Georgetown University ranked first in the world for its international relations master’s and undergraduate programs, according to 2024 rankings released by Foreign Policy magazine.
The university also scored highly for Ph.D. programs focused on a policy career, coming in second.
The rankings are based on a broad survey of 1,500 foreign policy professionals administered by William & Mary’s Global Research Institute, including three distinct groups – international relations faculty, policymakers and think tank staff.
Georgetown’s master’s degree programs were rated number one in the world by all three groups. Georgetown’s undergraduate international affairs degrees were rated number one by policymakers and think tank staff, with faculty ranking it third, just behind Harvard and Princeton. The three groups were also in agreement over the ranking for Georgetown’s Ph.D. program for careers in public policy, with all three placing it in second after Harvard.
“This is a remarkable testament to our reputation across the foreign policy and scholarly community,” SFS Dean Joel Hellman wrote to the SFS community, sharing the news of the rankings. “That reputation is built upon our extraordinary faculty, dedicated staff, and impactful alumni. The entire SFS community can take tremendous pride in this achievement!”
SFS offers 11 master’s degrees, including joint degrees with the McDonough School of Business and the Earth Commons Institute, as well as an undergraduate bachelor of science in foreign service – the very first program of its kind in the United States established over a century ago.
Foreign Policy Rankings Reflect Strength of Georgetown’s Reputation
The last rankings released by Foreign Policy magazine were published in 2018, which also placed SFS masters’ degrees in the top slot. The undergraduate program moved up a notch since 2018 among international affairs faculty to third place above Stanford.
The rankings show the strength of Georgetown’s reputation among those actively engaged in policymaking and foreign service, while still maintaining a leading position within the academic community. “I am especially pleased to get the recognition from our peers committed to service to the world,” said Dean Hellman.
Professor Anthony Clark Arend (SFS’80), chair of the Georgetown University Department of Government, said, “We are always excited to see these rankings. Georgetown continues to be one of the very best places in the world to study international relations for students interested in both policy-oriented careers and academic careers.” The Department of Government offers a Ph.D. in government and two internationally focused master’s degrees in conflict resolution and democracy and governance.
This recognition reflects the strong performance of Georgetown students in careers in international affairs. Georgetown has been the number one producer of Fulbright student scholars four times over the last six years. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program selects outstanding American students and professionals to study, teach and pursue research projects abroad to exchange ideas, promote intercultural connections and tackle global issues.
Georgetown also topped the list for producing Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) with 60 finalists chosen in 2023-2024. The PMF is a leadership development program in the U.S. federal government that prepares advanced degree holders for a career in public service.
Georgetown’s Deep Alumni Network in International Affairs
Georgetown’s deep alumni network in international affairs and public policy is also a key factor in its reputation. Georgetown is a powerhouse in international diplomacy with alumni filling out U.S. and foreign service corps including over 75 former U.S. ambassadors and former foreign ministers like Jordan’s Nasser Judeh (SFS’83), Costa Rica’s Bruno Stagno Ugarte (SFS’91), Thailand’s Kasit Piromya (SFS’68), Taiwan’s David Y. L. Lin (MSFS’90) and Japan’s Kono Taro (SFS’86). They also lead in national legislative bodies with seven Hoyas currently serving in the U.S. Senate and 17 in the U.S. House of Representatives. Countless others have served around the world.
Georgetown has representation in the highest echelons of global power including two-term U.S. President Bill Clinton (SFS’68), King Felipe VI of Spain (MSFS’95) and King Abdullah II of Jordan (MSFS Mid-Career Fellow’87), among others.
Convening Power of Washington, DC
Georgetown’s location in Washington, DC provides a unique learning environment for students at the center of international affairs. Its proximity to the halls of power allows faculty to engage in both the theory and the practice while students can gain hands-on experience beyond their academic classes through internships. Georgetown’s convening power in Washington offers students the opportunity to interact directly with world leaders and formulate their own reflections on new ways to tackle the world’s thorniest problems.
Learn more about Georgetown’s international relations programs at sfs.georgetown.edu.