2024 Best Colleges for International Relations in the Philadelphia Area

• Philadelphia, PA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.89 out of 5  1,332 reviews

Sophomore: As a University of Pennsylvania student, my experience has been transformative. The academic rigor and diverse courses allowed me to explore passions and develop critical thinking. Accessible and knowledgeable faculty shaped my journey, while the vibrant campus life fostered a sense of community among students from diverse backgrounds. I appreciate the emphasis on research opportunities, collaborating with renowned scholars, and Philadelphia's cultural scene, offering internships and networking. However, addressing the cost of attendance with more financial aid options and scholarships is essential for equal access. Moreover, enhancing inclusivity and support for underrepresented groups would strengthen our community further. Overall, UPenn has provided exceptional opportunities, but improvements can make it an even more accessible and inclusive institution for all students.... Read 1,332 reviews

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 6%

• Net price $14,578

• SAT range 1480-1570

• Swarthmore, PA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.62 out of 5  424 reviews

Alum: Life changing. Not only because of the quality of professors and the teacher to student ratio, but because the student body is so extraordinary. Living with and around people who are major achievers rubs off on you. Being there raised my standards 1000% because that is what I had to do just to keep up. And that habit stayed with me for the rest of my life. It produced a wonderful, successful life and work experience. Proud to be a Swattie!... Read 424 reviews

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 8%

• Net price $19,733

• SAT range 1430-1560

• Haverford, PA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.93 out of 5  263 reviews

Alum: The campus is large and beautiful. There are plenty of places to lounge or study. There isn't a core curriculum, so trying different fields of interest is very easy and encouraged. It is relatively seamless to transition between majors. The professors are incredibly kind and thoughtful. One of my main complaints is that for some majors, the program is fully developed with a multitude of courses, professors, and class times. But for other majors, there are much fewer resources and course electives.... Read 263 reviews

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 18%

• Net price $24,462

• SAT range 1420-1540

• Villanova, PA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.73 out of 5  1,553 reviews

Alum: Villanova is not a perfect school, but it was a great fit and wonderful experience for me! There are countless opportunities, good communication/posting of opportunities for students to be aware of and get involved in, and a great campus, relational feel to the school. Villanova is small enough to feel homey but large enough to continually meet new people or branch out and try new clubs, activities, etc. A common (and true) complaint is lack of diversity on campus. This is something to take into account but as an alum, I think the school is aware of it and has attempted to make strides to address it. I'd like to have seen the social scene change slightly; as someone who doesn't drink alcohol, it took some time to find like-minded people and find social opportunities that didn't feel centered around college drinking culture. I think this is a reality of many schools, not necessarily Villanova-specific. Overall, I loved Villanova and would choose to attend if I had to do it over again!... Read 1,553 reviews

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 25%

• Net price $33,123

• SAT range 1350-1490

• Bryn Mawr, PA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.91 out of 5  447 reviews

Alum: Bryn Mawr College was a great home for me. Professors and staff care about students and student needs. I loved the self-governance aspect of the school where students got to make decisions concerning how the institution is run. I loved the sense of community, the beauty of the campus, and the skills I received to thrive beyond the walls of Bryn Mawr!... Read 447 reviews

• grade A

• Acceptance rate 39%

• Net price $34,482

• SAT range 1310-1500

• Newark, DE•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.68 out of 5  3,583 reviews

Freshman: I believe that the University of Delaware is a 4/5 star school for many reasons! First and foremost, UD has a strong academic program. The professors are knowledgeable and engaging, and the course offerings are diverse and relevant. The school also has a number of resources available to help students succeed, including tutoring services, study groups, and writing centers. In addition to academics, UD has a vibrant campus life. There are a plethora of clubs and organizations to get involved in, as well as sporting events, concerts, and other social activities. The school is located in a beautiful and historic town, which provides plenty of opportunities for exploration and enjoyment. Despite these positives, the food on campus can be a bit of a disappointment. While there are a few dining options that are decent, many of the options are overpriced and not particularly tasty. The dining halls in particular often have limited and unappealing options, and the quality can be hit or miss.... Read 3,583 reviews

• grade A minus

• Acceptance rate 72%

• Net price $19,122

• SAT range 1150-1340

• Philadelphia, PA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.69 out of 5  5,764 reviews

