Which is better for communications: American University or Fordham University?

American University has the edge for communications. Its School of Communication is one of the university’s signature schools, and being in Washington, DC gives students unusually direct access to political communication, public affairs media, advocacy organizations, major nonprofits, and government-facing PR work. For a student interested in media, PR, and networking tied to communications itself, American is the clearer standout.

One big reason is how central communications is to American’s identity. At AU, communications is not a side strength. It is a major academic focus with established programs in journalism, public relations, film and media, and strategic communication. That usually translates into more specialized coursework, more classmates pursuing similar goals, and a campus culture where internships and industry connections in communications are built into the experience.

Location matters at both schools, but DC and New York City create different kinds of access. Fordham benefits from New York’s media market, which is excellent for journalism, advertising, publishing, and corporate communications. But American’s DC setting is especially strong for political media, strategic messaging, public affairs, international communication, and issue-based PR. If your interests include communications tied to policy, advocacy, campaigns, nonprofits, or government institutions, AU’s network is especially hard to beat.

Fordham is still a very solid option, particularly if you want a broader university experience with access to NYC internships and a strong liberal arts foundation. It can be appealing for students who may want communications connected to business, media, or culture in a more general sense.