2026 Best International Relations National Security Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best International Relations National Security doctoral degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 449 institutions 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 compile 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 Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools:
No school ranked higher than Johns Hopkins University this year in the United States. Based in Baltimore, MD, Johns Hopkins University is a private not-for-profit institution. Johns Hopkins University posts a six-year graduation rate of 94%. In-state tuition and fees run about $64,730. Graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. See the full Johns Hopkins University profile
The strong International Relations National Security programs at Tufts University earned it the #2 place in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Medford, MA. Tufts University posts a six-year graduation rate of 94%. In-state tuition and fees average $70,704. Tufts University International Relations National Security students take on a median of $16,375 in debt. Read the full report on Tufts University
The strong International Relations National Security programs at University Of Virginia Main Campus earned it the #3 place in the United States. Set in Charlottesville, VA, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a public institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,118, while out-of-state students pay about $61,591. Students borrow a median of $20,672 to complete their International Relations National Security program here. More on University Of Virginia Main Campus
University Of Southern California came in at #4 on this year's International Relations National Security ranking in the United States. University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit school based in Los Angeles, CA. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $71,647. University Of Southern California International Relations National Security students take on a median of $13,765 in debt. Get the full University Of Southern California report
Out of the 449 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Claremont Graduate University landed the #5 spot. Claremont Graduate University is a private not-for-profit school based in Claremont, CA. See the full Claremont Graduate University profile
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a public school based in Atlanta, GA. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 94%. In-state tuition and fees average $12,058, while out-of-state students pay about $34,484. The median International Relations National Security program debt is $24,323. Read the full report on Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
American University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best International Relations National Security schools. Set in Washington, DC, American University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,771. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete their International Relations National Security program here. Read more about American University
Rutgers University Newark placed #8 among International Relations National Security schools in the United States. Based in Newark, NJ, Rutgers University Newark is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. In-state tuition and fees run about $17,250, with out-of-state students paying around $36,762. Typical International Relations National Security student debt is $25,065. Get the full Rutgers University Newark report
Kansas State University did well this year, earning the #9 position. Set in Manhattan, KS, Kansas State University is a public institution. Kansas State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 71%. In-state tuition and fees average $11,221, compared with $28,568 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $23,546 in student loans. See the full Kansas State University profile
University Of Central Florida came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Set in Orlando, FL, University Of Central Florida is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 78%. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,368, while out-of-state students pay about $22,467. University Of Central Florida International Relations National Security students take on a median of $21,620 in debt. Get the full University Of Central Florida report
Old Dominion University did well this year, earning the #11 position. Old Dominion University is a public school based in Norfolk, VA. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $12,750 in tuition and fees, compared with $33,780 for out-of-state students. Old Dominion University International Relations National Security students take on a median of $25,750 in debt. Get the full Old Dominion University report
University Of South Florida Main Campus landed the #12 spot in the United States this year. University Of South Florida Main Campus is a public school based in Tampa, FL. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,410, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Students borrow a median of $18,250 to complete their International Relations National Security program here. Read more about University Of South Florida Main Campus
Florida International University came in at #13 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Miami, FL. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,565, with out-of-state students paying around $18,964. Graduates carry a median of $18,637 in student loans. See the full Florida International University profile
University Of Denver ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best International Relations National Security schools. Located in Denver, CO, University Of Denver is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of Denver graduates 76% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,398. The median International Relations National Security program debt is $19,500. Read more about University Of Denver
University Of California San Diego ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best International Relations National Security schools. More on University Of California San Diego
Rollins College
Rollins College did well this year, earning the #16 position. More on Rollins College
Southwestern Adventist University landed the #17 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Southwestern Adventist University
Campbell University placed #18 among International Relations National Security schools in the United States. See the full Campbell University profile
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Ohio State University Main Campus
University Of Hawaii At Manoa did well this year, earning the #20 position. Read the full report on University Of Hawaii At Manoa
Lenoir Rhyne University did well this year, earning the #21 position. Get the full Lenoir Rhyne University report
Tiffin University placed #22 among International Relations National Security schools in the United States. More on Tiffin University
Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global did well this year, earning the #23 position. More on Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global
Lehigh University did well this year, earning the #24 position. More on Lehigh University
Long Island University C W Post Campus placed #25 among International Relations National Security schools in the United States. Read the full report on Long Island University C W Post Campus
Rest of the Top 50 Best International Relations National Security Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
The University Of Texas At San Antonio did well this year, earning the #26 position. More on The University Of Texas At San Antonio
Union College Nebraska did well this year, earning the #27 position. See the full Union College Nebraska profile
La Salle University ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best International Relations National Security schools. See the full La Salle University profile
Mckendree University landed the #29 spot in the United States this year. See the full Mckendree University profile
Otterbein University placed #30 among International Relations National Security schools in the United States. Read the full report on Otterbein University
Brown University
Brown University ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best International Relations National Security schools. More on Brown University
California State University East Bay ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best International Relations National Security schools. Read more about California State University East Bay
Lindenwood University came in at #33 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Lindenwood University
King College
King College ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best International Relations National Security schools. See the full King College profile
Lawrence University came in at #35 in this year's ranking. More on Lawrence University
Middle Tennessee State University placed #36 among International Relations National Security schools in the United States. More on Middle Tennessee State University
University Of Memphis did well this year, earning the #37 position. See the full University Of Memphis profile
San Francisco State University came in at #38 in this year's ranking. See the full San Francisco State University profile
Niagara University did well this year, earning the #39 position. More on Niagara University
Texas State University San Marcos came in at #40 in this year's ranking. See the full Texas State University San Marcos profile
University Of North Georgia placed #41 among International Relations National Security schools in the United States. More on University Of North Georgia
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #42 in this year's ranking. Read more about University Of Wisconsin Madison
University Of Missouri Columbia did well this year, earning the #43 position. More on University Of Missouri Columbia
University Of The Pacific ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best International Relations National Security schools. Read more about University Of The Pacific
Saint Leo University did well this year, earning the #45 position. Read more about Saint Leo University
University Of Indianapolis ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best International Relations National Security schools. See the full University Of Indianapolis profile
Seton Hill University landed the #47 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Seton Hill University
University Of Massachusetts Boston came in at #48 in this year's ranking. More on University Of Massachusetts Boston
Edgewood College
Edgewood College came in at #49 in this year's ranking. More on Edgewood College
Northern Michigan University placed #50 among International Relations National Security schools in the United States. Read the full report on Northern Michigan University
Related International Relations National Security Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best International Relations National Security Schools (All Levels)
- Best International Relations National Security Certificate Degree Schools
- 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
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on 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).
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