Maryland vs George Washington for communications: which is better for internships and job opportunities?

George Washington has the clearer edge for communications if internships and early career access are your top priorities. Its Washington, DC location puts students close to media outlets, advocacy groups, political communications offices, nonprofits, and federal agencies during the school year, which makes part-time internships much easier to stack alongside classes. For a communications major, that kind of in-semester access can matter a lot more than just having a strong program on paper.

GW also benefits from a professional culture where many students are already interning in DC, so networking tends to start earlier and feel more built into campus life. In communications, that matters because jobs often come through relationships, referrals, and relevant experience rather than just the major itself. Being able to attend panels, alumni events, and employer meetups without leaving the city is a real advantage.

Maryland still has meaningful access to the DC market, and its size can translate into a broad alumni base and lots of campus resources. It is close enough to Washington for internships, especially in summers or with careful scheduling, and its communications-related opportunities are absolutely legitimate. But for many students, the practical difference is convenience: at Maryland, DC opportunities often require more planning, commuting, and intentional effort than they do at GW.

On job outcomes, both schools can place students well, but GW tends to be better positioned for students aiming at public affairs, strategic communications, political media, nonprofit messaging, and policy-adjacent communications work right after graduation. Maryland is a very solid option, especially if cost comes out much lower, but on the specific question of internship access, networking, and communications-focused career momentum, GW comes out ahead.