American University vs Tulane for communications: which is better for a communications major?

American University has the edge for communications. Its School of Communication is a dedicated, well-known school within the university, and AU’s location in Washington, DC creates unusually direct access to internships in media, public affairs, strategic communication, journalism, nonprofits, and government-facing organizations. For a student focused on communications as a major rather than just a broad liberal arts experience, that structure matters.

One big differentiator is the academic setup. At American, communications is housed in a specialized school with multiple focused pathways, strong ties to journalism, public relations, film and media, and communication studies, and a campus culture where a lot of students are already pursuing media or policy-adjacent work. That usually translates into more course variety, more classmates headed into similar industries, and more built-in professional programming.

The second advantage is internships. AU students can realistically intern during the academic year because DC is full of news outlets, advocacy groups, think tanks, agencies, and political communications offices that want part-time interns nearby.

Tulane still has real strengths, especially if you want a more flexible, interdisciplinary college experience and are interested in communications connected to culture, public service, business, or the arts. New Orleans can be a compelling place to study storytelling, branding, music, and community engagement. But if the question is which school offers the stronger overall platform for communications classes, consistent internship access, and job preparation, American is the more convincing choice.