International collaboration has been challenged in 2020 and 2021 like never before. The coronavirus pandemic has restricted travel. This has naturally strained the ability of colleges to conduct global operations and maintain international relations. But it’s also true that the pandemic has resulted in the need for a new form of international cooperation. To end the pandemic, global knowledge centers such as colleges have had to work together. This ranking highlights 30 American colleges that have been successful in overcoming the challenges that coronavirus restrictions created and in strengthening international relations around the world.
Before the pandemic, many American colleges had the goal of increasing their international relations across the globe. When the pandemic hit, these institutions had to adapt their international relations to an unprecedented situation. Some colleges were able to find solutions that benefited these aims, while others struggled to maintain international relations and national security interests. The 30 colleges ahead not only maintained existing global connections, but they also created new opportunities for international relations and international studies.
As many colleges have been working on solutions to end the coronavirus pandemic, this ranking has given precedence to colleges that can demonstrate that they have created international relations and international studies opportunities that helped with coronavirus prevention efforts. But this ranking also takes into account non-coronavirus-related international relations efforts, as these are likely to be beneficial to students once the pandemic recedes.
Any one of these 30 best colleges is a strong choice for a student who wants to study in an institution with strong international relations and national security programs, including graduate degrees and undergraduate programs. These are schools with majors related to international policy, not just elective courses. They are ideal for students with a desire to attend a school of international affairs that can rise to unprecedented challenges and discover new solutions related to international relations. But it’s also possible that none of the colleges ahead are right for you. If that’s the case, then this ranking can still be a vital resource. Each entry has a detailed summary that highlights how the college has boosted international relations despite the pandemic and national security concerns. These have been included for you to compare and contrast the best global universities. If any college that you’re considering has boosted international relations like any of the colleges ahead, then that’s a strong sign that it’s a college worth attending.
Methodology
To identify the best global universities that have boosted their international relations during the pandemic, we analyzed several sources. These sources vary. One includes a list of colleges with the best international relations degrees in 2021, including those in political science and national security. Another is an article that highlights colleges that had strong overall international relations before the pandemic. After sourcing the best international relations colleges from these lists, we conducted further research to see how the colleges had responded to international relations during the pandemic. Finally, we ranked the strongest colleges in terms of international relations.
The final colleges have been ranked with this criteria: evidence that the college has been proactive in maintaining and growing a wide range of international relations, innovative solutions in building global ties, and aggregated mentions on the international relations methodology lists.
Our take on the best colleges for international relations list, from 30 to one, is as follows:
30. University of California, Irvine
Irvine, California
In 2020, the Hasso Plattner Institute, which is based in Germany, announced that it was opening the HPI Research Center in Machine Learning at the University of California, Irvine. According to the university, this international relations program has created “an unparalleled research environment for exploring artificial intelligence technologies that have a positive impact on our world.” In December 2020, the college’s medical school also partnered with Korea University’s medical school. Together, they hosted a joint virtual symposium on coronavirus. The school is also home to a political science major for undergraduate students as well as a master’s in international studies for graduate students. Niche named the University of California, Irvine one of the top 75 national security international relations schools. Times Higher Education considers it to be among the top 70 best international colleges. Thus, it is included in our global universities rankings.
29. University of Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia
In December 2020, the University of Virginia launched a new program to strengthen international relations. The Global Mentors Program was designed to boost student and faculty connections, despite the pandemic. Naturally, the early part of this international relations program involved virtual connections between mentor and mentee. In the spring of 2022, this program will involve mentors undertaking 10-day residencies at the college campus. This shows that the college is planning to make this international relations program even better in a post-pandemic world. The international affairs college has also helped Bangladesh manage coronavirus, thanks to the Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health. Researchers from this department were able to detect evidence of the virus spreading before the case count increased in individuals. This helped the Bangladeshi government plan an appropriate response. For prospective students, the school is also home to an undergraduate program in global studies that takes an interdisciplinary approach to the study of global affairs and national security studies. Niche considers the University of Virginia to be one of the top 20 best international relations schools. Times Higher Education names it the 125th most internationally connected university in the world. We’ve listed it here as one of our best global universities.
