Best Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution Programs of 2022

Learn more about the best peace studies and conflict resolution programs and what you can do with this degree after you graduate.

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Updated December 18, 2024

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Peace and conflict studies is an interdisciplinary social science field that analyzes structural reasons for violence and looks for ways to resolve conflicts. Peace studies and conflict resolution students often seek answers to violence by studying ideas like democracy, human rights, and gender.

A bachelor’s in peace studies and conflict resolution packs all of this theory into a four-year, 120-credit degree. In the 2019-20 academic year, the average annual tuition for a bachelor’s degree was approximately $9,350 for in-state learners and $27,020 for out-of-state students, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Students who enroll online can save on true program costs, avoiding fees like room and board and transportation.

Read on to learn more about the 10 best bachelor’s in peace studies and conflict resolution programs.

Our Top Pick

Swarthmore College – Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

Why It’s #1: Swarthmore College is the number one ranked school on our 2022 Best Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution list. This elite liberal arts college maintains a competitive admission rate of 9%. Nevertheless, the vast majority of students who enroll (94%) are able to graduate from the program. About 63% of Swarthmore’s students receive financial aid, which helps offset some of the college’s higher tuition rates.

2022 Best Accredited Bachelor’s in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution Programs

Rankings compiled by the BestColleges Ranking Team

Swarthmore College

Swarthmore, PA4 yearCampus

$54,256

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$54,256

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

Acceptance Rate

N/A

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Retention Rate

98%

Students Enrolled

1,594

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$54,256

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$54,256

Swarthmore College

Swarthmore, PA4 yearCampus

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$54,256

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$54,256

Acceptance Rate

Online Enrollment

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Retention Rate

98%

Students Enrolled

1,594

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC4 yearCampus + Online

$7,019

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$34,198

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

23%

Acceptance Rate

12%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$10,552

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$28,278

Retention Rate

96%

Students Enrolled

29,877

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,019

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$34,198

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,019

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$34,198

Acceptance Rate

23%

Online Enrollment

12%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$10,552

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$28,278

Retention Rate

96%

Students Enrolled

29,877

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Wellesley College

Wellesley, MA4 yearCampus

$55,728

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$55,728

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

22%

Acceptance Rate

N/A

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Retention Rate

97%

Students Enrolled

2,519

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$55,728

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$55,728

Wellesley College

Wellesley, MA4 yearCampus

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$55,728

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$55,728

Acceptance Rate

22%

Online Enrollment

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Retention Rate

97%

Students Enrolled

2,519

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

College of the Holy Cross

Worcester, MA4 yearCampus

$54,050

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$54,050

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

34%

Acceptance Rate

N/A

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Retention Rate

93%

Students Enrolled

2,963

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$54,050

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$54,050

College of the Holy Cross

Worcester, MA4 yearCampus

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$54,050

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$54,050

Acceptance Rate

34%

Online Enrollment

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Retention Rate

93%

Students Enrolled

2,963

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Villanova University

Villanova, PA4 yearCampus + Online

$54,550

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$54,550

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

28%

Acceptance Rate

23%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$20,506

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$20,506

Retention Rate

96%

Students Enrolled

10,848

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$54,550

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$54,550

Villanova University

Villanova, PA4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$54,550

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$54,550

Acceptance Rate

28%

Online Enrollment

23%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$20,506

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$20,506

Retention Rate

96%

Students Enrolled

10,848

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

University of Utah

Salt Lake City, UT4 yearCampus + Online

$7,412

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$26,017

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

62%

Acceptance Rate

34%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$7,211

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$25,455

Retention Rate

89%

Students Enrolled

32,852

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,412

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$26,017

University of Utah

Salt Lake City, UT4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,412

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$26,017

Acceptance Rate

62%

Online Enrollment

34%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$7,211

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$25,455

Retention Rate

89%

Students Enrolled

32,852

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

DePauw University

Greencastle, IN4 yearCampus

$50,278

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$50,278

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

64%

Acceptance Rate

N/A

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Retention Rate

86%

Students Enrolled

1,972

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$50,278

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$50,278

DePauw University

Greencastle, IN4 yearCampus

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$50,278

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$50,278

Acceptance Rate

64%

Online Enrollment

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Retention Rate

86%

Students Enrolled

1,972

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach

Daytona Beach, FL4 yearCampus

$35,424

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$35,424

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

61%

Acceptance Rate

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$17,712

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$17,712

Retention Rate

78%

Students Enrolled

7,056

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$35,424

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$35,424

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach

Daytona Beach, FL4 yearCampus

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$35,424

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$35,424

Acceptance Rate

61%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$17,712

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$17,712

Retention Rate

78%

Students Enrolled

7,056

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

California State University-Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA4 yearCampus + Online

$5,742

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$17,622

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

77%

Acceptance Rate

51%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$7,176

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$16,680

Retention Rate

77%

Students Enrolled

17,977

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$5,742

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$17,622

California State University-Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$5,742

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$17,622

Acceptance Rate

77%

Online Enrollment

51%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$7,176

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$16,680

Retention Rate

77%

Students Enrolled

17,977

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#10

Whitworth University

Spokane, WA4 yearCampus + Online

$43,800

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$43,800

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

91%

Acceptance Rate

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$12,168

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$12,168

Retention Rate

84%

Students Enrolled

2,814

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$43,800

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$43,800

Whitworth University

Spokane, WA4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$43,800

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$43,800

Acceptance Rate

91%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$12,168

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$12,168

Retention Rate

84%

Students Enrolled

2,814

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Popular Online Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution Programs

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Frequently Asked Questions About Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution Programs

For the majority of students, a bachelor’s in peace studies and conflict resolution is worth it. However, the value of any degree is subjective and depends on each individual student’s goals and circumstances.

A peace studies and conflict resolution degree teaches broad skills — including decision-making, problem-solving, and critical thinking — that apply to careers in nearly any field. As such, students can qualify for most entry-level careers, taking their futures into their own hands.