Which school offers better internship opportunities, Pepperdine or George Washington University?

For most students prioritizing internships during the academic year, George Washington University offers the stronger built-in advantage. Its Foggy Bottom campus is in central Washington, D.C., within easy reach of federal agencies, congressional offices, policy organizations, nonprofits, international institutions, media outlets, and consulting firms.

GW is particularly well suited to students interested in politics, public policy, international affairs, government, law, public health, advocacy, communications, or business roles connected to D.C.

Pepperdine can be compelling for a student pursuing entertainment, media, marketing, entrepreneurship, real estate, psychology-related work, or other Los Angeles-area fields. However, the Malibu location is not as convenient for frequent weekday internships: many opportunities are in Los Angeles, Santa Monica, or other parts of the region, and transportation and traffic can limit what is realistic alongside a full course load.

Pepperdine may make more sense for someone comfortable pursuing internships primarily in summers, arranging a flexible remote or hybrid role, or intentionally targeting the L.A. market. For a student who wants the widest access to semester-time internships and plans to use location as a major part of their career development, GW has the clearer edge.