Loyola Marymount University vs Boston University for communications: which is better for an undergraduate communications major?

The biggest practical tradeoff is location-driven career access versus a more intimate undergraduate experience. Boston University puts you in a dense media market with a very large communications ecosystem through COM, while Loyola Marymount offers strong industry proximity in Los Angeles with smaller classes and a campus culture that often feels more personal. For communications specifically, both can work well, but they create different day-to-day academic experiences and different internship rhythms.

BU has one of the most established undergraduate communications environments in the country. Its College of Communication is broad and professionally oriented, with lots of course options across media, journalism, advertising, PR, film and television, and communication studies. That depth matters because students often refine their interests after arriving, and BU makes it easier to pivot or combine areas without feeling boxed in.

LMU is also a serious option, especially for students interested in media, entertainment, digital storytelling, PR, and communication in the Los Angeles market. The communication-related offerings are strong, but the scale is smaller and the program can feel less expansive than BU’s in terms of sheer course variety and institutional footprint. The upside is that students often get more direct faculty access and a less overwhelming academic environment.

For internships and job preparation, both benefit from their cities, but in different ways. BU’s Boston location supports semester-long internships during the school year across media, nonprofit, corporate, and agency settings, and the alumni network in communications is extensive. LMU’s LA location is especially attractive for entertainment-adjacent communications and media work, and its industry connections are meaningful, particularly for students who want to be close to content production and creative industries.

If the question is strictly which school is better for an undergraduate communications major, BU has the edge because communications is a larger, more central institutional strength there, and the academic and professional infrastructure is deeper. LMU is still a very good choice, especially if you want Los Angeles access and a smaller-scale undergraduate experience, but BU is the more robust communications-first option.