Senior: I LOVE Temple University! Most of my professors have been nice, fair, knowledgeable and even passionate about what they teach. Temple has a gym on campus, which offers group fitness classes including yoga, cycling, and meditation, included in tuition fees. The healthcare I received on campus has always been stellar. The Disability Resource Services offered have been stellar, and the 24-hour TECH Center is a pleasure to spend days in while studying and working on projects. Temple has an app now where you can request a chaperoned walk home in person or virtually, as well as a nightly shuttle that circulates around the edges of campus for those in off-campus housing. Our Marching Band was one of my favorite extra curriculars offering an annual stipend when you join and you get to perform synchronized dances to pop songs at home games on Philly Eagles turf at the LINC. Temple has a strong community feel that makes you want to wear Temple gear and represent no matter your niche. GO OWLS!... Read 5,764 reviews

• grade A minus

• Acceptance rate 72%

• Net price $23,224

• SAT range 1010-1230

• Philadelphia, PA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.6 out of 5  3,136 reviews

Sophomore: I would say the only downside is that you have to be pretty headstrong about your college career decisions. Especially with the Cooperative Education at Drexel, you are expected to stay ahead of the curve and be ready for the workforce, simultaneously keeping advisors and professors in the loop about exactly how you need to organise your classes. The great thing about it applies to students who know how to go out and get what they’re looking for and are self-reliant. I recommend making friends with your professors and being willing to work outside of the bounds of Drexel, because the system is pretty good at following your lead!... Read 3,136 reviews

• grade A minus

• Acceptance rate 83%

• Net price $26,076

• SAT range 1210-1410

• Glenside, PA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.31 out of 5  1,268 reviews

Alum: I loved my experience at Arcadia when I was a student. It was an incredibly special place to be because of the students who went there, and the faculty members’ commitment to creating an engaging and inclusive environment. The coursework was sometimes rigorous, but there was always help available. Professors were easy to talk to. If you would like to try out campus work study, there used to be some great programs you could participate in. Remember to consider the vast study abroad program; there were many great places to go. Sadly, Arcadia does not seem to be the place that it was anymore. There are good intentions I think, but it is now being ran more like a business than a place of education. It sounds hollow and focused on marketing and key words, and the magic that drew me to apply is missing. I won’t tell you to write it off, because I got so much of my early experience there- but at least visit first. See it it still feels like a good fit for you.... Read 1,268 reviews

• grade C+

• Acceptance rate 82%

• Net price $26,949

• SAT range 1080-1280

• Philadelphia, PA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.59 out of 5  1,084 reviews

Junior: Saint Joseph's University is a private Catholic university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs across various fields, including business, liberal arts, sciences, and health professions. The university is known for its strong commitment to Jesuit values, emphasizing a holistic education, social justice, and community service. Students at Saint Joseph's have access to diverse academic resources, experiential learning opportunities, and a supportive campus community. The university's location in Philadelphia provides students with rich cultural experiences and opportunities for internships and networking.... Read 1,084 reviews

• grade B+

• Acceptance rate 83%

• Net price $33,438

• SAT range 1120-1310

• Philadelphia, PA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.49 out of 5  887 reviews

Sophomore: I am an incoming sophomore nursing student at La Salle University. I personally really enjoy the school, campus, and my peers. The surrounding area is not the best safety wise, but the school has a great public safety team to keep us safe. The food at the school is not the best, and I hope to see a change in options in this upcoming school year. As a nursing student, I am happy to say that La Salle University has a great program! When looking for nursing schools, the NCLEX passing rate is a huge deal, and I must say that La Salle had one of the highest NCLEX average passing rates of the schools I was looking into. Another really important element is when the nursing students begin clinicals, which is real world experience in the field. La Salle starts clinicals for their students in their sophomore year of school, which means their nursing graduates will be more than ready for work when they graduate. I am very proud to say I am La Salle University nursing student!... Read 887 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 81%

• Net price $24,130

• SAT range —

• Collegeville, PA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.56 out of 5  481 reviews

Alum: I really enjoyed the small class sizes and the dedication and attentiveness of the professors. Academically, it's a great school, though I can only speak for the arts (my major was French literature), not science - and Ursinus is well-known for its focus on biology and the sciences. Being a language major, I wished that there were French courses in geopolitics, communication, and history, rather than solely literature. But I knew that going in. Socially, there was too much of an emphasis on Greek life, and hazing was rampant and unchecked by the school. Because of the small school size there also was not a lot going on and we used to complain about that, but looking back, that aspect forced us to be creative in the ways we spent our time. There were a good number of clubs, but silly 20-year-old me did not take advantage of those. It was also encouraged and really popular to study abroad, which was an amazing opportunity.... Read 481 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 83%