28. University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California
When coronavirus spread across the world, researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara’s Climate Hazards Center got to work. This international relations and human rights effort focused on identifying groups across the world that needed famine assistance during the pandemic. This data was then used by the college’s partner, the Famine Early Warning Systems Network, to distribute food. Other college community members focused on creating an international relations strategy for protecting indigenous populations in Bolivia from the virus. This international relations program involved reaching out to several Bolivian tribal leaders. In 2021, the college was instrumental in making much of the research of the University of California system freely accessible to the entire world online. In terms of global university rankings, Niche considers the University of California, Santa Barbara, to be one of the top 40 best international relations schools. Times Higher Education considers it to be the world’s 69th most connected college in terms of international affairs and perhaps one of the best colleges for international students.
27. University of California, Davis
Davis, California
When coronavirus became a threat to the world, the University of California, Davis was proactive in coordinating mitigation and research efforts. This is thanks to its decade-long administration of the One Health PREDICT Project, an international relations and human rights initiative. When the pandemic struck, the One Health PREDICT Project had trained almost 7,000 people in 30 countries. These individuals then formed an international affairs coalition to fight the pandemic. The college has also been also successful in developing new international relations programs in the last two years. One example is the $6 million Advancing Local Leadership, Innovation, and Networks project. The college launched this international relations program in May 2020 in partnership with the International Centre for Evaluation and Development in Kenya. Together, international relations professionals work to jumpstart a range of African research leadership projects. As for the best global universities, Niche considers the University of California, Davis one of the top 100 best international relations schools. Times Higher Education names it the 74th most international university in the world.
26. University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California
By the end of March 2020, faculty members of the University of California, Berkeley had joined an international relations group to study methods for improving coronavirus treatments. More recently, the college has continued to build ties around the world through its international relations programs. In October 2021, the international affairs college announced that a human rights program at the college’s Center for Effective Global Action was “reporting remarkable results achieved by building multinational, cross-cultural partnerships to address needs in low-income countries.” UC Berkeley is also home to a renowned undergraduate program in global business. Niche considers the University of California, Berkeley the top 65 best international relations schools. Times Higher Education names it the 57th most international university in the world. We’ve included it in our top 30 best global universities.
25. Washington University in S. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
In September 2020, Washington University in St. Louis announced that it had partnered with the Indian Institute of Science. This international relations partnership will lead to “collaborative research opportunities and mentoring for students on both campuses.” The international affairs college has also been working with the World Health Organization to fight the coronavirus. In August 2021, the WHO accepted a report on reform recommendations for pandemic preparedness from the college’s school of law. Washington University in St. Louis is also home to several undergraduate programs in global studies, including global film and media studies and global affairs. Some of these programs have a regional focus. Niche considers Washington University in St. Louis the one of the top 10 best international relations schools. Times Higher Education names Washington University in St. Louis the world’s 106th most international university. It’s made our top 25 best global universities.
24. Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan
The students at Michigan State University have proved that international relations outreach is not just restricted to faculty/college leadership. When the delta variant of coronavirus was surging across India, a group of the college’s students was able to raise $40,000 in under a week. The funds were donated to a number of international charitable organizations for human rights. In October 2021, the college also announced an official partnership with the Peace Corps to help with volunteer preparation. These are just two of many examples of the college expanding international relations programs in the last year. Times Higher Education considers it the world’s 86th most international college. We’ve included it here in our global universities rankings.
23. Arizona State University
Tempe, Arizona
Thanks to Arizona State University’s international relations initiatives and status as one of the best global universities, students have been able to gain a wide range of perspectives in their education, even during the pandemic. For instance, in the last year, conservation students have been lectured by wildlife conservationists around the world via video conferencing. The international affairs college is also consistently creating new opportunities to have a physical impact on other countries. For example, it was recently awarded $2.6 million from the US Department of State to advance transitional justice in Ukraine and South Sudan. In late 2020, the college’s students won a global hackathon for outlining a method of containing the spread of coronavirus. The method combined artificial intelligence with internet-connected thermal imaging cameras. ASU is home to robust master’s programs in global business, national security, human rights, and international affairs. Moreover, the school’s undergraduate economics program features global study opportunities for those interested in international economics. A bachelor of science in international trade is also available. Times Higher Education names the college the 94th most international university in the world.
22. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
In late September 2021, Carnegie Mellon University announced that it was establishing a center in formal mathematics. The primary aim of this international relations program is to improve access to math across the globe. This center has received $20 million in funding. The school’s Tetrad Automated Causal Discovery Platform has also been recognized internationally for its potential to fight coronavirus. This international relations and human rights tool won the Super Artificial Intelligence Leader Award at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai in July 2020. Niche considers Carnegie Mellon University one of the top 25 best international relations schools for prospective students. Times Higher Education names it the 47th most international university in the world. It’s one of our top 25 best global universities.
21. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, Illinois
One of the most ambitious international responses to coronavirus at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is The Center for Health Informatics Mobilizing Experts in Illinois. This international relations program invites students to work on data information projects that are sent to public health agencies to improve coronavirus responses. As one of the best global universities in America, the college created this international affairs initiative in collaboration with the World Health Organization and the Pan-American Health Organization. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has also benefited from its wider college system in growing international relations during the pandemic. For instance, in December 2020, the system announced that it had launched a research and design collaboration with Hebrew University. Times Higher Education ranks it as the 105th most international university in the world.
20. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
During the coronavirus, the University of Pennsylvania has not just sustained its global engagement, national security, and international relations efforts. It has also created a number of international means of fighting coronavirus. The key to sustaining the existing international relations programs was to move to a virtual model. For example, the Penn in Latin America & the Caribbean Symposium and the Global Order Colloquium both shifted to online formats. Two parts of the college that responded to coronavirus internationally were The Wharton School and the Zicklin Center for Business and Ethics Research. They teamed up to make the college’s COVID-19 Africa Initiative successful. Penn’s master’s degree program in international affairs also features a popular international security concentration. Niche considers it to be one of the top 10 best international relations schools. Times Higher Education considers the University of Pennsylvania to be the 81st most international university in the world. Here, it rounds out our top 20 best global universities.
19. Indiana University
Bloomington, Indiana
In September 2021, Indiana University announced that the US government had selected it to lead a $14.5 million international relations project with a regional focus. The mission was to strengthen universities in Vietnam. The college was awarded this international relations program due to its rich prior experience in the country. One of the most innovative ways in which the college has tackled coronavirus across the world has been the School of Informatics and Computing’s COVID Challenge. This challenge was aimed at international students. Part of it tasked students “to apply existing knowledge of their country’s health care systems to challenges related to disease prevention and quarantine.” As for global universities rankings, Times Higher Education ranks it as the 112th most international university in the world.
18. The University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
For years, The University of Chicago has been focused on building international relations with India. It is especially integrated with Indian medical education. In 2021, the college stated that it is now focusing on improving the diagnostic reasoning skills of Indian medical students. The college is also supporting other new international relations programs in India. For example, it’s spearheading an initiative to improve the treatment of trans people. It’s also launching an international relations initiative to improve career advancement at both The University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy and the Indian School of Public Policy. And in 2021, the college also partnered with Wuhan University to research both coronavirus and other diseases. The school’s Becker Friedman Institute for Economics has also launched the International Economics and Economic Geography Initiative. Niche considers The University of Chicago the 28th best college for international relations and national security. Times Higher Education names it the 60th most international university in the world. We’ve included it here as one of the top 20 best global universities.
17. Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois
The coronavirus has resulted in Northwestern University gaining funding for international research. In November 2020, the college announced that it had received $100,000 for collaborative research into coronavirus prevention with Tel Aviv University in Israel. The college is also building its international relations outside of coronavirus research. In May 2021, the U7+ Alliance of World Universities elected Northwestern University to house its first-ever secretariat for the next three years as the colleges coordinate interactions with world governments. The college has also worked on setting up international affairs education as the pandemic recedes. For example, it’s establishing a dual master’s degree with The Chinese University of Hong Kong. As for global universities rankings, Niche considers Northwestern University the 12th best college for international relations and national security. Times Higher Education names it the 92nd most international university in the world.
