Which is better for studying political journalism, Georgetown or Howard?

For a student who wants a formal undergraduate journalism education centered on reporting, Howard is likely the more direct fit. Its Cathy Hughes School of Communications offers a journalism major, and students can build clips through outlets such as The Hilltop and WHUR. Howard’s location in Washington, D.C., plus its deep connection to Black political life and civil-rights history, can be especially valuable for someone interested in covering communities and issues that national political media often mishandle.

Georgetown may suit a student who wants political reporting grounded in policy, international affairs, economics, or government studies rather than a traditional journalism-major structure. Its D.C. setting provides close access to Congress, federal agencies, think tanks, embassies, campaigns, and advocacy organizations, while student publications including The Hoya and The Georgetown Voice offer meaningful reporting experience. Georgetown’s strengths in government and foreign service can be a real advantage for students hoping to develop subject-matter expertise before or alongside journalism.

For political journalism specifically, the deciding question is whether you want journalism training to be the core of your undergraduate program or whether you want to pair reporting with a more policy-heavy academic path. Howard offers a more purpose-built communications and journalism environment, with a perspective on race, democracy, and public life that is unusually relevant to political coverage. Georgetown offers exceptional access to political institutions and strong academic preparation for beat reporting, but you would need to be more intentional about assembling journalism coursework, clips, and internships.