Top International Relations Programs in the South (2026)
Updated
This page ranks the 41 International Relations and National Security programs in the South by median earnings of International Relations and National Security graduates four years after completing. Johns Hopkins University ranks 1st on this list, reporting median earnings of $99,205 for its graduates four years after completing.
Across the listed programs, the figure ranges from $99,205 to $35,060, with a median of $67,692.
Public institutions account for 28 of the 41 programs, while 13 are private nonprofit. Florida International University ranks 14th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, the best showing on the list. Northern Kentucky University posts the lowest average net price, at $8,191.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johns Hopkins University · Baltimore, MD | $99,205 | $18,809 | $428 | 6.4% |
| Johns Hopkins University reports $99,205 in median earnings for its International Relations and National Security graduates four years after completing, and an average net price of $428 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 2 | William & Mary · Williamsburg, VA | $91,065 | $19,096 | $3,106 | 34.1% |
| A public university in Williamsburg, William & Mary ranks 2nd on this list with median earnings of $91,065 four years after completing. | |||||
| 3 | Angelo State University · San Angelo, TX | $87,991 | $15,091 | $12,008 | 83.0% |
| Angelo State University admits 83% of applicants and its International Relations and National Security graduates earn a median of $87,991 four years after completing. | |||||
| 4 | University of Miami · Coral Gables, FL | $84,474 | $37,244 | $15,978 | 18.9% |
| University of Miami posts a median of $84,474 for its International Relations and National Security graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $37,244. | |||||
| 5 | University of Virginia-Main Campus · Charlottesville, VA | $82,991 | $21,565 | $8,174 | 16.8% |
| With 203 graduates in the earnings cohort, University of Virginia-Main Campus reports median earnings of $82,991 four years after completing its International Relations and National Security program. | |||||
| 6 | Georgetown University · Washington, DC | $82,197 | $40,815 | $5,064 | 12.9% |
| Georgetown University ranks 120th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and its International Relations and National Security graduates earn a median of $82,197 four years after completing. | |||||
| 7 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus · Atlanta, GA | $79,264 | $12,116 | $7,666 | 14.1% |
| Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus shows median earnings of $79,264 for its International Relations and National Security graduates four years after completing, and a school-wide median federal debt of $21,672 across all borrowers who completed. | |||||
| 8 | Emory University · Atlanta, GA | $78,029 | $22,585 | $7,363 | 10.7% |
| Emory University reports a median of $78,029 for its International Relations and National Security graduates four years after completing, and a median federal debt of $19,500 among International Relations and National Security completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 9 | Tulane University of Louisiana · New Orleans, LA | $77,300 | $39,949 | $16,126 | 14.0% |
| Tulane University of Louisiana reports median earnings of $77,300 for its International Relations and National Security graduates four years after completing, with an admission rate of 14%. | |||||
| 10 | George Washington University · Washington, DC | $76,751 | $36,586 | $17,440 | 47.1% |
| George Washington University lists 537 graduates in the earnings cohort and a median of $76,751 four years after completing its International Relations and National Security program. | |||||
| 11 | American University · Washington, DC | $73,865 | $41,943 | $23,233 | 62.0% |
| American University ranks 11th on this list, with median earnings of $73,865 for its International Relations and National Security graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 12 | Virginia Military Institute · Lexington, VA | $72,700 | $17,113 | $12,697 | 71.3% |
| A public institution in Lexington, Virginia Military Institute reports median earnings of $72,700 for its International Relations and National Security graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 13 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University · Blacksburg, VA | $71,988 | $24,953 | $11,689 | 54.8% |
| Ranks 13th on this list, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University reports median earnings of $71,988 for its International Relations and National Security graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 14 | Fairmont State University · Fairmont, WV | $71,751 | $9,032 | $8,434 | 98.6% |
| Fairmont State University ranks 14th on this list, with median federal debt of $18,896 among International Relations and National Security completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 15 | Liberty University · Lynchburg, VA | $71,436 | $29,357 | $30,667 | 99.0% |
| Liberty University, a private nonprofit university in Lynchburg, posts median earnings of $71,436 for its International Relations and National Security graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 16 | University of Georgia · Athens, GA | $70,510 | $13,936 | $8,085 | 37.7% |
| University of Georgia ranks 95th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports an average net price of $8,085 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 17 | Rollins College · Winter Park, FL | $70,502 | $34,732 | $27,177 | 47.5% |
| Rollins College reports median earnings of $70,502 for its International Relations and National Security graduates four years after completing, from a cohort of 26 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 18 | George Mason University · Fairfax, VA | $69,399 | $17,915 | $11,942 | 87.5% |
| George Mason University ranks 18th on this list, with median federal debt of $20,117 among International Relations and National Security completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 19 | James Madison University · Harrisonburg, VA | $68,798 | $23,322 | $11,444 | 71.5% |
| James Madison University admits 72% of applicants and its International Relations and National Security graduates four years after completing earn a median of $68,798. | |||||
| 20 | Washington College · Chestertown, MD | $67,983 | $27,898 | $17,804 | 56.9% |
