Is Lehigh or George Washington better for political science?

The biggest practical tradeoff is location versus campus feel: George Washington places you in downtown Washington, DC, with immediate access to federal agencies, nonprofits, think tanks, campaigns, and policy internships during the semester, while Lehigh offers a more traditional residential campus and a smaller-scale political science environment. For political science specifically, that DC access matters a lot because it can shape your coursework, networking, and resume before graduation. Lehigh can still prepare students well for law school or public service, but GW has the clearer day-to-day advantage for politics and government exposure.

Academically, GW is usually the more natural fit for political science because the university is closely tied to public affairs, international affairs, and policy-focused work. Even though political science and political science-adjacent programs may sit in different schools or departments, the broader academic ecosystem at GW tends to be richer for students interested in government, elections, public policy, and law. You are surrounded by guest speakers, policy events, and classmates pursuing related work, which can make the field feel much more immediate.

Lehigh is a respected university, and one advantage there is that students can sometimes get more individualized attention in a smaller department setting. If you want a classic campus experience, tighter-knit community, and the option to combine political science with business, economics, or another area in a less pre-professional atmosphere, Lehigh has appeal. But its location in Bethlehem simply does not offer the same built-in pipeline to semester-time internships and political networks that GW does.

For internships and future work in politics, government, or law, George Washington stands out more clearly. Being in DC makes it easier to gain repeated, relevant experience while in school rather than waiting for summers, and that is a real advantage in this field.