Boston University vs Emory for communications: which is better for a communications major?

Boston University is the stronger pick for communications. BU has a dedicated College of Communication, which means the field is a central academic priority there rather than a smaller option housed within another division. That usually translates into more specialized coursework, more faculty focused specifically on communication fields, and a wider set of built-in paths across journalism, advertising, film and television, public relations, and media studies.

The biggest difference is depth. At BU, communications is one of the school’s signature areas, so students typically have access to a more developed curriculum and clearer professional tracks within the major. Emory is an excellent university overall, but it is not especially known for communications in the same way, and the subject does not have the same standalone institutional presence there.

Professional opportunity is another reason BU stands out. Its Boston location connects especially well to media, advertising, public relations, broadcasting, and internship pipelines during the school year, and COM has long-standing industry ties that matter for a field where hands-on experience is important. For a communications student, that kind of access can shape your resume much earlier.

BU also tends to offer more direct pre-professional infrastructure in this area, including student media, production opportunities, and communication-specific extracurriculars tied closely to the major. Emory can still work if you want a broader liberal arts approach and plan to build a communications-related path through other departments, but for studying communications itself, BU has the clearer edge.