Arizona State vs George Washington for international relations: which is better for undergraduate study?

George Washington is the stronger choice for undergraduate international relations. Its biggest edge is location: being in Washington, DC puts you close to the State Department, embassies, think tanks, NGOs, and international organizations in a way Arizona State cannot match. For a student aiming at diplomacy, policy, or global affairs work, that proximity matters during the school year, not just in summer.

GW’s Elliott School is also a major differentiator. It is one of the university’s signature schools, with a long-established reputation in international affairs and a curriculum built specifically around policy, regional studies, security, development, and diplomacy. At the undergraduate level, that usually translates into more classmates headed into the same field, more course depth tied directly to IR, and stronger visibility with employers who recruit in DC.

Internship access is where GW pulls furthest ahead. At GW, it is realistic to combine classes with part-time work or internships at federal agencies, advocacy organizations, research institutes, or embassies during the semester. That kind of repeated, in-person exposure can build a resume much faster than a school where most relevant opportunities require relocation for the summer.

Arizona State is still a credible option, especially if cost is much lower or if you want a broader public-university environment with strong offerings in global studies, policy, and languages. ASU has solid programs, a large alumni network, and serious faculty across public affairs and related fields. But for undergraduate international relations specifically, GW is more directly plugged into the institutions that shape the field, and that gives it the clearer advantage.