16. Brown University
Providence, Rhode Island
In 2020, Brown University’s Office of Global Engagement managed to form new partnerships with the Chinese University of Hong Kong and Charles University in Prague. Both of these international affairs partnerships are agreed to last until 2025 and will ensure that faculty/students have numerous opportunities for engagement. One particular member of the Brown University faculty who is ensuring that the college’s international relations remain strong is Dr. Ruhul Abid. In 2020, he was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for his non-profit named Health and Education for All. This international relations organization has been fighting coronavirus in refugee camps. As for global universities rankings, Niche names Brown University as the third-best college for international relations and national security. Times Higher Education names Brown University the 88th most international university in the world.
15. Yale University
New Haven, Connecticut
In May 2021, Yale University’s Jackson Institute for Global Affairs announced that it was launching a center on leadership that would also integrate national security and international security research into its work. The hopes for this new international relations center are primarily to prevent conflicts and build better societies. Yale University has also proactively worked across the world to fight the coronavirus. For instance, it has assisted the Indian government by providing research and data into the virus’s effect on the country’s most vulnerable populations. Yale students can also take advantage of what U.S. News & World Report calls one of the best master’s programs in international economics. Yale University also partners with the Graduate Institute of Geneva to help students earn graduate degrees. Niche considers Yale University the fifth-best college for international relations. Times Higher Education considers Yale University to be the world’s 66th most international college. It rounds out our ranking of the top 15 best global universities.
14. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, Maryland
The Coronavirus Resource Center at Johns Hopkins University has been tracking the global spread of coronavirus and presenting this data in an interactive map on the college’s website. Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Global Health also created a range of responses to fight coronavirus on an international scale. For example, this center for international relations and global affairs created a $4,000 fellowship for students to contribute to international data collection on coronavirus and develop ideas for solutions based on this data. Johns Hopkins University has also seen recent success in building international relations in matters not directly related to the coronavirus. For instance, the college’s Center for Communication Programs is currently working with its partners to address teenage pregnancy prevention in the Philippines. This international relations program features a social media campaign that encourages parents to talk to their children about love, sex, and relationships. The university is also home to the renowned School of Advanced International Studies where students can pursue degrees in advanced international studies such as international economics, international security, global business, international finance, international and public affairs, and more. Niche considers Johns Hopkins University to be the ninth-best college for international relations and national security. Times Higher Education names it the 58th most international university in the world.
13. Purdue University
West Lafayette, Indiana
In June 2021, Purdue University launched a new international relations program to expand education and critical thinking across the world. This global affairs campaign is named Purdue Global Moves. This new international relations campaign consists of several strategic initiatives: student success, professional skills, analytical skills, the classroom of the future, and transformative education. The college’s Office of Global Partnerships has also formed dozens of partnerships with international organizations since the coronavirus pandemic affected the world. Some examples of these international relations partnerships include the Indian Institute of Technology in Madras, Universidad Nacional de Colombia in Colombia, and ESCP Europe in France. The college has also been utilizing its international relations to fight the coronavirus. For instance, a team that usually researches the spread of malaria in Africa has turned its attention to the spread of coronavirus variants. Purdue University is also home to a political science major and a minor in international studies. Times Higher Education also considers the college the 62nd most international university in the world.
12. Northeastern University
Boston, Massachusetts
For the 2021 to 2022 academic year, Northeastern University’s London campus expanded significantly by relocating to a larger campus. This new campus is six times larger than the former London campus. Perhaps the individual college community member who has done the most to fight coronavirus internationally is Allesandro Vespignani, the director of the Network Science Institute. Throughout the pandemic, he has strengthened global affairs by advising both the Italian and American governments. In fact, the Italian government even awarded Vespignani a knighthood for his work in international relations. The school is also home to a master’s degree program in international and public affairs. Niche considers Northeastern University to be the 32nd-best college for international relations and national security.
