George Washington University vs Penn State for political science: which is better for a student interested in politics and government?

George Washington University is the better choice for political science if your main goal is to be immersed in politics and government while you’re in college. Its biggest advantage is location: being in Washington, DC puts you close to Congress, federal agencies, think tanks, advocacy groups, embassies, and political media. That proximity makes semester-time internships, networking, guest speakers, and policy-related part-time work much more built into daily student life than at Penn State.

GW also has a stronger day-to-day academic connection to government and public affairs. The political science experience there is closely tied to DC institutions, and students benefit from faculty with policy, diplomatic, legal, and government backgrounds. For someone who wants politics to feel immediate rather than mostly classroom-based, that matters a lot.

Penn State is still a very solid option, especially if you want a large public university with a broad campus experience, strong school spirit, and lots of resources across disciplines. Its political science department is respected, and it can be a good place for students interested in research, public policy, law, or state-level government. But for federal politics, internships during the school year, and regular exposure to people actually working in government, it does not match what GW can offer simply because it is not in DC.

Another practical difference is how easy it is to turn academic interest into a resume while enrolled. At GW, students often build experience alongside classes because the city functions almost like an extension of campus. At Penn State, those opportunities exist too, but they are more likely to require summer planning, travel, or extra effort to access.

For a student specifically focused on politics and government careers, GW has the clearer edge.