| Washington College shows an average net price of $17,804 for families earning under $30,000 and a school-wide median federal debt of $26,956 across all of its borrowers who completed. | |||||
| 21 | University of North Georgia · Dahlonega, GA | $67,692 | $9,823 | $6,981 | 67.9% |
| University of North Georgia ranks 255th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $67,692 for its International Relations and National Security graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 22 | Baylor University · Waco, TX | $67,484 | $41,104 | $22,024 | 51.3% |
| Baylor University reports an average net price of $22,024 for families earning under $30,000 and its International Relations and National Security completers who borrowed left with a median of $22,409 in federal loans. | |||||
| 23 | University of Delaware · Newark, DE | $64,715 | $17,799 | $10,901 | 70.6% |
| University of Delaware ranks 23rd on this list, with median earnings of $64,715 for its International Relations and National Security graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 24 | Western Kentucky University · Bowling Green, KY | $64,710 | $10,990 | $7,087 | 93.9% |
| Western Kentucky University admits 94% of applicants and reports a school-wide median federal debt of $22,095 across all of its borrowers who completed. | |||||
| 25 | Florida International University · Miami, FL | $64,399 | $9,288 | $7,003 | 54.7% |
| Florida International University ranks 25th on this list and 14th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 26 | Florida State University · Tallahassee, FL | $63,984 | $11,297 | $5,938 | 24.2% |
| An admission rate of 24% coincides with median earnings of $63,984 for Florida State University graduates of International Relations and National Security four years after completing. | |||||
| 27 | Kennesaw State University · Kennesaw, GA | $60,031 | $15,048 | $12,235 | 69.2% |
| Kennesaw State University carries a median federal debt of $21,500 among International Relations and National Security completers who borrowed, alongside an average net price of $15,048. | |||||
| 28 | University of South Florida · Tampa, FL | $58,999 | $9,812 | $4,122 | 43.2% |
| University of South Florida shows median earnings of $58,999 four years after completing and an average net price of $4,122 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 29 | Towson University · Towson, MD | $57,498 | $17,413 | $6,962 | 82.0% |
| Towson University admits 82% of applicants and reports a median federal debt of $21,824 among International Relations and National Security completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 30 | Rhodes College · Memphis, TN | $56,744 | $28,585 | $15,770 | 50.4% |
| Rhodes College, a private nonprofit institution in Memphis, posts median earnings of $56,744 for its International Relations and National Security graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 31 | The University of Alabama · Tuscaloosa, AL | $55,419 | $22,420 | $19,169 | 76.7% |
| The University of Alabama ranks 31st on this list, with an average net price of $19,169 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 32 | University of South Carolina-Columbia · Columbia, SC | $54,781 | $22,811 | $12,634 | 60.2% |
| University of South Carolina-Columbia reports median earnings of $54,781 four years after completing and a median federal debt of $18,875 among International Relations and National Security completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 33 | Old Dominion University · Norfolk, VA | $54,505 | $14,638 | $9,739 | 90.4% |
| Old Dominion University admits 90% of applicants and posts median earnings of $54,505 for its International Relations and National Security graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 34 | Texas State University · San Marcos, TX | $53,407 | $16,805 | $12,715 | 89.3% |
| Texas State University carries an average net price of $16,805 and ranks 40th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 35 | University of Mary Washington · Fredericksburg, VA | $51,166 | $20,667 | $10,304 | 79.8% |
| University of Mary Washington reports a median federal debt of $25,043 among International Relations and National Security completers who borrowed, alongside median earnings of $51,166 four years after completing. | |||||
| 36 | University of Arkansas · Fayetteville, AR | $48,925 | $18,209 | $14,319 | 74.3% |
| An admission rate of 74% and an average net price of $14,319 for families earning under $30,000 accompany University of Arkansas's 36th position on this list. | |||||
| 37 | Georgia Southern University · Statesboro, GA | $47,844 | $15,267 | $12,162 | 87.9% |
| Georgia Southern University reports median earnings of $47,844 for its International Relations and National Security graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $15,267. | |||||
| 38 | University of West Florida · Pensacola, FL | $43,652 | $9,364 | $4,815 | 58.2% |
| University of West Florida admits 58% of applicants and its International Relations and National Security graduates earn a median of $43,652 four years after completing. | |||||
| 39 | The University of Texas at San Antonio · San Antonio, TX | $42,864 | $10,836 | $7,870 | 86.8% |
| The University of Texas at San Antonio ranks 34th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its International Relations and National Security graduates posted median earnings of $42,864 four years after completing. | |||||
| 40 | Northern Kentucky University · Highland Heights, KY | $41,730 | $8,191 | $2,603 | 67.7% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed at Northern Kentucky University left with a median of $23,000 in federal loans, while its International Relations and National Security completers earned a median of $41,730 four years after completing. | |||||
| 41 | Mount St. Mary's University · Emmitsburg, MD | $35,060 | $22,655 | $11,603 | 73.8% |
| Mount St. Mary's University reports median earnings of $35,060 for its International Relations and National Security graduates four years after completing, and an average net price of $11,603 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
How this list is ordered
Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their International Relations and National Security graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in the South appear. The figure is the median earnings of federally aided completers of the program who were working and not enrolled, measured four years after completing. For 1 of the 41 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The spread from Johns Hopkins University to the bottom of the list is $64,145.