Best Value International Relations and National Security Studies Colleges in California

Stanford University delivers extraordinary value for International Relations and National Security Studies students despite its $62,484 sticker price, with graduates earning $58,221 annually while paying just $12,136 net cost after aid. This stark contrast reveals how elite private schools can outperform public options through generous financial assistance. California State University-Long Beach offers the lowest net cost at $8,931, though graduates earn $33,993 compared to Stanford's nearly double salary. The Golden State's position as home to major defense contractors like Northrop Grumman and aerospace leaders creates strong demand for national security professionals. Public universities dominate the affordable options, with seven schools charging under $15,000 net cost. However, graduation rates vary dramatically from San Francisco State's 50.10% to UC Davis's 85.10%. California's Cal Grant program helps bridge affordability gaps, while the state's $3.6 trillion economy provides internships and career opportunities spanning from Silicon Valley tech firms handling cybersecurity to Los Angeles-based defense contractors requiring international affairs expertise.

Programs

$5,825 – $45,723

Net Price Range

$38,019

Avg. Program Earnings

72.7%

Avg. Graduation Rate

29 International Relations and National Security Studies Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	Program Earnings	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	Stanford University Stanford, California	$12,136	$58,221	$62,484	92.8%	3.7%
2	California State University-Long Beach Long Beach, California	$8,931	$33,993	$7,008	69.9%	40.0%
3	San Francisco State University San Francisco, California	$12,882	$39,009	$7,424	50.1%	94.2%
4	California State University Maritime Academy Vallejo, California	$17,555	$47,394	$7,672	66.8%	95.5%
5	California State University-Chico Chico, California	$14,838	$33,993	$8,064	63.6%	95.0%
6	University of California-Davis Davis, California	$15,288	$34,467	$15,247	85.1%	37.3%
7	University of California-Riverside Riverside, California	$13,707	$30,305	$14,170	76.6%	68.7%
8	San Diego State University San Diego, California	$16,174	$26,121	$8,290	78.3%	39.3%
9	University of Southern California Los Angeles, California	$31,927	$42,884	$68,237	92.0%	12.0%
10	University of San Diego San Diego, California	$31,265	$38,289	$56,444	81.6%	52.6%
11	Occidental College Los Angeles, California	$39,329	$36,132	$63,446	85.1%	39.4%
12	University of San Francisco San Francisco, California	$39,495	$35,416	$58,222	71.1%	71.2%
13	University of the Pacific Stockton, California	$25,926		$55,340	67.8%	93.2%
14	Sonoma State University Rohnert Park, California	$13,801		$8,190	60.5%	94.0%
15	Saint Mary's College of California Moraga, California	$31,198		$56,134	69.0%	87.9%
16	San Jose State University San Jose, California	$13,741		$7,992	64.7%	76.7%
17	California State University-San Marcos San Marcos, California	$10,550		$7,739	54.2%	95.2%
18	California State University-Monterey Bay Seaside, California	$14,487		$7,437	63.2%	92.4%
19	University of Redlands Redlands, California	$22,867		$57,614	70.7%	81.9%
20	Pomona College Claremont, California	$19,424		$62,326	93.2%	7.0%
21	Pitzer College Claremont, California	$31,663		$62,692	83.2%	18.4%
22	Azusa Pacific University Azusa, California	$19,798		$43,600	64.4%	87.0%
23	Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles, California	$45,723		$58,974	79.8%	41.3%
24	University of La Verne La Verne, California	$26,925		$47,000	65.4%	73.5%
25	Harvey Mudd College Claremont, California	$32,492		$66,255	93.8%	13.4%
26	Claremont McKenna College Claremont, California	$27,384		$64,150	95.2%	10.4%
27	California State University-East Bay Hayward, California	$11,276		$7,055	45.5%	96.2%
28	California State University-Bakersfield Bakersfield, California	$5,825		$7,696	49.3%	86.6%
29	California Lutheran University Thousand Oaks, California	$26,433		$50,670	74.0%	87.2%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Stanford such strong value despite high tuition costs?

Stanford charges $62,484 in tuition but reduces net cost to just $12,136 through substantial financial aid. Graduates earn $58,221 annually, nearly $25,000 more than the next highest-earning program. The 92.80% graduation rate and 3.68% acceptance rate demonstrate both student success and program selectivity.

How do California's public universities compare for affordability?

Cal State Long Beach offers the lowest net cost at $8,931 with 69.90% graduation rate. UC Davis costs $15,288 net but achieves 85.10% graduation rate, the highest among public schools. Most Cal State campuses charge between $12,000-$17,000 net cost while maintaining acceptance rates above 90%.

Where do graduates find the best earning potential?

Stanford leads with $58,221 average earnings, followed by Cal Maritime at $47,394 despite much lower costs. USC graduates earn $42,884 while paying $31,927 net cost. The $32,100 earnings gap between highest and lowest demonstrates significant variation in post-graduation outcomes across California programs.

Is debt load manageable for International Relations students?

Average debt ranges from UC Davis's low $12,500 to Cal Maritime's $25,500. Stanford and USC graduates carry $13,247 and $13,247 respectively, manageable given their higher earnings. Most Cal State programs keep debt under $20,000, aligning with more modest salary expectations.

Does acceptance rate indicate program quality?

Stanford's 3.68% acceptance rate reflects extreme selectivity, while UC Davis at 37.34% maintains strong academics with 85.10% graduation rate. Many Cal State programs accept over 90% of applicants yet achieve solid graduation rates between 60-70%. Acceptance rate alone doesn't determine educational value or career outcomes.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.