48 in this year's ranking. See the full Saint Cloud State University profile
Framingham State University did well this year, earning the #49 position. More on Framingham State University
Randolph College
Randolph College ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best International Studies schools. Read more about Randolph College
Related International Studies Rankings
See rankings for other degree levels:
- Best International Studies Schools (All Levels)
- Best International Studies Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best International Studies Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best International Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best International Studies Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best International Studies Master’s Degree Schools
- Best International Studies Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 433 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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