Is Dartmouth or Columbia better for political science?

Columbia has the edge for political science, mainly because of its location, scale, and the range of policy and government-related opportunities tied to New York City. Its undergraduate political science program is very established, it offers broad course selection across subfields, and students can connect classroom study to internships, research, and public affairs work during the semester. For someone focused on political science itself, especially with interest in government, international affairs, urban policy, media, or law-adjacent work, Columbia gives you more built-in access.

One major differentiator is proximity to institutions that matter for politics. At Columbia, students are in New York with direct access to city and state government, nonprofits, think tanks, advocacy groups, major media organizations, and the United Nations ecosystem. That matters because political science often becomes much more tangible when you can pair theory with real-time internships, events, and networking during the academic year rather than only in the summer.

Another difference is academic breadth. Columbia’s department tends to offer a wider spread of courses and related programs in political science, public policy, international affairs, economics, history, and regional studies. That makes it easier to build a focused path within the major, whether you care most about political theory, comparative politics, American politics, or international relations, and to cross into nearby fields without much friction.

Dartmouth is still excellent, especially if you want a smaller undergraduate environment and closer day-to-day faculty access. Its political science department is well respected, and Dartmouth can be particularly attractive for students who value seminar-style classes, a tighter campus community, and strong undergraduate teaching. But in terms of overall political science opportunities beyond the classroom, Columbia offers a denser and more immediate ecosystem.