Which is better for internships: William & Mary or George Washington University?

The biggest practical tradeoff is location versus campus network. George Washington gives you much easier access to in-semester internships because it sits in Washington, DC, where students can commute to federal agencies, nonprofits, media outlets, think tanks, hospitals, and private firms. William & Mary has a strong alumni base and good career support, but its Williamsburg location means most major internships are harder to do during the week unless they are remote, local, or tied to nearby Richmond, Norfolk, or DC through planned programs.

For internships during the school year, GW has the clearer edge. Its academic calendar, city setting, and employer proximity make it much more realistic to work part time in an internship while taking classes. That matters a lot if you want repeated experience before senior year, especially in politics, international affairs, public policy, journalism, and some business fields.

William & Mary can still do very well for internships, especially if you are proactive and willing to use summers strategically. Students often tap the alumni network, faculty connections, and school-funded opportunities, and W&M has strong outcomes in government, law-related paths, public service, and research. But in practical terms, getting to the internship is simply less convenient from Williamsburg, so the process is more planning-heavy.

For summer internships, the gap narrows. At both schools, many students leave campus for internships in DC, New York, Richmond, or elsewhere, so summer opportunities depend more on your initiative, résumé, and field than on where your dorm is. GW still benefits from employer ties in DC, but William & Mary students are not shut out at all during the summer.

If internships are one of your top priorities overall, especially during the academic year, George Washington is the stronger option. William & Mary is still very solid, but GW makes the internship part of college life easier and more frequent, which can add up over four years.