Ranking
Best International Relations and National Security Studies Colleges in California 2026
24 California colleges offering International Relations and National Security Studies, ranked by EduGradify value grade.
- Schools ranked
- 24
- Cheapest net price
- $2,779
- Top earnings 10y
- $124,080
- Public / Private
- 11 / 13
Santa Monica College
A+- ROI score
- 37.96
- Net price
- $2,779
- Earnings 10y
- $42,193
- Acceptance
- Open / not reported
California State University-San Bernardino
A+- ROI score
- 32.85
- Net price
- $4,564
- Earnings 10y
- $59,977
- Acceptance
- 93.7%
Stanford University
A+- ROI score
- 22.47
- Net price
- $13,807
- Earnings 10y
- $124,080
- Acceptance
- 3.6%
De Anza College
A+- ROI score
- 21.30
- Net price
- $6,642
- Earnings 10y
- $56,596
- Acceptance
- Open / not reported
University of California-San Diego
A+- ROI score
- 17.03
- Net price
- $12,470
- Earnings 10y
- $84,943
- Acceptance
- 26.7%
San Francisco State University
A- ROI score
- 13.86
- Net price
- $12,278
- Earnings 10y
- $68,077
- Acceptance
- 96.4%
University of California-Davis
A- ROI score
- 13.71
- Net price
- $14,741
- Earnings 10y
- $80,838
- Acceptance
- 41.8%
American River College
A- ROI score
- 12.55
- Net price
- $7,999
- Earnings 10y
- $40,162
- Acceptance
- Open / not reported
University of California-Riverside
A- ROI score
- 11.83
- Net price
- $14,304
- Earnings 10y
- $67,699
- Acceptance
- 76.4%
California State University-Chico
A- ROI score
- 11.08
- Net price
- $14,480
- Earnings 10y
- $64,172
- Acceptance
- 92.7%
San Diego State University
B- ROI score
- 10.56
- Net price
- $15,364
- Earnings 10y
- $64,909
- Acceptance
- 36.2%
Santa Barbara City College
B- ROI score
- 10.53
- Net price
- $11,315
- Earnings 10y
- $47,647
- Acceptance
- Open / not reported
Pomona College
B- ROI score
- 10.08
- Net price
- $19,285
- Earnings 10y
- $77,779
- Acceptance
- 7.1%
Claremont McKenna College
B- ROI score
- 9.08
- Net price
- $28,849
- Earnings 10y
- $104,736
- Acceptance
- 9.6%
University of La Verne
B- ROI score
- 8.12
- Net price
- $20,161
- Earnings 10y
- $65,464
- Acceptance
- 71.2%
University of the Pacific
B- ROI score
- 7.71
- Net price
- $25,447
- Earnings 10y
- $78,445
- Acceptance
- 71.3%
Azusa Pacific University
B- ROI score
- 7.50
- Net price
- $22,212
- Earnings 10y
- $66,677
- Acceptance
- 88.4%
University of San Diego
C- ROI score
- 7.12
- Net price
- $30,365
- Earnings 10y
- $86,522
- Acceptance
- 52.4%
University of Southern California
C- ROI score
- 7.06
- Net price
- $32,740
- Earnings 10y
- $92,498
- Acceptance
- 9.8%
University of Redlands
C- ROI score
- 6.05
- Net price
- $30,031
- Earnings 10y
- $72,690
- Acceptance
- 82.7%
California Lutheran University
C- ROI score
- 5.71
- Net price
- $30,109
- Earnings 10y
- $68,712
- Acceptance
- 75.7%
University of San Francisco
C- ROI score
- 5.42
- Net price
- $41,431
- Earnings 10y
- $89,812
- Acceptance
- 61.7%
Occidental College
D- ROI score
- 4.96
- Net price
- $38,263
- Earnings 10y
- $75,951
- Acceptance
- 44.2%
Loyola Marymount University
D- ROI score
- 4.05
- Net price
- $48,381
- Earnings 10y
- $78,349
- Acceptance
- 45.1%
How we picked this list
This list starts with California schools with positive International Relations and National Security Studies program-share evidence, then sorts by EduGradify's school-wide ROI proxy: ten-year median earnings weighed against average net price. The set's average EduGradify ROI score is 12.44 (11 public, 13 private).
Every figure comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. See our full methodology for the formulas.
FAQ
Who leads this ranking?
Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, CA tops this ranking. EduGradify value grade is A+.
How does EduGradify pick this list?
We rank this set by roi score using the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard — see our methodology for the full formula. No paid placements, no surveys.
How many California colleges are in this list?
24 California colleges qualified for this ranking based on available federal data.
What does net price mean here?
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships — not the sticker price. It is reported by each college to the U.S. Department of Education.