Penn State or University of Maryland for communications: which is the better choice?

The biggest practical tradeoff is this: Penn State tends to offer the bigger alumni network and classic college-town media ecosystem, while Maryland gives you much closer access to Washington, D.C., internships, media organizations, public affairs work, and communications-related employers during the school year. For communications specifically, that location advantage at Maryland is hard to ignore if you want hands-on experience before graduation. Penn State, though, has a very visible communications presence, strong student media, and a large network that can matter a lot for job hunting.

At Maryland, the communication program is well positioned for students interested in public communication, journalism-adjacent work, political communication, digital media, strategic communication, and internships tied to government, nonprofits, advocacy, and national media. Being near D.C. can make semester internships much more realistic, not just summer ones. That can translate into a stronger resume earlier in college.

Penn State’s Bellisario College of Communications is one of the school’s standout academic units and has a strong reputation in student media, broadcasting, journalism-related training, advertising/public relations, and industry connections. If you want a campus where communications is especially prominent and student-run media is a major part of the culture, Penn State has a real edge there. Its alumni base is also enormous, which can be helpful in media and communications fields where networking matters.

In terms of overall fit, Maryland often feels more professionally plugged into an urban corridor, while Penn State feels more like an immersive residential college experience with a very strong campus identity. For building skills, both can do the job, but the way you build them may differ: Maryland through access to nearby employers, Penn State through deep involvement in campus organizations and a highly developed communications school community.

My read is that Maryland has the sharper advantage if your priority is internships and real-world access during the academic year, especially in D.C.-connected communications work. Penn State is the more compelling option if you want communications to be a centerpiece of your campus experience and you value the scale of its alumni and student media network.