11. Stanford University
Stanford, California
In terms of international relations, The Stanford University Center for Innovation in Global Health has been proactively working to address global affairs during the pandemic. For example, one of the center’s faculty members recently published a paper on how to promote vaccination based on successful US strategies. Other faculty members of this center worked to re-purpose sleep apnea machines into low-cost ventilators. Hundreds of these machines are being donated to hospitals in India. Stanford University has also been proactively building global connections through international relations programs not directly related to the pandemic. For instance, in July 2021, the college launched a predoctoral research program that focuses on recruiting people from low and middle-income countries. Stanford is also home to a graduate degree in political science as well as an undergraduate political science major. Niche names Stanford University one of the top international relations programs in the country. Times Higher Education considers the college the 41st most international university in the world.
10. Columbia University
New York City, New York
Thanks to its existing global centers, Columbia University was able to launch a number of proactive international relations programs during the pandemic. One example is the international relations center in Santiago, Chile. This center for global affairs selected seven different international affairs projects to pursue based on alumni proposals. One of these international relations programs included creating a Spanish language online learning platform for children. Another was a study that assessed how the pandemic may automate many jobs in Chile. The college’s strong international relations in Chile have continued to grow in non-pandemic-related areas. In August 2021, it announced that it was co-leading a $7 million fellowship program for researchers based at the Vera Rubin Observatory. The school is also home to the Jerome A. Chazen Institute for Global Business. Time Higher Education ranks it as the 47th most international university in the world.
9. Penn State University
University Park, Pennsylvania
Thanks to prior connections to research partners in Uganda, a faculty member at Penn State University was able to assemble “a multi-country collaboration to develop a surveillance modeling tool that provides a weekly projection of expected COVID-19 cases in all African countries.” This international relations tool is now freely available online. And the college’s international relations and global affairs show strong signs of continued growth. One example is the new Ukrainian Rural and Agricultural Development Program. One of the major goals of this international relations program is to build new relationships with institutions in Ukraine. For the school’s distance learning students who want to study international relations and national security, Penn State’s political science major can also be completed online. Niche considers Penn State University to be the 86th-best college for international relations. Times Higher Education names it the 120th most international university in the world.
8. The Ohio State University
Columbus, Ohio
One of the most established international relations institutions at The Ohio State University is the India Gateway. During the coronavirus, this international affairs institution has been focused on fighting the disease. A recent example of this is the International Infectious Diseases Conference, which the India Gateway recently co-hosted in Sri Lanka. And despite the pandemic, the college’s international relations partnerships have continued to function. In all, the college formalized 27 partnerships in 2020. And 12 of these partners were collaborating with the college for the first time. Some of these new global affairs partners include Kameda Medical Center in Japan, the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology in Saudi Arabia, and The University of Global Health Equity in Rwanda. The school is also home to the Mershon Center for International Security Studies. Niche considers The Ohio State University to be the 73rd best for international relations. Times Higher Education considers it to be the 99th most international university in the world.
7. Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, Georgia
In November 2020, the Georgia Institute of Technology released a new strategic plan for international relations. One of the major areas of focus in this plan is connecting globally through international relations programs that take an interdisciplinary approach. The college has been successful in this goal, even with coronavirus restrictions in place. For instance, faculty members have participated in international affairs webinars held by European institutes. And students have completed global affairs internships with NATO. The college also even recently hosted the Icelandic ambassador. One example of how the faculty has incorporated coronavirus mitigation efforts into its international relations education is Assistant Professor Abigail Vaughn, who connected her class with the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office so the students could understand how Taiwan had managed to cope with the disease. For graduate students who want to study international relations and national security, the school also offers a master’s degree in international security. Niche considers the Georgia Institute of Technology to be one of the top 75 best colleges for international relations and international affairs. Times Higher Education names it the 50th most international university in the world. GoAbroad.com considers the college’s Metz, France campus the 14th best US international campus.
6. Boston University
Boston, Massachusetts
At the beginning of March 2020, Boston University announced that scientists at the college’s National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories had joined an international relations collaboration to fight against coronavirus. More recently, the college has successfully engaged with global opportunities and international affairs. For instance, in October 2021, the college announced that it had joined the Task Force on Climate, Development, and the International Monetary Fund. The international relations task force is composed of global experts who interact with governments around the world. The school is also home to a master’s program in financial management that features a popular concentration in international finance. Niche considers Boston University to be one of the top 20 best colleges for international relations and national security. Times Higher Education names it the 73rd most international university in the world.
