Maryland vs George Washington for political science: which is better for undergrad opportunities?

George Washington has the edge for undergraduate political science opportunities, mainly because its location in downtown Washington, DC makes internships, networking, and part-time work in politics and government much easier to build into the school year. For a student who wants to be consistently plugged into federal agencies, Capitol Hill, think tanks, advocacy groups, and campaign work, GW creates more day-to-day access. That kind of proximity matters a lot in political science because so many early opportunities come from being available in person.

The biggest differentiator is internship access during the semester. Maryland students can absolutely reach DC too, especially with the Metro and commuter options, but it usually takes more planning and makes frequent in-semester involvement less seamless.

The second difference is networking density. GW’s political science and related programs sit in a city full of alumni, guest speakers, policy professionals, and employers who regularly interact with undergrads. Maryland also benefits from being close to DC and has strong connections of its own, but GW tends to feel more embedded in the professional ecosystem rather than adjacent to it.

Maryland’s strongest case is value and the broader university experience. It is a large flagship with substantial research resources, many student organizations, and strong academic depth across departments that pair well with political science, such as public policy, journalism, economics, and international relations. If cost matters significantly, Maryland can be a very smart choice, and it can still lead to strong grad school and government outcomes.

For pure undergrad opportunity in politics and government, though, GW usually provides the more immediate pipeline because access is built into everyday student life rather than something you have to reach for.