Best International Relations Schools Near Rochester, MN (2026)

Updated September 5, 2026 BLS data College Scorecard On this page

Rochester, Minnesota has 5 accredited schools offering international relations programs, with tuition ranging from $68,892 to $84,893 per year for indexed programs. Rochester has a population of about 121,638. Median household income is $87,767 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 50.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Minnesota, the top-earning international relations-related role is Public Relations Managers at a median $139,040 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest International Relations Schools to Rochester

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer international relations programs near Rochester, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Rochester city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Rochester. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

Ranked by BOC Score — U.S. Dept. of Education outcome data. Advertising never affects rankings.

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#1

Carleton College

Northfield, MN 45.6 miles from Rochester
  • 4 year
  • Accredited
70.8 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 20%
Graduation rate 90%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $75,525
Avg net price $25,407/yr
Tuition
In‑state$68,892
Out‑of‑state$68,892
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 96%
  • Programs offered: 33

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

University of St Thomas

Saint Paul, MN 73.1 miles from Rochester
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
73.5 BOC Score
Graduation rate 78%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $73,739
Avg net price $29,155/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 87%
  • Programs offered: 109

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#3

Augsburg University

Minneapolis, MN 75.7 miles from Rochester
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
55.1 BOC Score
Graduation rate 62%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $58,829
Avg net price $23,873/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 71%
  • Programs offered: 63

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN 76.0 miles from Rochester
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
83.9 BOC Score
Graduation rate 83%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $69,020
Avg net price $16,778/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 91%
  • Programs offered: 250

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#5

Minnesota State University-Mankato

Mankato, MN 76.1 miles from Rochester
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
58.9 BOC Score
Graduation rate 57%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $56,922
Avg net price $19,139/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 80%
  • Programs offered: 142

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Bethel University

Saint Paul, MN 79.5 miles from Rochester
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
68.3 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 88%
Graduation rate 73%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $63,764
Avg net price $28,556/yr
Tuition
In‑state$44,226
Out‑of‑state$44,226
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 86%
  • Programs offered: 79

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#7

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, MN 134.3 miles from Rochester
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
54.1 BOC Score
Graduation rate 51%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $55,813
Avg net price $13,529/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 69%
  • Programs offered: 123

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

University of Minnesota-Duluth

Duluth, MN 194.5 miles from Rochester
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
68.7 BOC Score
Graduation rate 65%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $62,616
Avg net price $18,743/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 81%
  • Programs offered: 94

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Minnesota schools on the Minnesota international relations page.

International Relations Wages Near Rochester

Rochester is part of the Rochester, MN metro area (BLS area code 40340). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Minnesota statewide.

Occupation Median Wage Source COL-Adjusted (US=100)
Political Scientists N/A MN statewide –
Interpreters and Translators $64,820 Rochester, MN $71,388
Management Analysts $108,560 Rochester, MN $119,559
Economists $105,120 MN statewide $115,771
Public Relations Managers $139,040 MN statewide $153,128
Compliance Officers $80,500 Rochester, MN $88,656
Survey Researchers $104,220 MN statewide $114,780
Social and Community Service Managers $80,460 Rochester, MN $88,612

Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.

Rochester at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 121,638 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $87,767 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 50.1% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100) 90.8 (below U.S. average) BEA RPP 2024

Other Rochester-Area Cities With International Relations Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited international relations schools are near Rochester, MN?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering international relations programs near Rochester. The closest is Carleton College in Northfield, MN (45.6 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Minnesota State University-Mankato (76.1 miles). 4 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying international relations roles near Rochester?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying international relations-related roles near Rochester are: Public Relations Managers ($139,040), Management Analysts ($108,560), Economists ($105,120). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Minnesota statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Austin instead of Rochester?

Austin, MN is 34.3 miles from Rochester and has its own set of local international relations programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Rochester an affordable place to study international relations?

Rochester’s median household income of $87,767 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Rochester while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Minnesota public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.

Learn More About International Relations Programs

Other Programs Available in Rochester

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Rochester:

Data verified: September 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.

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