[College research](/) / [Rankings](/rankings/) # Best International Relations Programs in California (2026) Updated September 30, 2026 This page ranks the 11 International Relations and National Security programs in California by the median earnings of International Relations and National Security graduates four years after completing. [Claremont McKenna College](/school/claremont-mckenna-college/majors/) leads the list at $96,520, followed by [Stanford University](/school/stanford-university/majors/) at $91,075 and [University of Southern California](/school/university-of-southern-california/majors/) at $84,866. Across the listed schools, median earnings four years after completing range from $96,520 to $52,150, with a median of $65,775. The list includes 5 public and 6 private nonprofit institutions. University of California-Davis ranks 18th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. San Francisco State University posts the lowest average net price at $12,278. ## The ranked list 11 schools in list order | Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | Claremont McKenna College · Claremont, CA | $96,520 | $28,849 | $15,308 | 9.6% | | | [Claremont McKenna College](/school/claremont-mckenna-college/majors/) reports [$96,520 in median earnings](/school/claremont-mckenna-college/outcomes/) of International Relations and National Security graduates four years after completing and an admission rate of 10%. | | 2 | Stanford University · Stanford, CA | $91,075 | $13,807 | \-$2,536\* | 3.6% | | | [Stanford University](/school/stanford-university/majors/) ranks 2nd on this list, with [median earnings of $91,075](/school/stanford-university/outcomes/) for its International Relations and National Security graduates four years after completing. | | 3 | University of Southern California · Los Angeles, CA | $84,866 | $32,740 | $13,516 | 9.8% | | | [University of Southern California](/school/university-of-southern-california/majors/)'s International Relations and National Security completers who borrowed left with a [median of $13,247](/school/university-of-southern-california/outcomes/) in federal loans, alongside median earnings of $84,866 four years after completing. | | 4 | Occidental College · Los Angeles, CA | $70,394 | $38,263 | $20,705 | 44.2% | | | Occidental College posts an average net price of $38,263 and an admission rate of 44%. | | 5 | University of California-Davis · Davis, CA | $67,056 | $14,741 | $9,211 | 41.8% | | | [University of California-Davis](/school/university-of-california-davis/majors/) holds the strongest Azimuth composite rank on the page, 18th among nonprofit four-year institutions, and reports [median earnings of $67,056](/school/university-of-california-davis/outcomes/) for its International Relations and National Security graduates four years after completing. | | 6 | San Francisco State University · San Francisco, CA | $65,775 | $12,278 | $9,341 | 96.4% | | | [San Francisco State University](/school/san-francisco-state-university/majors/) [admits 96% of applicants](/school/san-francisco-state-university/admissions/) and lists an average net price of $12,278, the lowest on this list. | | 7 | University of San Diego · San Diego, CA | $61,509 | $30,365 | $15,586 | 52.4% | | | [University of San Diego](/school/university-of-san-diego/majors/) reports [median earnings of $61,509](/school/university-of-san-diego/outcomes/) for its International Relations and National Security graduates four years after completing, with a cohort of 31 graduates in the earnings cohort. | | 8 | San Diego State University · San Diego, CA | $59,733 | $15,364 | $9,910 | 36.2% | | | [San Diego State University](/school/san-diego-state-university/majors/) ranks 8th on this list and shows an [average net price of $15,364](/school/san-diego-state-university/cost/). | | 9 | University of San Francisco · San Francisco, CA | $59,387 | $41,431 | $31,537 | 61.7% | | | [University of San Francisco](/school/university-of-san-francisco/majors/)'s International Relations and National Security completers who borrowed left with a [median of $24,603](/school/university-of-san-francisco/outcomes/) in federal loans, and the school reports an admission rate of 62%. | | 10 | University of California-Riverside · Riverside, CA | $56,108 | $14,304 | $8,852 | 76.4% | | | With 92 graduates in the earnings cohort, [University of California-Riverside](/school/university-of-california-riverside/majors/) reports [median earnings of $56,108](/school/university-of-california-riverside/outcomes/) for its International Relations and National Security graduates four years after completing. | | 11 | California State University-Chico · Chico, CA | $52,150 | $14,480 | $9,902 | 92.7% | | | [California State University-Chico](/school/california-state-university-chico/majors/) ranks 11th on this list, with an [admission rate of 93%](/school/california-state-university-chico/admissions/) and median earnings of $52,150 for its International Relations and National Security graduates four years after completing. | \* Net price can be negative: when grants and scholarships exceed the listed cost of attendance, students can receive the difference as a refund for other expenses. ## How this list is ordered Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their National Security Policy Studies graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in California appear. The figure captures federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after graduation. It does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost of attendance, or the characteristics of the students who enroll, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The range and median below cover the 11 schools with a published figure. The spread from top to bottom is $44,370, and the gap between Claremont McKenna College and Stanford University is $5,445. ## Related rankings - [Best Colleges in California](/rankings/best-colleges-in-california/)