2021 Smaller Class Size and More Opportunities Rankings
At a Glance
The student to faculty ratio is the number of students who attend a school divided by the number of teachers in the institution.
It is an important factor to evaluate colleges because the low student to faculty ratio tends to lead the smaller class sizes and giving more one-to-one learning Opportunities to students in classroom. Higher student to faculty ratio means that an instructor (professor) has more students to take care and the individual class size may be larger. In general, top ranked and well-known colleges have low level of students to faculty ratio and try to keep the ratio low.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology has the lowest number of students per faculty (3 to 1) and University of Chicago has the second lowest number of students (5) based on academic year 2019-2020 college academci data.
Below table ranks and compares the Smaller Class Size and More Opportunities having lowest students to faculty ratio (based on undergraduate rate). For the ranking, we only include 4-year colleges that more than 3,000 students have enrolled in.
Smaller Class Size and More Opportunities Comparison Table
| Rank | College Name | Student Population (undergraduate) | Number of Faculties | Student to Faculty Ratio | Tuition & Fees | Acceptance Rate | Graduation Rate | SAT Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA | 4,602 | 1,684 | 3 to 1 | $53,450 | 7.00% | 95% | 1,540 |
| 2 | University of Chicago Chicago, IL | 6,632 | 2,696 | 5 to 1 | $59,298 | 6.00% | 95% | 1,535 |
| 3 | Princeton University Princeton, NJ | 5,428 | 1,161 | 5 to 1 | $48,502 | 6.00% | 98% | 1,515 |
| 4 | Stanford University Stanford, CA | 7,087 | 4,015 | 5 to 1 | $56,169 | 4.00% | 94% | 1,505 |
| 5 | Yale University New Haven, CT | 5,964 | 3,730 | 6 to 1 | $57,700 | 6.00% | 97% | 1,515 |
| 6 | Northwestern University Evanston, IL | 8,642 | 2,646 | 6 to 1 | $58,701 | 9.00% | 94% | 1,495 |
| 7 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY | 8,216 | 6,220 | 6 to 1 | $60,532 | 5.00% | 95% | 1,505 |
| 8 | Duke University Durham, NC | 6,682 | 4,171 | 6 to 1 | $57,633 | 8.00% | 95% | 1,525 |
| 9 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA | 11,851 | 2,404 | 6 to 1 | $60,042 | 8.00% | 96% | 1,505 |
| 10 | Brown University Providence, RI | 7,043 | 1,023 | 6 to 1 | $60,584 | 7.00% | 96% | 1,505 |
| 11 | Rice University Houston, TX | 3,992 | 839 | 6 to 1 | $51,107 | 9.00% | 93% | 1,520 |
| 12 | The Catholic University of America Washington, DC | 3,332 | 649 | 7 to 1 | $49,416 | 85.00% | 72% | - |
| 13 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD | 6,064 | 3,985 | 7 to 1 | $54,160 | 11.00% | 93% | 1,510 |
| 14 | Harvard University Cambridge, MA | 9,950 | 2,490 | 7 to 1 | $53,968 | 5.00% | 97% | 1,515 |
| 15 | Washington University in St Louis Saint Louis, MO | 7,751 | 2,160 | 7 to 1 | $56,893 | 14.00% | 95% | 1,520 |
