Tulane vs. William & Mary: Which Is Better for Political Science?

For a student who wants a traditional, academically intensive political science education with unusually direct access to Virginia and Washington, D.C. politics, William \u0026 Mary has the clearer edge.

William \u0026 Mary is especially compelling for students drawn to American government, law, public policy, political theory, international relations, or research with faculty in a small undergraduate setting. The curriculum tends to emphasize close reading, writing, discussion, and analytical methods, and the campus culture is notably undergraduate-focused.

Tulane suits a student who wants to study politics in a major city with a distinctive political and civic landscape. New Orleans offers tangible opportunities to examine local government, race and inequality, public health policy, disaster recovery, criminal justice, and the politics of the Gulf South. Tulane’s political science program can be particularly rewarding for someone who learns through community engagement, internships, and interdisciplinary work across areas such as public policy, international affairs, and political economy.

William \u0026 Mary offers a more concentrated undergraduate government experience and a stronger built-in connection to the D.C.-Virginia policy corridor. Tulane provides a more urban, socially engaged experience where New Orleans itself can become part of the political science education. For a student seeking policy or government pathways in the Mid-Atlantic, William \u0026 Mary may be more aligned; for one energized by city politics and hands-on civic issues, Tulane can be the more distinctive choice.