Is UMD or Columbia better for getting internships in New York City?

The central tradeoff is direct, semester-long access versus a broader Mid-Atlantic base: Columbia puts students in New York City every day, while UMD offers strong proximity to Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and federal or tech employers but requires more intentional travel and scheduling for NYC roles. At Columbia, students can interview in person, attend industry events, and work part-time during the academic year without leaving campus for a weekend. That convenience matters especially for fields with heavy New York hiring, such as finance, media, publishing, advertising, arts, fashion, law-related work, and many startups.

Columbia’s alumni network and employer presence in New York are substantial, and its location makes informal networking more realistic. Its career resources, campus recruiting, student organizations, and professors can all connect students with city-based opportunities, though students still need to apply and network proactively. A Columbia student can also take an unpaid or lower-hour internship during a semester more easily because commuting is manageable.

UMD students do reach New York internships, particularly for summer positions, and its large alumni network can be useful. However, most UMD students seeking NYC experience will be applying remotely, traveling in for final interviews, or arranging summer housing. UMD’s practical advantage is that it may create more convenient access to internships in the D.C. area, including government, policy, cybersecurity, consulting, research, and defense-adjacent work.

For internships specifically in New York City, Columbia has the clearer advantage because location changes what is possible during the school year, not just over the summer. UMD can still lead to excellent NYC internships, but Columbia provides a more built-in pipeline and lower logistical barrier to pursuing them.