| 16 | Dartmouth College Hanover, NH | 4,418 | 891 | 7 to 1 | $59,458 | 8.00% | 95% | 1,500 |
| 17 | United States Military Academy West Point, NY | 4,589 | 269 | 7 to 1 | - | 12.00% | 85% | 1,270 |
| 18 | Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN | 6,861 | 1,532 | 7 to 1 | $54,158 | 9.00% | 93% | 1,510 |
| 19 | United States Air Force Academy USAF Academy, CO | 4,336 | 210 | 8 to 1 | - | 11.00% | 85% | 1,335 |
| 20 | Wesleyan University Middletown, CT | 3,009 | 424 | 8 to 1 | $59,416 | 16.00% | 92% | - |
| 21 | Tulane University of Louisiana New Orleans, LA | 7,920 | 1,752 | 8 to 1 | $58,852 | 13.00% | 86% | 1,440 |
| 22 | United States Naval Academy Annapolis, MD | 4,512 | 317 | 8 to 1 | - | 8.00% | 92% | 1,350 |
| 23 | Baker College Owosso, MI | 8,974 | 1,692 | 8 to 1 | $10,160 | 73.00% | 18% | - |
| 24 | School of Visual Arts New York, NY | 3,714 | 1,125 | 8 to 1 | $43,400 | 71.00% | 70% | 1,215 |
| 25 | Wayland Baptist University Plainview, TX | 3,356 | 517 | 8 to 1 | $21,304 | 97.00% | 23% | 970 |
| 26 | University of Richmond University of Richmond, VA | 3,295 | 617 | 8 to 1 | $56,860 | 28.00% | 89% | 1,375 |
| 27 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA | 19,907 | 3,935 | 9 to 1 | $60,275 | 11.00% | 92% | 1,445 |
| 28 | University of Hartford West Hartford, CT | 5,000 | 846 | 9 to 1 | $43,560 | 76.00% | 59% | 1,130 |
| 29 | University of the District of Columbia Washington, DC | 3,867 | 632 | 9 to 1 | $13,004 | - | 13% | - |
| 30 | Emory University Atlanta, GA | 7,086 | 2,483 | 9 to 1 | $53,868 | 16.00% | 90% | 1,445 |
| 31 | Tufts University Medford, MA | 5,643 | 1,441 | 9 to 1 | $60,862 | 15.00% | 94% | 1,465 |
| 32 | Saint Louis University Saint Louis, MO | 9,782 | 1,804 | 9 to 1 | $47,124 | 58.00% | 79% | 1,275 |
| 33 | Cornell University Ithaca, NY | 15,182 | 2,026 | 9 to 1 | $59,282 | 11.00% | 95% | 1,480 |
| 34 | New York University New York, NY | 26,733 | 9,793 | 9 to 1 | $54,880 | 16.00% | 85% | 1,440 |
| 35 | Pratt Institute-Main Brooklyn, NY | 3,634 | 1,168 | 9 to 1 | $53,814 | 56.00% | 70% | 1,270 |
| 36 | Bucknell University Lewisburg, PA | 3,597 | 428 | 9 to 1 | $58,202 | 34.00% | 90% | 1,343 |
| 37 | Lehigh University Bethlehem, PA | 5,047 | 653 | 9 to 1 | $55,260 | 32.00% | 90% | 1,365 |
| 38 | Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles, CA | 6,700 | 1,142 | 10 to 1 | $52,577 | 44.00% | 80% | 1,320 |
| 39 | Santa Clara University Santa Clara, CA | 5,520 | 883 | 10 to 1 | $52,998 | 49.00% | 91% | 1,360 |
| 40 | Goodwin College East Hartford, CT | 3,330 | 289 | 10 to 1 | $20,988 | - | 38% | - |
| 41 | Howard University Washington, DC | 6,243 | 1,146 | 10 to 1 | $28,440 | 36.00% | 65% | 1,205 |
| 42 | Governors State University University Park, IL | 3,262 | 519 | 10 to 1 | $17,620 | 46.00% | - | 935 |
| 43 | University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN | 8,617 | 1,386 | 10 to 1 | $57,699 | 16.00% | 96% | 1,475 |
