James Madison vs Temple for communications: which is better for a student interested in the major?

Temple has the edge for communications. Its Klein College of Media and Communication is one of the university’s signature schools, and Temple’s Philadelphia location creates unusually direct access to internships in media, public relations, journalism, advertising, and corporate communications during the school year. For a student focused on building a resume before graduation, that practical advantage is hard to ignore.

One big difference is how central communications is to each campus. At Temple, media and communication fields are highly visible, with dedicated facilities, student media, and a wide range of related majors and concentrations in one place. James Madison has solid communication offerings, but it is not as nationally identified with communications in the same way Temple is through Klein.

Location matters a lot in this major, and Temple benefits from being in a major city rather than a college town. Philadelphia gives students access to TV stations, nonprofits, agencies, sports organizations, government offices, startups, and large employers that need communications interns and entry-level hires. At JMU, opportunities exist, but they are less immediate and usually require more planning around summers or travel.

Temple also tends to offer stronger day-to-day exposure to professional media environments. That can matter in communications because so much of the field depends on clips, campaigns, internships, networking, and hands-on work rather than just coursework. Being able to intern during the semester and stay connected to employers can make the transition into jobs after graduation smoother.

JMU is still appealing if you want a more traditional campus feel, a strong student community, and a college-town experience. But from the perspective of a communications student specifically, Temple offers the more direct pipeline to relevant experience and industry access.