Boston College vs. Fordham: Which has the stronger undergraduate communications program?

The biggest practical tradeoff is location and access: Fordham places communications students in New York City, with much closer day-to-day proximity to media, public relations, advertising, publishing, and nonprofit organizations, while Boston College offers a more campus-centered experience in the Boston area. For a student focused specifically on media and PR, that access can make it easier to pursue semester-long internships, attend industry events, and build contacts during the academic year. Boston College has strong opportunities in Boston, but Fordham’s setting is more directly connected to the nation’s largest media market.

Academically, both schools provide a solid liberal-arts-based communications education rather than a narrowly preprofessional training program. Students should note the commute and take initiative: the city creates opportunities, but internships are not automatically handed to anyone.

Boston College’s Communication major is a strong option for students who want to study communication alongside a broader Jesuit liberal arts curriculum, with emphasis on critical thinking, writing, ethics, and social context. BC’s campus culture, alumni network, and access to Boston organizations can be appealing, especially for someone who values a more traditional residential college environment. However, it is not as naturally embedded in the media and PR ecosystem as Fordham.

For your stated interests, Fordham has the stronger undergraduate communications proposition because its program and New York location create a clearer pipeline into media and public-relations experience. Boston College may be the more compelling choice only if its overall campus environment and broader academic culture matter more to you than having frequent access to communications internships during the school year.