Boston College vs. American University for International Relations: Which Has the Stronger Undergraduate Program?

The biggest practical difference is location and structure: American University places international-relations students in Washington, D.C., within a dedicated School of International Service, while Boston College offers global-affairs study through a broader Jesuit liberal-arts environment in the Boston area. At AU, proximity to embassies, federal agencies, nonprofits, policy organizations, and international media can make internships and guest speakers a regular part of the undergraduate experience.

Boston College can provide excellent preparation, particularly for a student who wants international affairs grounded in political science, economics, history, languages, philosophy, and ethics. Its International Studies program is interdisciplinary, and BC’s emphasis on writing, critical inquiry, and social justice can be valuable preparation for policy, diplomacy, law, or graduate study. Boston also has meaningful opportunities in research, nonprofits, and global business, though it does not offer the same day-to-day access to the foreign-policy ecosystem that Washington does.

For international relations specifically, American University has the stronger and more purpose-built undergraduate program. Its School of International Service and D.C.-based experiential access give it a clearer edge for students seeking direct exposure to diplomacy, security, development, and public policy during college. Boston College is compelling when the student values its campus culture and a wider liberal-arts education enough to outweigh AU’s more concentrated IR infrastructure.