George Washington University or American University for communications?

For communications, George Washington and American can both work well, but they attract slightly different kinds of students. GW tends to fit someone who wants a more professionally driven, city-embedded experience with especially strong access to politics, media, public affairs, and high-profile internships. American often appeals more to students who want communications in a campus-centered environment that still has strong DC connections, with a program known for blending media, advocacy, and social impact.

GW’s biggest advantage is how tightly the university is woven into downtown Washington. That matters for communications because internships in government, nonprofits, policy organizations, public relations, and national media are often easier to build into the school year when you are already in the middle of the city. If your version of communications leans toward political communication, strategic messaging, journalism tied to public affairs, or work that intersects with government and international issues, GW has a very natural ecosystem for that.

American makes a lot of sense for a student who wants communications to feel more creative, mission-driven, or media-focused within a traditional campus experience. AU’s School of Communication has a strong identity of its own, and the school is especially attractive to students interested in documentary, film, journalism, public communication, and advocacy-oriented storytelling. The networking is real there too, but the feel is often a little less pre-professional and a little more centered on media-making and communication for change.

In practice, the decision often comes down to how you want to spend your four years. At GW, students often build their college life around the city and their internships very early. At American, students still take advantage of DC, but the day-to-day experience can feel more residential and cohesive.

If academics, networking, and career access are the top priorities in a very direct, career-first way, GW has a slight edge. If you want strong communications training in DC but care a lot about a more classic campus atmosphere and a school where communications is a particularly visible home base, American is very compelling.