Is University of Pittsburgh or George Washington University better for political science?

The biggest practical tradeoff is location versus value. George Washington gives you day-to-day access to Washington, D.C., with internships, policy events, federal agencies, think tanks, and advocacy organizations woven into student life in a way very few campuses can match. Pitt usually offers a stronger value proposition and a very solid political science education, but it does not provide the same built-in proximity to national politics.

For political science specifically, GW has the edge in overall opportunity. Its setting makes it easier to intern during the semester, hear from public officials and policy professionals, and build a network in government, campaigns, nonprofits, and international affairs while still an undergraduate. That matters a lot for students who want politics as a hands-on experience rather than just a classroom subject.

Pitt is still a credible choice, especially if cost is meaningfully lower. It has a respected political science department, access to research and faculty mentorship, and good preparation for law school if you earn strong grades, write well, and get involved seriously. For law school admissions, GPA, LSAT, and substantive experiences matter more than a small difference in department prestige, so paying much more for GW is not automatically the smart move.

If your question is which school is better for political science in the broader practical sense, I would give that to George Washington because of the D.C. ecosystem and the sheer volume of relevant internships and policy exposure. If GW is only modestly more expensive, that advantage is meaningful. If GW would require substantially more debt, especially with law school on the horizon, Pitt becomes the wiser option because it can still get you to the same next step without the financial pressure.