| 44 | Drake University Des Moines, IA | 3,015 | 472 | 10 to 1 | $44,366 | 68.00% | 81% | 1,235 |
| 45 | Berklee College of Music Boston, MA | 6,400 | 880 | 10 to 1 | $45,660 | 51.00% | 65% | - |
| 46 | Boston University Boston, MA | 18,515 | 3,841 | 10 to 1 | $58,072 | 19.00% | 88% | 1,425 |
| 47 | Brandeis University Waltham, MA | 3,639 | 539 | 10 to 1 | $57,230 | 30.00% | 87% | 1,435 |
| 48 | St Catherine University Saint Paul, MN | 3,283 | 497 | 10 to 1 | $34,720 | 67.00% | 58% | 1,175 |
| 49 | Rider University Lawrenceville, NJ | 3,920 | 542 | 10 to 1 | $45,860 | 71.00% | 67% | 1,115 |
| 50 | Ithaca College Ithaca, NY | 6,101 | 721 | 10 to 1 | $46,610 | 73.00% | 74% | - |
| 51 | Molloy College Rockville Centre, NY | 3,439 | 703 | 10 to 1 | $32,550 | 78.00% | 74% | 1,145 |
| 52 | The New School New York, NY | 7,436 | 2,246 | 10 to 1 | $50,286 | 57.00% | 70% | 1,265 |
| 53 | University of Rochester Rochester, NY | 6,535 | 2,642 | 10 to 1 | $58,241 | 30.00% | 87% | 1,405 |
| 54 | Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, NC | 5,225 | 2,148 | 10 to 1 | $57,760 | 30.00% | 88% | - |
| 55 | Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA | 6,589 | 1,643 | 10 to 1 | $58,485 | 15.00% | 90% | 1,510 |
| 56 | University of Alaska Fairbanks Fairbanks, AK | 6,429 | 615 | 11 to 1 | $25,838 | 76.00% | 35% | 1,155 |
| 57 | Azusa Pacific University Azusa, CA | 5,657 | 1,267 | 11 to 1 | $41,410 | 67.00% | 68% | 1,145 |
| 58 | Georgetown University Washington, DC | 7,459 | 2,411 | 11 to 1 | $57,928 | 14.00% | 95% | 1,465 |
| 59 | Butler University Indianapolis, IN | 4,698 | 588 | 11 to 1 | $43,400 | 73.00% | 82% | 1,240 |
| 60 | Valparaiso University Valparaiso, IN | 3,199 | 424 | 11 to 1 | $43,286 | 86.00% | 71% | 1,180 |
| 61 | Bentley University Waltham, MA | 4,253 | 450 | 11 to 1 | $53,790 | 47.00% | 90% | 1,320 |
| 62 | Hope College Holland, MI | 3,149 | 343 | 11 to 1 | $36,650 | 86.00% | 81% | 1,230 |
| 63 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI | 30,318 | 8,250 | 11 to 1 | $54,097 | 23.00% | 93% | 1,435 |
| 64 | Creighton University Omaha, NE | 4,446 | 988 | 11 to 1 | $43,018 | 74.00% | 81% | 1,260 |
| 65 | Stevens Institute of Technology Hoboken, NJ | 3,431 | 462 | 11 to 1 | $55,952 | 40.00% | 85% | 1,420 |
| 66 | Baldwin Wallace University Berea, OH | 3,104 | 420 | 11 to 1 | $34,504 | 73.00% | 65% | 1,147 |
| 67 | Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OH | 5,261 | 1,535 | 11 to 1 | $52,948 | 27.00% | 84% | 1,425 |
| 68 | Ohio Christian University Circleville, OH | 3,222 | 419 | 11 to 1 | $15,750 | - | 32% | - |
| 69 | Xavier University Cincinnati, OH | 4,995 | 791 | 11 to 1 | $42,460 | 76.00% | 73% | 1,175 |
| 70 | University of Tulsa Tulsa, OK | 3,267 | 487 | 11 to 1 | $43,450 | 36.00% | 72% | 1,225 |
| 71 | Drexel University Philadelphia, PA | 15,724 | 2,480 | 11 to 1 | $56,238 | 75.00% | 69% | 1,290 |
| 72 | Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia, PA | 4,904 | 663 | 11 to 1 | $47,940 | 75.00% | 81% | 1,210 |
