Miami vs. George Washington for political science: which is better for undergrads?

For political science as an undergraduate, George Washington is usually the more natural pick if you want your academics tied closely to internships, policy work, and day-to-day access to politics. Its location in Washington, D.C. matters a lot here: students can intern during the semester at federal agencies, think tanks, advocacy groups, campaigns, and congressional offices without needing to wait for summer.

GW fits students who want politics to feel immediate and practical. If you like the idea of balancing classes with real-world experience during the school year, being in D.C. gives GW a clear edge.

Miami makes more sense for a student who wants a strong political science education in a more traditional residential-campus setting, with a broader college experience and a somewhat less all-consuming political atmosphere. The University of Miami can be especially appealing if your interests lean toward Latin American politics, immigration, U.S.-Latin America relations, or regional policy issues tied to South Florida. Its location offers some useful connections in law, local government, nonprofits, and international business, but it does not match D.C. for sheer volume of semester-time political internships.

For research, both schools can offer undergraduate opportunities, but they tend to look different. At GW, research often intersects with public affairs, policy institutes, and professors engaged in Washington-facing work.

If your main priority is undergraduate political science with the strongest built-in access to internships and policy ecosystems, George Washington has the advantage. Miami is the more compelling option for someone who wants political science within a campus culture that feels less career-saturated by politics and more regionally distinctive.