Is Rice University or American University better for getting political internships?

American University offers more convenient and consistent access to political internships because it is located in Washington, D.C. Students can intern during the academic year with federal agencies, congressional offices, advocacy groups, think tanks, political media, and campaigns without leaving campus or pausing their coursework.

The biggest practical advantage is the ability to build experience over several semesters. A student can take a part-time internship during the fall or spring, return to the same organization, and use that network to pursue a more selective summer role. That continuity matters in politics, where referrals, repeated exposure, and availability for events or hearings can lead to stronger opportunities.

Rice can still provide meaningful political experience, particularly in Houston and Texas. Rice students can also pursue Washington-based summer internships, but those opportunities typically require a more deliberate search, travel, and a separate housing plan.

For a student whose priority is frequent, semester-by-semester political internships in federal government or national politics, American’s location is a major built-in advantage. Rice may be more compelling for someone interested in Texas policy, Houston civic issues, or combining political science with Rice’s smaller residential-campus experience and research culture.