5. University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Thanks to their strong international relations, the University of Michigan and The Aga Khan University recently secured $6.5 million of funding to build a data science hub that will use artificial intelligence. The hub will be located in East Africa and has the goal of improving health and care deliveries in the region. In the summer of 2021, the college’s global division announced that it had appointed a President’s Award winner, John Godfrey, to advance its international relations mission based on his successful work in allowing international doctoral students to study from their home countries during the pandemic. And when the coronavirus came to the US, the college’s community was quick to use international connections to stop the spread. An example is the U-M Association of Chinese Professors. This association was able to import thousands of medical items from China to the US in the early stages of the pandemic. Niche names the University of Michigan one of the top 20 best colleges for international relations and national security. Times Higher Education considers it to be the world’s 101st most international university.
4. University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, the University of California, Los Angeles has managed to form many collaborations with international organizations. This includes The University of Hong Kong, the American Research Center in Egypt, and the Berlin School of Business in Germany. The college community has also ensured that its international relations extended to the fight against coronavirus. For instance, by May 2020, faculty members at the college’s Promise Armenian Institute had gone out of their way to provide expertise and deliver equipment to the Armenian medical community. Niche considers the University of California, Los Angeles, to be one of the top 40 best colleges for international relations and national security. Times Higher Education names it the 75th most international college.
3. Duke University
Durham, North Carolina
In terms of international relations, the Global Health Institute at Duke University managed to conduct significant work in the 2020-2021 academic year. In total, it secured $75 million in funding and conducted research projects in 33 different countries. These international relations activities included creating low-cost versions of expensive medical devices for developing countries. Another international relations project included research into animal viruses that could pose future threats to humans. Additionally, the Center for International & Global Studies at the college has been finding ways to build international relations virtually. For instance, it has been collaborating in this way with the United Nations to discover ways to solve worldwide issues related to international affairs and national security. Times Higher Education names Duke University the 84th most international university in the world. GoAbroad.com ranks the college’s Chinese campus, Duke Kunshan University, and the Singaporean campus, Duke-NUS Medical School Singapore, as the 12th and 13th best international campuses of a US college.
2. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California
A number of international relations programs have ensured that the University of Southern California has managed to maintain its international connections during the coronavirus. For instance, it recently participated in an online simulation to build consensus over climate change challenges with colleges in nine other countries. The college’s international relations efforts also include an Africa Hub. This international relations project has focused on improving the Kenyan health system as a result of the pandemic. In October 2021, the University of Southern California was able to host the inaugural class of a program it had created in collaboration with Tsinghua University. This included students arriving from China, showing that the college is rapidly recovering its in-person international relations programs. Niche names the University of Southern California one of the top five best colleges for international relations and national security. Times Higher Education names the University of Southern California the world’s best international colleges.
1. New York University
New York City, New York
In June 2021, New York University’s School of Global Public Health announced its latest international relations initiative. Thanks to a $500,000 gift from the La Ka Shing Foundation, the new international relations program focuses on developing global leaders to improve mental health and wellness across the world. In early 2021, one New York University professor launched an online dashboard that allowed users to compare coronavirus statistics between different countries. The college’s Abu Dhabi campus was also largely responsible for forming a global research team. The international relations team was comprised of 500 people that analyzed different government responses to coronavirus. Times Higher Education considers it the 68th most international university in the world. GoAbroad.com considers New York University’s Florence campus the eighth-best international campus belonging to an American college. Niche considers the school one of the top 45 best colleges for international relations and national security.
- Colleges That Have Changed Considerably Over The Last Five Years
- Colleges That Strengthened International Relations Despite The Pandemic
- Colleges That Have Strong Links To America’s Prospering Industries
- Colleges Making Permanent Changes During Covid
- College Contributing to Space Exploration
Sources:
- Science Direct: The Impact of Covid-19 on Globalization
- Niche, 2022 Best Colleges for International Relations in America
- Times Higher Education, Most International Universities In The World
- GoAbroad.com, The Top 15 American Universities With International Campuses