Is Tulane or George Mason better for government jobs after college?

The biggest practical tradeoff is location versus broader campus experience: George Mason gives you direct access to Washington-area internships, federal agencies, and policy employers during the school year, while Tulane offers a more distinct New Orleans experience but is much farther from the day-to-day hiring pipeline for entry-level government work. For government and public policy specifically, George Mason usually has the clearer networking path because of its proximity to D.C., its connections to federal agencies, and the ease of interning while enrolled. That matters a lot because many early government careers start through internships, term roles, or referrals built before graduation.

George Mason has a real advantage if your goal is federal government, public policy, intelligence, international affairs, or related contracting work. Being in Northern Virginia puts you close to agencies, think tanks, Capitol Hill, nonprofits, and policy organizations, and students can often build a resume with semester-time internships instead of waiting for summer. Mason is also well known in the D.C. region, which helps with practical hiring pipelines even if it does not carry the same national brand recognition in every part of the country.

Tulane is a respected school with strong academics and a loyal alumni network, but it is not as naturally plugged into federal government recruiting. It can still work well if you are interested in state and local policy, nonprofit leadership, public service tied to urban issues, or law school later on. New Orleans also offers meaningful public-sector and community-based opportunities, but for someone targeting government jobs right after college, the path is usually less direct than at Mason.

If your definition of “government jobs” is mostly D.C.-area work after graduation, George Mason is the safer bet. For the specific goal you named, George Mason has the stronger setup.