Best International Relations Schools Near Hickory, NC (2026)

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

Hickory, North Carolina has 5 accredited schools offering international relations programs, with tuition ranging from $31,900 to $50,099 per year for indexed programs. Hickory has a population of about 43,747. Median household income is $63,361 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 35.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In North Carolina, the top-earning international relations-related role is Economists at a median $136,150 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest International Relations Schools to Hickory

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer international relations programs near Hickory, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Hickory 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 Hickory. 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

Lenoir-Rhyne University

Hickory, NC 0.3 miles from Hickory
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
41.8 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 85%
Graduation rate 49%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $45,543
Avg net price $20,689/yr
Tuition
In‑state$31,900
Out‑of‑state$31,900
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 73%
  • Programs offered: 57

Source:Accreditor: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on CollegesIPEDSCollege Scorecard

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

International Relations Wages Near Hickory

Hickory is part of the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area (BLS area code 25860). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to North Carolina statewide.

Occupation Median Wage Source COL-Adjusted (US=100)
Political Scientists N/A NC statewide –
Interpreters and Translators $53,790 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC $60,780
Management Analysts $76,990 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC $86,994
Economists $136,150 NC statewide $153,842
Public Relations Managers $132,280 NC statewide $149,469
Compliance Officers $63,350 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC $71,582
Survey Researchers $96,560 NC statewide $109,107
Social and Community Service Managers $77,030 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC $87,040

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.

Hickory at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 43,747 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $63,361 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 35.9% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100) 88.5 (below U.S. average) BEA RPP 2024

Other Hickory-Area Cities With International Relations Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited international relations schools are near Hickory, NC?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering international relations programs near Hickory. The closest is Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, NC (0.3 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is East Tennessee State University (70.0 miles). 4 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

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

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying international relations-related roles near Hickory are: Economists ($136,150), Public Relations Managers ($132,280), Survey Researchers ($96,560). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with North Carolina statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Lincolnton instead of Hickory?

Lincolnton, NC is 19.1 miles from Hickory 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 Hickory an affordable place to study international relations?

Hickory’s median household income of $63,361 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Hickory while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and North Carolina 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 Hickory

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

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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