2026 Best Value International Studies Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value International Studies graduate certificate degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 433 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
So you can compare your options, Grad Degree reviewed schools to build this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value International Studies Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
Leading the list is American Public University System, our #1 best-value International Studies school in the United States. This private for-profit school is set in Charles Town, WV. Students from in state pay about $8,400 in tuition and fees. Typical International Studies student debt is $13,125. Median earnings reach $44,409 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read the full report on American Public University System
A rank of #2 makes Portland State University one of the best values in the United States. Portland State University is a public school based in Portland, OR. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,118, compared with $29,136 for out-of-state students. Typical International Studies student debt is $26,475. Portland State University alumni report median earnings of $57,906 a decade after entry. Set against $26,475 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Portland State University has an acceptance rate of 91%. Read more about Portland State University
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Tufts University earned it the #3 place in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Medford, MA. In-state tuition and fees average $70,704. Graduates carry a median of $17,074 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $83,214. That is a strong return on a $17,074 median debt. The acceptance rate is 12%. Read the full report on Tufts University
Out of the 433 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, University Of Arizona landed the #4 spot. University Of Arizona is a public school based in Tucson, AZ. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,573, while out-of-state students pay about $39,903. Graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $59,979 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%. Read the full report on University Of Arizona
You'll get strong value at Michigan State University, which ranked #5 this year. Set in East Lansing, MI, Michigan State University is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,079, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. The median International Studies program debt is $27,000. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $67,253. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%. Read the full report on Michigan State University
University Of Denver offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. Located in Denver, CO, University Of Denver is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $61,398 in tuition and fees. University Of Denver International Studies students take on a median of $22,534 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $71,155. That is a strong return on a $22,534 median debt. About 78% of those who apply are admitted. Get the full University Of Denver report
Harding University offered strong value this year, earning the #7 position. See the full Harding University profile
Lindenwood University placed #8 among the best-value International Studies schools in the United States. Read more about Lindenwood University
San Antonio College came in at #9 in this year's value ranking. See the full San Antonio College profile
Bard College At Simons Rock landed the #10 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Bard College At Simons Rock profile
Clark University
Clark University placed #11 among the best-value International Studies schools in the United States. Get the full Clark University report
Murray State College landed the #12 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Murray State College
University Of New Hampshire At Manchester placed #13 among the best-value International Studies schools in the United States. Get the full University Of New Hampshire At Manchester report
Missouri Southern State University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value International Studies schools. Read more about Missouri Southern State University
Anoka Ramsey Community College landed the #15 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Anoka Ramsey Community College profile
Haverford College came in at #16 in this year's value ranking. More on Haverford College
Phoenix College
Phoenix College came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. See the full Phoenix College profile
Saint Leo University offered strong value this year, earning the #18 position. Read the full report on Saint Leo University
Elon University
Elon University landed the #19 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Elon University report
Malone University offered strong value this year, earning the #20 position. Read the full report on Malone University
Southeastern University landed the #21 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Southeastern University report
Colby College
Colby College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best-value International Studies schools. Get the full Colby College report
Sinclair Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #23 position. Get the full Sinclair Community College report
California Baptist University placed #24 among the best-value International Studies schools in the United States. Read more about California Baptist University
Cuny Graduate School And University Center came in at #25 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Cuny Graduate School And University Center report
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value International Studies Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
East Carolina University came in at #26 in this year's value ranking. See the full East Carolina University profile
Graceland University Lamoni landed the #27 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Graceland University Lamoni report
Ohio University Main Campus came in at #28 in this year's value ranking. More on Ohio University Main Campus
Suny At Fredonia
Suny At Fredonia placed #29 among the best-value International Studies schools in the United States. Get the full Suny At Fredonia report
University Of Richmond placed #30 among the best-value International Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Richmond
Baldwin Wallace College came in at #31 in this year's value ranking. More on Baldwin Wallace College
Hartwick College
Hartwick College ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best-value International Studies schools. More on Hartwick College
Bentley University placed #33 among the best-value International Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on Bentley University
Oakland Community College landed the #34 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Oakland Community College
The University Of Texas At Arlington placed #35 among the best-value International Studies schools in the United States. More on The University Of Texas At Arlington
University Of Illinois At Springfield landed the #36 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Illinois At Springfield report
University Of South Alabama ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best-value International Studies schools. See the full University Of South Alabama profile
University Of Vermont offered strong value this year, earning the #38 position. More on University Of Vermont
Stony Brook University placed #39 among the best-value International Studies schools in the United States. More on Stony Brook University
The University Of Montana ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best-value International Studies schools. More on The University Of Montana
Campbellsville University ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best-value International Studies schools. Read the full report on Campbellsville University
Concordia University Irvine offered strong value this year, earning the #42 position. Read more about Concordia University Irvine
University Of California San Diego placed #43 among the best-value International Studies schools in the United States. See the full University Of California San Diego profile
Brandeis University landed the #44 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Brandeis University profile
Hood College
Hood College offered strong value this year, earning the #45 position. Read the full report on Hood College
Illinois College
Illinois College placed #46 among the best-value International Studies schools in the United States. Get the full Illinois College report
Middle Tennessee State University landed the #47 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Middle Tennessee State University report
New College Of Florida came in at #48 in this year's value ranking. Get the full New College Of Florida report
University Of Pennsylvania landed the #49 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full University Of Pennsylvania profile
Lasell College
Lasell College offered strong value this year, earning the #50 position. Get the full Lasell College report
Related International Studies Value Rankings
See value rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Value International Studies Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value International Studies Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value International Studies Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value International Studies Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value International Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value International Studies Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value International Studies Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Grad Degree (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 433 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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