Northwestern vs. Georgetown: Which School Offers Better Access to Washington, D.C. Internships?

Georgetown offers more direct and sustained access to Washington, D.C. internships during the undergraduate years. Its campus is in D.C., placing students within daily commuting distance of Capitol Hill, federal agencies, policy organizations, embassies, advocacy groups, and major media outlets. That proximity makes it much easier to pursue part-time internships during the fall or spring while remaining enrolled in regular classes.

Georgetown’s location also supports a campus culture built around public service, politics, and international affairs. Students can attend policy events, speaker programs, hearings, networking receptions, and organization meetings in the city without needing a special travel program or a leave from their normal academic routine. For a student hoping to build relationships over several semesters, that repeated in-person exposure is a meaningful advantage.

Northwestern can still provide strong D.C. opportunities. It also has a large alumni network and can be an excellent place to study journalism, economics, political science, or public policy-related fields. But because its main campus is in Evanston, most undergraduates will not have Georgetown students’ ability to take an ongoing D.C. internship during the academic year.

For government and public policy specifically, Georgetown’s everyday access to the city creates the clearer path to frequent internships and professional connections before graduation.