Which is better for a public policy career: the University of Minnesota or Howard University?

For a student aiming at a public policy career, Howard University has the edge because its Washington, D.C., location creates unusually direct access to the institutions that shape federal policy. Students can pursue semester-time internships with congressional offices, federal agencies, advocacy organizations, think tanks, and policy-focused nonprofits without leaving campus or pausing their studies. Howard’s longstanding role as a historically Black university also gives students a particularly strong foundation and network for work involving civil rights, health equity, education, urban policy, and racial justice.

That proximity matters early in a policy career: internships often become mentors, recommendations, and entry-level opportunities in government or advocacy. Howard students can connect classroom work in political science, economics, sociology, and related fields to the day-to-day policy ecosystem in D.C., where hearings, coalition meetings, and public-service events are readily accessible.

The University of Minnesota is still an excellent policy-oriented option, especially because of the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs and its connection to Minnesota’s state and local policy community. Its public policy coursework and access to the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul can be especially valuable for students interested in policy analysis, state government, municipal issues, or eventually earning a public-affairs graduate degree.