Which offers better access to internships: Tufts University or American University?

For finding internships during the academic year, American University offers more immediate access than Tufts because its Washington, DC campus places students near federal agencies, Congress, advocacy organizations, media outlets, think tanks, embassies, and policy-focused nonprofits.

AU’s strongest advantage is the practicality of its location. Students can reach internship sites in downtown DC without relocating for a semester, which matters when an employer expects several in-person hours each week.

Tufts provides strong opportunities, particularly in health care, biotechnology, research, education, startups, and Boston’s nonprofit sector. The Medford/Somerville campus has transit access to Boston, and Tufts students can pursue academic-year roles at nearby hospitals, labs, and organizations as well as summer internships throughout Greater Boston.

The difference is that Tufts students often need to be more deliberate about commuting into Boston and matching an internship to a class schedule. For policy, politics, international relations, public affairs, journalism, or government-adjacent work, AU’s setting is unusually advantageous. For science, pre-med, research, or biotech-oriented experience, Tufts and the Boston area can be highly compelling.