2026 Best Value International Studies Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value International Studies doctoral degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 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.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor evaluated 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 Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
Arizona State University earned the #1 spot in this year's best-value ranking in the United States. Set in Tempe, AZ, Arizona State University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,223, compared with $33,139 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,962 to complete their International Studies program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $62,668 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $20,962 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%. Read the full report on Arizona State University
University Of California Santa Barbara came in at #2 on this year's best-value International Studies ranking in the United States. University Of California Santa Barbara is a public school based in Santa Barbara, CA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,444, while out-of-state students pay about $47,332. Students borrow a median of $14,792 to complete their International Studies program here. University Of California Santa Barbara alumni report median earnings of $74,915 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $14,792 median debt. The acceptance rate is 33%. Read more about University Of California Santa Barbara
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus came in at #3 on this year's best-value International Studies ranking in the United States. This public school is set in Cincinnati, OH. Students from in state pay about $13,363 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,697. The median International Studies program debt is $23,530. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus alumni report median earnings of $54,810 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $23,530 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%. Read more about University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
You'll get strong value at Florida International University, which ranked #4 this year. Florida International University is a public school based in Miami, FL. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,565, while out-of-state students pay about $18,964. Florida International University International Studies students take on a median of $19,349 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $60,249. That is a strong return on a $19,349 median debt. Florida International University admits about 55% of applicants. Read the full report on Florida International University
University Of Massachusetts Lowell came in at #5 on this year's best-value International Studies ranking in the United States. Based in Lowell, MA, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,966, compared with $36,264 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,574 to complete their International Studies program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $64,874. That is a strong return on a $25,574 median debt. The acceptance rate is 83%. Read the full report on University Of Massachusetts Lowell
Texas State University San Marcos came in at #6 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Texas State University San Marcos
University Of Maine At Farmington placed #7 among the best-value International Studies schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Maine At Farmington report
Loyola University Chicago placed #8 among the best-value International Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on Loyola University Chicago
Northeastern University Global Network came in at #9 in this year's value ranking. More on Northeastern University Global Network
Flagler College St Augustine landed the #10 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Flagler College St Augustine report
Harding University offered strong value this year, earning the #11 position. Read more about Harding University
Macalester College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best-value International Studies schools. Get the full Macalester College report
Phoenix College
Phoenix College came in at #13 in this year's value ranking. More on Phoenix College
University Of New Orleans landed the #14 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of New Orleans
University Of Southern California offered strong value this year, earning the #15 position. See the full University Of Southern California profile
University Of Wisconsin Whitewater came in at #16 in this year's value ranking. Read more about University Of Wisconsin Whitewater
Carnegie Mellon University came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Carnegie Mellon University report
Columbia International University placed #18 among the best-value International Studies schools in the United States. Read more about Columbia International University
New College Of Florida came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. Get the full New College Of Florida report
Northwest University came in at #20 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Northwest University report
Thomas More College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best-value International Studies schools. See the full Thomas More College profile
University Of New Hampshire At Manchester came in at #22 in this year's value ranking. Read more about University Of New Hampshire At Manchester
University Of The Pacific offered strong value this year, earning the #23 position. More on University Of The Pacific
Ramapo College Of New Jersey came in at #24 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Ramapo College Of New Jersey
Stony Brook University placed #25 among the best-value International Studies schools in the United States. More on Stony Brook University
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value International Studies Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
Capital University ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best-value International Studies schools. Read the full report on Capital University
University Of Georgia came in at #27 in this year's value ranking. Get the full University Of Georgia report
Bemidji State University came in at #28 in this year's value ranking. More on Bemidji State University
Benedictine College landed the #29 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Benedictine College
Gettysburg College came in at #30 in this year's value ranking. More on Gettysburg College
Illinois Institute Of Technology landed the #31 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Illinois Institute Of Technology
Sewanee The University Of The South came in at #32 in this year's value ranking. More on Sewanee The University Of The South
Humboldt State University ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best-value International Studies schools. See the full Humboldt State University profile
Knox College
Knox College ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best-value International Studies schools. Read more about Knox College
Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best-value International Studies schools. Read the full report on Ohio State University Main Campus
Peace College
Peace College landed the #36 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Peace College report
West Virginia Wesleyan College landed the #37 spot for value in the United States this year. More on West Virginia Wesleyan College
Andrews University placed #38 among the best-value International Studies schools in the United States. More on Andrews University
Central College
Central College ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best-value International Studies schools. Get the full Central College report
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus came in at #40 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus report
Murray State College came in at #41 in this year's value ranking. More on Murray State College
Muskingum University ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best-value International Studies schools. Get the full Muskingum University report
Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best-value International Studies schools. More on Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology
Assumption College placed #44 among the best-value International Studies schools in the United States. See the full Assumption College profile
Bard College At Simons Rock came in at #45 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Bard College At Simons Rock
George Fox University offered strong value this year, earning the #46 position. Read more about George Fox University
Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #47 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Southern Illinois University Carbondale report
University Of North Texas offered strong value this year, earning the #48 position. Read more about University Of North Texas
Albion College
Albion College offered strong value this year, earning the #49 position. Read the full report on Albion College
Saint Cloud State University ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best-value International Studies schools. More on Saint Cloud State University
Related International Studies Value Rankings
Compare value rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Value International Studies Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value International Studies Certificate Degree Schools
- 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
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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).
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