2026 Best Value International Relations National Security Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value International Relations National Security associate’s degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 449 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor reviewed schools to compile 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 Relations National Security Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
Out of the 449 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, American River College landed the #2 spot. Located in Sacramento, CA, American River College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,288, compared with $12,616 for out-of-state students. The median International Relations National Security program debt is $14,105. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $40,162. That is a strong return on a $14,105 median debt. Read the full report on American River College
Cornell University came in at #2 on this year's best-value International Relations National Security ranking in the United States. More on Cornell University
Out of the 449 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Roanoke College landed the #3 spot. More on Roanoke College
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Austin Peay State University earned it the #4 place in the United States. See the full Austin Peay State University profile
Claremont Mckenna College came in at #5 on this year's best-value International Relations National Security ranking in the United States. More on Claremont Mckenna College
Eastern Michigan University landed the #6 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Eastern Michigan University
Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best-value International Relations National Security schools. Get the full Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus report
Mercer University came in at #8 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Mercer University
San Francisco State University placed #9 among the best-value International Relations National Security schools in the United States. Get the full San Francisco State University report
Valparaiso University came in at #10 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Valparaiso University
Washington State University placed #11 among the best-value International Relations National Security schools in the United States. Read more about Washington State University
Excelsior College came in at #12 in this year's value ranking. More on Excelsior College
Hampshire College landed the #13 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Hampshire College report
Lenoir Rhyne University offered strong value this year, earning the #14 position. Read the full report on Lenoir Rhyne University
Niagara University offered strong value this year, earning the #15 position. See the full Niagara University profile
University Of San Diego ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best-value International Relations National Security schools. More on University Of San Diego
Eckerd College
Eckerd College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best-value International Relations National Security schools. Read the full report on Eckerd College
Fordham University landed the #18 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Fordham University
University Of The Incarnate Word ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best-value International Relations National Security schools. Read more about University Of The Incarnate Word
Texas A And M University College Station placed #20 among the best-value International Relations National Security schools in the United States. Read more about Texas A And M University College Station
Michigan State University landed the #21 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Michigan State University
Morehead State University came in at #22 in this year's value ranking. See the full Morehead State University profile
Southern New Hampshire University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best-value International Relations National Security schools. Read the full report on Southern New Hampshire University
The University Of Tennessee came in at #24 in this year's value ranking. More on The University Of Tennessee
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #25 position. Read the full report on Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value International Relations National Security Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
Hendrix College
Hendrix College landed the #26 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Hendrix College
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Berks came in at #27 in this year's value ranking. See the full Pennsylvania State University Penn State Berks profile
Colgate University came in at #28 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Colgate University
Knox College
Knox College landed the #29 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Knox College
Monterey Institute Of International Studies offered strong value this year, earning the #30 position. Read the full report on Monterey Institute Of International Studies
Oglethorpe University offered strong value this year, earning the #31 position. More on Oglethorpe University
Santa Monica College landed the #32 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Santa Monica College
Florida International University landed the #33 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Florida International University report
Lawrence University ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best-value International Relations National Security schools. Get the full Lawrence University report
University Of Akron Main Campus landed the #35 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full University Of Akron Main Campus profile
Butte College
Butte College ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best-value International Relations National Security schools. See the full Butte College profile
Morningside College came in at #37 in this year's value ranking. See the full Morningside College profile
Beloit College
Beloit College placed #38 among the best-value International Relations National Security schools in the United States. Read more about Beloit College
University Of North Georgia came in at #39 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on University Of North Georgia
Kalamazoo College offered strong value this year, earning the #40 position. Read more about Kalamazoo College
Suny College At Buffalo offered strong value this year, earning the #41 position. Read more about Suny College At Buffalo
Rutgers University Newark offered strong value this year, earning the #42 position. Read the full report on Rutgers University Newark
University Of Missouri Columbia landed the #43 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Missouri Columbia report
Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice placed #44 among the best-value International Relations National Security schools in the United States. More on Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice
Hampton University ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best-value International Relations National Security schools. Read the full report on Hampton University
Hollins University came in at #46 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Hollins University report
Howard Payne University landed the #47 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Howard Payne University report
Lafayette College placed #48 among the best-value International Relations National Security schools in the United States. Get the full Lafayette College report
Marshall University ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best-value International Relations National Security schools. Read more about Marshall University
University Of The Pacific offered strong value this year, earning the #50 position. See the full University Of The Pacific profile
Related International Relations National Security Value Rankings
Compare value rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Value International Relations National Security Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value International Relations National Security Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value International Relations National Security Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value International Relations National Security Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value International Relations National Security Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value International Relations National Security Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value International Relations National Security Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published 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 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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