Which is better for accessing internships in Washington, DC: Georgetown or American University?

American University often makes it easier to build a school-year internship into a student’s routine, while Georgetown can provide a particularly strong network for students pursuing highly competitive political, policy, legal, and international-affairs roles. Both schools are in DC and place students at federal agencies, congressional offices, nonprofits, think tanks, advocacy groups, and media organizations. The practical difference is less about whether internships exist and more about each campus’s culture and how a student plans to use it.

American has an especially visible internship-oriented identity. Its academic calendar, advising culture, and Washington Semester Program reflect the idea that students should connect coursework with work in the city. Many AU students expect to intern during the academic year, so finding peers with similar schedules and learning how to balance a part-time placement with classes can feel relatively straightforward. AU’s location near a Metro station also makes commuting to downtown offices manageable.

Georgetown is an excellent match for a student who wants to pair an internship search with a more selective, high-powered alumni and employer network. Its strengths in government, foreign service, public policy, law, business, and international affairs can be especially useful when pursuing offices or organizations where relationships, academic preparation, and a polished application matter. Georgetown students do secure substantial DC internships, but its demanding academic environment can make it important to plan schedules carefully and begin networking early.