Is Notre Dame or George Washington better for a government major?

George Washington has the edge for a government major, especially if you care most about internships, policy exposure, and building experience during the school year. Its location in Washington, DC puts you close to Capitol Hill, federal agencies, think tanks, advocacy groups, and political organizations in a way very few schools can match. For politics, law, and public service careers, that day-to-day access matters a lot.

The biggest differentiator is hands-on opportunity while classes are in session. At GW, students can intern during the semester without needing to study away or wait for summer, and the political science and public policy ecosystem is built around that reality. If you want to combine coursework with real-time exposure to campaigns, congressional offices, NGOs, or federal institutions, GW makes that unusually practical.

Notre Dame stands out more for its academic environment and campus-based undergraduate experience. Its Department of Political Science is well regarded, the university has strong advising, and the broader Notre Dame network can be very helpful in law, policy, and public service paths. You would still have access to internships and DC opportunities, but they are less woven into daily student life than they are at GW.

For classes, both can prepare you well, but the feel is different. Notre Dame may offer a more traditional residential campus with strong faculty engagement and a cohesive student community, while GW’s government-related coursework is often tied more directly to what is happening in DC institutions around you. That can make the academic experience at GW feel more immediately connected to public affairs.

For career preparation, GW is especially compelling if you already know you want to be near the political center of the country and start building contacts early. Notre Dame is a very strong choice if you want a classic campus experience with a respected government program and excellent long-term alumni support, but for government specifically, GW is the more direct launchpad.