| 73 | Villanova University Villanova, PA | 6,917 | 1,059 | 11 to 1 | $57,460 | 28.00% | 90% | 1,395 |
| 74 | Providence College Providence, RI | 4,132 | 489 | 11 to 1 | $54,388 | 47.00% | 87% | 1,280 |
| 75 | University of the Incarnate Word San Antonio, TX | 5,558 | 766 | 11 to 1 | $32,286 | 94.00% | 51% | 1,055 |
| 76 | Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX | 6,479 | 1,152 | 11 to 1 | $58,540 | 47.00% | 81% | 1,390 |
| 77 | William & Mary Williamsburg, VA | 6,377 | 884 | 11 to 1 | $46,854 | 38.00% | 90% | 1,415 |
| 78 | Gonzaga University Spokane, WA | 5,304 | 810 | 11 to 1 | $46,920 | 62.00% | 85% | 1,280 |
| 79 | Seattle University Seattle, WA | 4,685 | 729 | 11 to 1 | $48,390 | 78.00% | 74% | 1,235 |
| 80 | Madison Area Technical College Madison, WI | 15,202 | 1,275 | 11 to 1 | $6,668 | - | 22% | - |
| 81 | ECPI University Virginia Beach, VA | 12,704 | 1,005 | 11 to 1 | $16,639 | 74.00% | 48% | - |
| 82 | Strayer University-Global Region Washington, DC | 6,699 | 937 | 11 to 1 | $13,515 | - | 50% | - |
| 83 | Samford University Birmingham, AL | 3,535 | 549 | 12 to 1 | $34,198 | 83.00% | 76% | 1,160 |
| 84 | University of Arkansas at Little Rock Little Rock, AR | 7,715 | 707 | 12 to 1 | $21,767 | 66.00% | 43% | 1,191 |
| 85 | University of Redlands Redlands, CA | 3,014 | 593 | 12 to 1 | $52,500 | 76.00% | 76% | 1,170 |
| 86 | Colorado Mountain College Glenwood Springs, CO | 5,688 | 620 | 12 to 1 | $11,484 | - | 25% | - |
| 87 | University of Denver Denver, CO | 5,801 | 1,372 | 12 to 1 | $53,775 | 59.00% | 77% | 1,260 |
| 88 | Fairfield University Fairfield, CT | 4,177 | 622 | 12 to 1 | $51,325 | 57.00% | 83% | 1,280 |
| 89 | Delaware Technical Community College-Terry Dover, DE | 13,895 | 1,133 | 12 to 1 | $11,808 | - | 16% | - |
| 90 | Wilmington University New Castle, DE | 9,042 | 1,750 | 12 to 1 | $11,480 | - | 21% | - |
| 91 | American University Washington, DC | 8,287 | 1,522 | 12 to 1 | $51,361 | 36.00% | 79% | 1,300 |
| 92 | Barry University Miami, FL | 3,483 | 983 | 12 to 1 | $30,940 | 51.00% | 35% | 1,005 |
| 93 | Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale, FL | 17,892 | 1,747 | 12 to 1 | $21,008 | - | 69% | - |
| 94 | University of Miami Coral Gables, FL | 11,117 | 1,815 | 12 to 1 | $53,682 | 27.00% | 83% | 1,355 |
| 95 | University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, HI | 12,968 | 1,780 | 12 to 1 | $34,218 | 58.00% | 61% | 1,170 |
| 96 | Lewis-Clark State College Lewiston, ID | 3,684 | 260 | 12 to 1 | $20,238 | 100.00% | 38% | 990 |
| 97 | Bradley University Peoria, IL | 4,606 | 586 | 12 to 1 | $35,480 | 70.00% | 77% | 1,170 |
| 98 | Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago, IL | 3,026 | 412 | 12 to 1 | $50,230 | 60.00% | 70% | 1,295 |
| 99 | Washburn University Topeka, KS | 5,719 | 495 | 12 to 1 | $19,766 | - | 46% | - |
| 100 | Loyola University Maryland Baltimore, MD | 3,879 | 485 | 12 to 1 | $51,100 | 80.00% | 83% | - |