Is campus size important?
While there are a number of different factors that can influence your decision, college size is something you might be thinking about. Because the size of the college you choose can have a major impact on your college experience, it's important to think through your options.
A large campus has a larger selection of activities to choose from, but that doesn't mean you won't be able to find a community at a small institution. Because smaller colleges have fewer students, you may find that classmates are closer to one another and have a stronger sense of community.
Big colleges offer benefits such as greater name recognition, the chance for a larger social circle, and a larger selection of programs. Because of name recognition, larger schools are sometimes able to attract more distinguished faculty members. A larger volume of students also helps keep tuition rates low.
However, a smaller college may offer fewer academic majors and programs than a larger school, as well as fewer social opportunities, activities, and events. In a small, tight-knit community, you're likely to see the same faces frequently, and it's not so easy to avoid people you'd rather not see.
Small colleges and universities, or institutions with 1,000 students or less, offer students a more intimate experience. Classes are small and less likely to be held in large lecture halls. In fact, students are more likely to develop relationships with their professors and connect with other students on campus.
Small schools also tend to have fewer facilities than larger institutions — there are often less research facilities, resources and housing and fooding options for students. Because small schools generally have limited resources, there are often less extracurricular activities for students to choose from as well.
Medium colleges are attractive to students who want a mix of both. You reap the benefits of easily finding friends and partaking in social activities, but the school is not overwhelmingly large or too small. On the other hand, you might find them to be not as diverse as you'd like, or not as intimate as you'd like.
Fewer students means less competition to get the classes you want and need, so you can study what you actually want to study! Smaller sized colleges can offer more creative outlet to students compared to studying at a large sized university. Due to these aspects, some students thrive in a smaller setting.
Larger schools and campuses tend to have more students, meaning you could easily be lost in the crowd. Lecture classes, for example, could have up to 300 students! Even with 100 or 50, it's hard to stand out to a professor and make an impression. You could lose out on some beneficial relationships with your teachers.
Hundreds of studies have found that students who attend small schools outperform those in large schools on every academic measure from grades to test scores. They are less likely to dropout and more likely to attend college. Small schools also build strong communities.
Does school size affect student performance?
Smaller classes have smaller achievement gaps on average and that class size reductions may be relatively more effective at closing achievement gaps than raising average achievement; however, class size effects on both average achievement and achievement gaps are small."
Additionally, living on-campus can save you money on rent and utilities, as many universities offer affordable and all-inclusive housing options. Research has shown that students who live on-campus tend to perform better academically than those who live off-campus.
Pro: Higher Academic Success Rates
Research shows that students who live on campus tend to perform better academically than those who do not.
Smaller schools benefit students academically and socially – students receive advanced academic opportunities in a low student-teacher ratio and ample social opportunities to develop close-knit relationships in a safe environment.
College Enrollment Decline: 1980s-2020s
In fall 2021, about 15.4 million students were enrolled in college. Between 1985-2010, college enrollment increased at an average rate of 2.2% a year. From 2011-2021, it decreased at an average rate of 1.6% a year. In 2021, it was 14.6% down from peak enrollment in 2010.
On the face of it, a small college would seem to be a more hospitable environment for an introvert, but small colleges can also be socially intense, especially if they're in small towns where everything interesting happens on campus. At a large university, there may be a greater array of extracurricular options.
A low teacher-to-student ratio provides a more intimate classroom experience. You will be able to have more frequent, and more valuable contact with your instructors. Again, class size matters, and at a small college you can expect fewer people, which means fewer distractions.
The Small College Experience
Do you enjoy personal attention from teachers and advisers? Then a small college may be just what you need. Some students find that a smaller setting is a cozier and charming fit. Here are some of the benefits associated with small colleges.
The size of colleges is typically broken down as follows: small (less than 3,000-4,000 students), mid-size (between 5,000-10,000 students), large (10,000-15,000 students) or extra-large, (15,000+ students, which can be upwards of 35,000+ undergraduate students at the largest of schools).
Regional Colleges typically have smaller enrollments and a more limited choice of degree programs than national universities or state-funded college and university systems. They may not be the most-affordable options, but they are more affordable than Ivy League or other high-priced colleges and universities.
Does size matter in school?
Reducing class size is a popular education policy measure with parents, teachers, and policymakers. However, research shows that reducing class size leads to, in most cases, only modest improvements in student achievement. Also, students in early grades appear to gain more from smaller classes than older students.
Smaller classes encourage participation There is more incentive for students to pay attention and become involved in a small class, because it is obvious when they don't. Since students feel more motivated to participate in a small class, they tend to get more out of it.
From the abstract: “Small class size is often used as an indicator of quality in higher education, and some research suggests that instructors in smaller classes more often use activities that are learner-centered and that involve physical and mental activity on the part of learners, such as group work, simulations, ...
- College uses a fairly standard academic structure for education that not every student thrives in. ...
- Not every career choice is best learned in an academic environment. ...
- The “well-rounded” approach of colleges can be counter-productive with certain technical careers. ...
- College is expensive.
The cost of college, the availability of high-paying jobs that don't require a degree, and underemployment — there is a long list of reasons why paying for college may not make sense for you.
