2026 Best International Relations National Security Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best International Relations National Security certificate degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 449 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor evaluated schools to build this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 International Relations National Security Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
The University Of Texas At Austin earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking in the United States. Located in Austin, TX, The University Of Texas At Austin is a public institution. The University Of Texas At Austin posts a six-year graduation rate of 89%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,688, compared with $44,908 for out-of-state students. Typical International Relations National Security student debt is $21,275. See the full The University Of Texas At Austin profile
A rank of #2 makes University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh one of the top choices in the United States. Set in Oshkosh, WI, University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a public institution. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh graduates 54% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $8,532, while out-of-state students pay about $16,446. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh International Relations National Security students take on a median of $25,450 in debt. More on University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh
Out of the 449 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point landed the #3 spot. Located in Stevens Point, WI, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a public institution. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,228, with out-of-state students paying around $18,248. Graduates carry a median of $24,161 in student loans. More on University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point
A rank of #4 makes University Of Massachusetts Amherst one of the top choices in the United States. Set in Amherst, MA, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a public institution. About 83% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,772, compared with $40,449 for out-of-state students. Typical International Relations National Security student debt is $25,234. See the full University Of Massachusetts Amherst profile
University Of Maryland Baltimore County came in at #5 on this year's International Relations National Security ranking in the United States. This public school is set in Baltimore, MD. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,256, while out-of-state students pay about $31,225. Students borrow a median of $21,331 to complete their International Relations National Security program here. Read the full report on University Of Maryland Baltimore County
Lander University placed #7 among International Relations National Security schools in the United States. Set in Greenwood, SC, Lander University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,700, with out-of-state students paying around $21,300. Graduates carry a median of $26,064 in student loans. See the full Lander University profile
Central Michigan University did well this year, earning the #8 position. Central Michigan University is a public school based in Mount Pleasant, MI. Central Michigan University posts a six-year graduation rate of 59%. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,480. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Read more about Central Michigan University
University Of New Mexico Main Campus did well this year, earning the #9 position. Based in Albuquerque, NM, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,140, compared with $33,060 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $19,738 in student loans. Read the full report on University Of New Mexico Main Campus
Utah Valley University did well this year, earning the #10 position. This public school is set in Orem, UT. About 40% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,507, compared with $18,489 for out-of-state students. The median International Relations National Security program debt is $16,478. Read more about Utah Valley University
Butte College landed the #11 spot in the United States this year. Located in Oroville, CA, Butte College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,356, with out-of-state students paying around $9,276. Butte College International Relations National Security students take on a median of $13,302 in debt. Get the full Butte College report
Florida International University did well this year, earning the #11 position. More on Florida International University
Franklin College
Franklin College did well this year, earning the #12 position. Get the full Franklin College report
Lake Forest College did well this year, earning the #13 position. More on Lake Forest College
Saint Josephs University placed #14 among International Relations National Security schools in the United States. Get the full Saint Josephs University report
Cuny City College came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Read more about Cuny City College
Liberty University did well this year, earning the #16 position. More on Liberty University
University Of Kentucky came in at #17 in this year's ranking. More on University Of Kentucky
Merced College
Merced College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best International Relations National Security schools. Read more about Merced College
Tulane University Of Louisiana ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best International Relations National Security schools. Read the full report on Tulane University Of Louisiana
University Of North Florida landed the #20 spot in the United States this year. See the full University Of North Florida profile
Wofford College
Wofford College placed #21 among International Relations National Security schools in the United States. Get the full Wofford College report
Southern Utah University came in at #22 in this year's ranking. More on Southern Utah University
Swarthmore College came in at #23 in this year's ranking. More on Swarthmore College
The University Of West Florida landed the #24 spot in the United States this year. More on The University Of West Florida
Seton Hill University did well this year, earning the #25 position. More on Seton Hill University
Rest of the Top 50 Best International Relations National Security Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
The University Of Tennessee landed the #26 spot in the United States this year. Read more about The University Of Tennessee
Indiana University Southeast did well this year, earning the #27 position. More on Indiana University Southeast
Loyola University Chicago ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best International Relations National Security schools. Read the full report on Loyola University Chicago
Hamilton College
Hamilton College ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best International Relations National Security schools. See the full Hamilton College profile
High Point University ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best International Relations National Security schools. See the full High Point University profile
Colgate University ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best International Relations National Security schools. Read more about Colgate University
Widener University Main Campus landed the #32 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Widener University Main Campus
Golden West College ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best International Relations National Security schools. See the full Golden West College profile
Lewis And Clark College landed the #34 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Lewis And Clark College
Oakland University came in at #35 in this year's ranking. Get the full Oakland University report
Northwest Nazarene University landed the #36 spot in the United States this year. More on Northwest Nazarene University
Gettysburg College landed the #37 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Gettysburg College
University Of Missouri Columbia landed the #38 spot in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Missouri Columbia report
College Of William And Mary came in at #39 in this year's ranking. See the full College Of William And Mary profile
Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice did well this year, earning the #40 position. See the full Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice profile
Meredith College
Meredith College came in at #41 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Meredith College
Suny At Binghamton came in at #42 in this year's ranking. Get the full Suny At Binghamton report
Mount Holyoke College came in at #43 in this year's ranking. See the full Mount Holyoke College profile
Texas State University San Marcos ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best International Relations National Security schools. Read the full report on Texas State University San Marcos
Connecticut College landed the #45 spot in the United States this year. See the full Connecticut College profile
Azusa Pacific University landed the #46 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Azusa Pacific University
Kansas State University came in at #47 in this year's ranking. More on Kansas State University
The College Of Idaho placed #48 among International Relations National Security schools in the United States. See the full The College Of Idaho profile
Seton Hall University placed #49 among International Relations National Security schools in the United States. More on Seton Hall University
University Of Missouri St Louis placed #50 among International Relations National Security schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Missouri St Louis report
Related International Relations National Security Rankings
See rankings for other degree levels:
- Best International Relations National Security Schools (All Levels)
- Best International Relations National Security Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best International Relations National Security Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best International Relations National Security Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best International Relations National Security Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best International Relations National Security Master’s Degree Schools
- Best International Relations National Security 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 449 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).