George Washington University vs Duke for political science: which is better for undergraduates interested in government and policy?

For an undergraduate focused on government, policy, and internships, George Washington University has the clearer edge. Its biggest advantage is location: being in Washington, DC puts students close to Capitol Hill, federal agencies, think tanks, advocacy groups, and policy nonprofits during the school year, not just in the summer.

The most important differentiator is access to hands-on policy work while classes are in session. At GW, it is normal for undergrads to intern part time during the semester because the institutions they want to work with are nearby. For someone who wants early exposure to government and public policy, that can matter more than almost anything else.

A second difference is how each school’s political ecosystem feels day to day. GW’s student culture is much more tied to politics, public affairs, international affairs, and public service, so it can feel like an extension of DC itself. Duke absolutely has strong political science, excellent faculty, and impressive outcomes, but its undergraduate experience is broader and less centered on immediate access to government institutions.

The third factor is what kind of opportunity pipeline you want after graduation. GW tends to be especially strong for launching directly into policy-related work, congressional offices, consulting tied to government, and DC-based public affairs roles because students often graduate with relevant internships already on their resume. Duke’s name carries tremendous national weight and can open doors across many fields, but for this specific interest area, GW’s proximity and built-in policy network are hard to beat.

If your priority is studying political science in a highly intellectual environment with wide prestige across many industries, Duke is extremely compelling. But for someone specifically aiming at government and policy as an undergrad, GW is the more targeted option.