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14 Best International Relations Universities in the United States

Harvard University leads the 14 International Relations universities in the United States at #5 in the QS World University Rankings 2026. Next come University of Alabama at Birmingham (#175 in United States) and University of South Alabama (#317 in United States). The universities on this list offer 16 matching courses between them.

14 universities · ranked best first

how we rank

International Relations at other levels

Bachelor's International Relations

Related subjects

Anthropology Communication & Media Criminology Development Studies Political Science Psychology Social Work Sociology

By university type

Public International Relations universities

How these universities are ranked

Only one university here holds a QS World position — Harvard University at #5 — so it heads the list. The rest are ordered by research impact. Harvard University has the largest research record in this group, with 146,463,495 citations and an h-index of 2,807.

Public, private and where they are

The split is 13 public to 1 private institutions. By location, Massachusetts (1) account for the most of those we can place. The oldest is Harvard University, founded in 1636. Harvard University is the largest, with 21,000 students.

What the courses look like

By level: 14 bachelor's and 2 master's. The usual length is 4 years and 1–2 years. 94% are full-time and 1 can be studied online. Start dates lean to Fall (100% of courses with a stated intake) and Spring (100% of courses with a stated intake). United States Air Force Academy offers the widest choice, with 2 of these courses.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the best university in the United States for International Relations?

Harvard University (QS World #5), University of Alabama at Birmingham (#175 in United States) and University of South Alabama (#317 in United States) lead this list. QS World positions come first; the rest are ranked by research impact.

How many public universities offer International Relations in the United States?

13 public and 1 private universities are on this list.

How long does an International Relations course take in the United States?

Most listed courses run 4 years, with 1–2 years the next most common.

When do International Relations courses start in the United States?

Fall is the main intake — 100% of courses with a stated start date begin then, and Spring is the second.

Can I study International Relations online with a university in the United States?

1 of these courses are listed as online.

Which university has the most International Relations courses in the United States?

United States Air Force Academy, with 2, ahead of University of Tennessee, Martin (2).

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