Lehigh vs Georgetown for political science: which is better for an undergrad interested in politics and government?

Georgetown is the stronger choice for undergraduate political science, especially for someone focused on politics, government, public service, or a possible law path. Its location in Washington, DC puts politics into daily student life, and that translates into easier access to internships, speakers, policy events, and alumni connections tied directly to government and international affairs. Political science is also one of the areas Georgetown is especially known for at the undergraduate level.

The biggest differentiator is the academic ecosystem around politics. Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service and the broader university create a campus culture where policy, government, diplomacy, and public affairs are central rather than peripheral. Even if you are not in SFS, you are still surrounded by classmates, faculty, institutes, and coursework deeply connected to those fields, which tends to make class discussion, student organizations, and mentoring especially strong for political science students.

The second major edge is opportunity density outside the classroom. At Georgetown, internships on Capitol Hill, with think tanks, advocacy groups, federal agencies, nonprofits, and law-related organizations are far more integrated into the undergraduate experience because they are physically nearby during the semester. That matters more than people sometimes realize, since being able to build relevant experience while classes are in session can shape your resume and professional direction much earlier.

Lehigh can still be a very good option if you want a more traditional campus feel, potentially smaller-scale political science community, and a broader experience less dominated by policy culture. But for a student who already knows they want politics and government to be central, Georgetown offers a much more direct pipeline into that world, both academically and professionally.