Which is better for communications: Tulane or Boston University?

The biggest practical tradeoff is scale and industry access versus a more flexible, smaller-feeling experience. Boston University has a much more established communications ecosystem through its College of Communication, with dedicated programs in fields like media, advertising, film/TV, journalism, and public relations, plus direct access to internships during the school year in Boston. Tulane can still work well for communications, but it is not as nationally identified with that field in the same way, and the program structure is less of a standout draw.

If your goal is communications specifically, BU has the stronger overall reputation. It is one of the schools people regularly associate with communications and media careers, and that matters when you are looking for specialized classes, student media, alumni connections, and employers who already know the program. Boston also gives you a real advantage for semester-time experience, since students can build internships and networking into the academic year more easily.

Tulane offers some appealing strengths, especially if you want a broader undergraduate experience with strong campus culture, interdisciplinary options, and the distinctive setting of New Orleans. For a student interested in communications tied to culture, public service, politics, hospitality, or community engagement, Tulane has interesting angles.

One other factor is the kind of career path you picture. BU is especially compelling for students leaning toward media industries, strategic communication, journalism-adjacent work, production, or agency-style internships. Tulane may feel more personal and less pre-professional in tone, which some students prefer, but that also means you may need to be more self-directed in building the same level of communications-specific experience.

So between the two, Boston University is the clearer choice for communications. Tulane is attractive as an overall college experience, but BU is the school with the stronger name, infrastructure, and day-to-day opportunities for that major.