2026 Best Value International Studies Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value International Studies certificate degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 433 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor analyzed schools to build this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value International Studies Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
American Public University System tops our 2026 ranking of the best-value International Studies certificate degree schools in the United States. Set in Charles Town, WV, American Public University System is a private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,400. The median International Studies program debt is $13,125. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $44,409. That is a strong return on a $13,125 median debt. Read the full report on American Public University System
A rank of #2 makes North Carolina State University At Raleigh one of the best values in the United States. Set in Raleigh, NC, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,799, while out-of-state students pay about $32,847. Typical International Studies student debt is $22,500. Median earnings reach $68,758 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $22,500 median debt. North Carolina State University At Raleigh has an acceptance rate of 42%. Read more about North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Out of the 433 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Washington State University landed the #3 spot. Based in Pullman, WA, Washington State University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,391, with out-of-state students paying around $29,950. Washington State University International Studies students take on a median of $21,903 in debt. Washington State University alumni report median earnings of $68,905 a decade after entry. Set against $21,903 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on Washington State University
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Arizona State University earned it the #4 place in the United States. Arizona State University is a public school based in Tempe, AZ. In-state tuition and fees average $12,223, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. Students borrow a median of $20,962 to complete their International Studies program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $62,668. That is a strong return on a $20,962 median debt. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants. Read the full report on Arizona State University
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of South Alabama earned it the #5 place in the United States. Set in Mobile, AL, University Of South Alabama is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,116 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,092. Graduates carry a median of $26,513 in student loans. University Of South Alabama alumni report median earnings of $49,379 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 71%. Read the full report on University Of South Alabama
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best-value International Studies schools. This public school is set in Norman, OK. In-state tuition and fees average $9,797, with out-of-state students paying around $27,377. Students borrow a median of $21,681 to complete their International Studies program here. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus alumni report median earnings of $63,126 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $21,681 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%. See the full University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus profile
University Of Kentucky ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best-value International Studies schools. This public school is set in Lexington, KY. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,502, compared with $34,140 for out-of-state students. University Of Kentucky International Studies students take on a median of $25,368 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $59,025. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Kentucky admits about 93% of applicants. Read more about University Of Kentucky
Hawaii Pacific University offered strong value this year, earning the #8 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Honolulu, HI. In-state tuition and fees average $34,392. Students borrow a median of $25,385 to complete their International Studies program here. Median earnings reach $59,593 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Hawaii Pacific University admits about 86% of applicants. More on Hawaii Pacific University
Eastern Mennonite University landed the #9 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Eastern Mennonite University report
Georgetown University came in at #10 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Georgetown University
Midwestern State University came in at #11 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Midwestern State University
Concordia University Irvine came in at #12 in this year's value ranking. See the full Concordia University Irvine profile
Florida International University came in at #13 in this year's value ranking. More on Florida International University
Tarleton State University offered strong value this year, earning the #14 position. More on Tarleton State University
University Of Massachusetts Lowell ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best-value International Studies schools. Get the full University Of Massachusetts Lowell report
Howard University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best-value International Studies schools. Read more about Howard University
University Of Wisconsin Platteville landed the #17 spot for value in the United States this year. More on University Of Wisconsin Platteville
Campbellsville University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best-value International Studies schools. More on Campbellsville University
University Of California Santa Barbara landed the #19 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about University Of California Santa Barbara
University Of Washington Tacoma Campus came in at #20 in this year's value ranking. Read more about University Of Washington Tacoma Campus
Anoka Ramsey Community College landed the #21 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Anoka Ramsey Community College report
Sinclair Community College placed #22 among the best-value International Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on Sinclair Community College
Swarthmore College came in at #23 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Swarthmore College
University Of Delaware placed #24 among the best-value International Studies schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Delaware report
Minnesota State College Southeast Technical came in at #25 in this year's value ranking. See the full Minnesota State College Southeast Technical profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value International Studies Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
South Dakota State University placed #26 among the best-value International Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on South Dakota State University
Central Lakes College Brainerd ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best-value International Studies schools. See the full Central Lakes College Brainerd profile
University Of Wisconsin Madison offered strong value this year, earning the #28 position. Read the full report on University Of Wisconsin Madison
Laney College
Laney College offered strong value this year, earning the #29 position. More on Laney College
Presbyterian College placed #30 among the best-value International Studies schools in the United States. Get the full Presbyterian College report
Sewanee The University Of The South ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best-value International Studies schools. See the full Sewanee The University Of The South profile
Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania offered strong value this year, earning the #32 position. Read more about Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania
Wright State University Main Campus placed #33 among the best-value International Studies schools in the United States. More on Wright State University Main Campus
College Of Mount Saint Vincent placed #34 among the best-value International Studies schools in the United States. More on College Of Mount Saint Vincent
Lee University
Lee University offered strong value this year, earning the #35 position. Read more about Lee University
Salisbury University landed the #36 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Salisbury University
The University Of Alabama came in at #37 in this year's value ranking. More on The University Of Alabama
American International College landed the #38 spot for value in the United States this year. More on American International College
Ramapo College Of New Jersey landed the #39 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Ramapo College Of New Jersey
Chestnut Hill College ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best-value International Studies schools. More on Chestnut Hill College
Phoenix College
Phoenix College placed #41 among the best-value International Studies schools in the United States. Read more about Phoenix College
Principia College ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best-value International Studies schools. Get the full Principia College report
Westminster College Pa placed #43 among the best-value International Studies schools in the United States. More on Westminster College Pa
Sacred Heart University placed #44 among the best-value International Studies schools in the United States. See the full Sacred Heart University profile
St Francis College landed the #45 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full St Francis College report
Warren Wilson College came in at #46 in this year's value ranking. More on Warren Wilson College
California State University Channel Islands ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best-value International Studies schools. See the full California State University Channel Islands profile
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best-value International Studies schools. See the full Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus profile
Northern State University landed the #49 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Northern State University
Liberty University came in at #50 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Liberty University
Related International Studies Value Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Value International Studies Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value International Studies Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value International Studies Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value International Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value International Studies Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value International Studies Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value International Studies Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 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).