• Net price $31,438

• SAT range 1200-1360

• Glassboro, NJ•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.55 out of 5  1,826 reviews

Senior: When I first came to Rowan University, it was amidst 2020 and the COVID lockdowns. Expectedly, Rowan University didn't handle this well, but what school did? My first year was absolutely atrocious, it genuinely felt as though I was imprisoned. All classes were online, no activities were schedule across campus in hopes of reducing the spread of the illness, and the food was bad. However, I truly got to see what this University had in store once these restrictions were lightened and eventually lifted. The professors are extremely welcoming and conversive, activities galore, and overall it became the college experience that I assume everyone would imagine. The only issue that I see is that commuters may have an issue with the school as parking can be limited at the time. If Rowan University fixed that issue then it would be perfect as in every other way they are always working towards their improvement!... Read 1,826 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 84%

• Net price $21,425

• SAT range 1070-1280

• Immaculata, PA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.65 out of 5  309 reviews

Niche User: I will be attending IU in the fall. Every experience I have had to date with IU has been nothing but exceptional! The guided tour was so thorough and informative and the tour guide was a recent graduate from IU who now is employed as well by Immaculata. He was so passionate and positive about all aspects of the campus and programs. I was able to spend the night in a dorm and shadow students. I participated in classes associated with Music Therapy and Music Education. It was a great experience. There was always someone waiting to take me to my next destination. It was such a smooth process and I really got a lot out of the experience. I honestly cannot wait to attend! I attended the "instant decision" day and that was where I learned that I was accepted and was officially the first student accepted for the 2023-2024 school year! We went for the Christmas Carol night. It was simply special and moving. My audition experience was smooth as well. I am so proud to be a Mighty Mac!... Read 309 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 80%

• Net price $28,510

• SAT range 1040-1230

• Philadelphia, PA•

• 2 Year

• •
  Rating 3.7 out of 5  1,036 reviews

Freshman: CCP is a public college located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is a small institution with an enrollment of 4,760 undergraduate students. The CCP acceptance rate is 100%. Popular majors include Liberal Arts and Humanities, Business, and Health Service Preparatory Studies. Graduating 18% of students, CCP alumni go on to earn a starting salary of $25,700. Student-Teacher ratio are always reasonable. Not too little, and not too much. Just enough for me as a sole student to have a conversation with each other, peer understanding, share knowledge and to make friends! Everyone who works here are all accommodating, they even will go beyond to help you. Tutors are the best as well! The school offers a lot of resources and opportunities to help students get by - be that academically, food-wise, community services, and even filing our taxes! Don't forget that the professors are awesome! The students were very diverse and came from different racial, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds.... Read 1,036 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 100%

• Net price $12,612

• SAT range —

• Chester, PA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.59 out of 5  809 reviews

Senior: My Widener University experience has been everything but bland. The opportunities are endless, from research trips, to campus jobs, access to experiences in my field, celebrating homecoming, or cheering on our basketball team as they became 2023 MAC Commonwealth Champions this year. As an involved student, with a Physics, Secondary Education major, and a Mathematics minor, Widener made it easy for me to have success both inside and outside of the classroom. I have had opportunities in the field such as substitute teaching in a local school district, and I was able to take a research trip to another state and collaborate with other students through astronomy research. Outside of school, I have the opportunity to work on campus as an ambassador, participate in community service, and meet some of my best friends who I attend sporting events, bingo, or other activities around campus with! I appreciates Widener's dedication to academics as well as other enriching college experiences.... Read 809 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 85%

• Net price $25,343

• SAT range 1080-1240

• Philadelphia, PA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.57 out of 5  440 reviews

Junior: I have never had an experience in a school like I have when I got to college. I debated on what college I would attend but when the decision day had finally come around I knew I made the right choice to attend chestnut hill college. it is one of the safest, cleanest, nicest environments with great educators and staff. I would not have attended another school because I fit right in at chestnut hill college. It did not take long to connect with people. The curriculum is not horrible and everything makes since why certain classes are put into the curriculum or into a schedule for students because its what the state and the school require. I also like their department for learning disabilities, they have been so helpful since before I started attending the college. they make the college experience go smoothly. as a test taker who has anxiety and has always struggled with learning disabilities they help make things less complicated.... Read 440 reviews

• grade C+

• Acceptance rate 98%

• Net price $26,658

• SAT range 900-1090