Arizona State vs. William & Mary for political science: which is better?

William & Mary has the stronger edge for political science. It has a long-established reputation in government, public policy, and pre-law circles, the department is one of the school’s signature strengths, and its location and alumni network create especially relevant pathways for internships, research, and graduate study. For a student prioritizing political science itself rather than scale or campus lifestyle, that matters a lot.

One concrete difference is academic focus. At William & Mary, political science is a very visible, central discipline, and undergraduates often get close faculty access in a smaller, discussion-heavy environment. That setup tends to be especially helpful for research mentoring, strong recommendation letters, and preparation for grad school, where individualized advising can make a real difference.

Another differentiator is the internship ecosystem. William & Mary has unusually strong connections to government and policy work, especially through its East Coast location and proximity to Virginia’s political institutions and Washington, D.C. ASU can absolutely offer internships too, particularly in a large metro area and through the state capital in Phoenix, but William & Mary’s political science pipeline is more directly tied to the kinds of public-sector and policy opportunities many poli sci students want.

A third distinction is the academic culture around the field. William & Mary tends to attract a concentrated group of students interested in law, government, history, international relations, and public service, which can strengthen classroom discussion and departmental community. ASU’s size can be a plus if you want a huge university with broader course variety and more flexibility, but for political science specifically, William & Mary is the place that usually carries more weight.