MAJOR GUIDE
Best Colleges for International Relations (2026)
Best colleges for international relations. Georgetown, Tufts, Princeton, and 15+ IR programs compared by faculty, DC access, and foreign service placement.
Top Colleges for International Relations
Georgetown University
Washington, DC · 12.4% acceptance rate · Private
SAT: 1410-1540 · GPA: 4.04 · 7,460 undergrads
Tufts University
Medford, MA · 9.5% acceptance rate · Private
SAT: 1430-1540 · GPA: 4 · 6,680 undergrads
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ · 4% acceptance rate · Private
SAT: 1510-1580 · GPA: 3.9 · 5,590 undergrads
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA · 3.2% acceptance rate · Private
SAT: 1510-1580 · GPA: 3.95 · 7,178 undergrads
Stanford University
Stanford, CA · 3.7% acceptance rate · Private
SAT: 1500-1570 · GPA: 3.96 · 7,760 undergrads
Columbia University
New York, NY · 3.9% acceptance rate · Private
SAT: 1480-1570 · GPA: 4.13 · 8,800 undergrads
Yale University
New Haven, CT · 3.7% acceptance rate · Private
SAT: 1510-1570 · GPA: 3.94 · 6,640 undergrads
George Washington University
Washington, DC · 41% acceptance rate · Private
SAT: 1310-1470 · GPA: 3.67 · 12,200 undergrads
American University
Washington, DC · 36% acceptance rate · Private
SAT: 1250-1410 · GPA: 3.61 · 8,540 undergrads
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD · 7.5% acceptance rate · Private
SAT: 1510-1560 · GPA: 3.93 · 6,040 undergrads
Career Paths for International Relations Majors
Diplomat / Foreign Service Officer
Intelligence Analyst
International Development Specialist
NGO Program Manager
Trade Policy Advisor
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Georgetown the best for international relations?
Georgetown's School of Foreign Service (SFS) is widely considered #1 for IR due to DC proximity, alumni network, and direct government connections. Tufts Fletcher School and Princeton's Woodrow Wilson School are also top-tier.
Written by AdmitPath team
Rankings based on IPEDS data, program reputation, and career outcome metrics. Last updated June 2026.
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