Small Class Size Benefits: Choose Pacific University for Your Success
Pacific University's small class sizes foster inclusion and community, just two among many other small class size benefits.
You’ll learn about a lot of things when choosing a college: athletics, housing, financial aid, campus culture, and so much more.
But one of the most important decisions you’ll need to make is whether to attend a public or private institution. Between the two there are many differences, but perhaps the most obvious is the size of the student body.
Most private universities will have a smaller student population, which usually results in smaller class sizes and a lower student to teacher ratio (Pacific’s is 10:1, one of the lowest in the Northwest).
You might be wondering what the benefits of a small class size are. Let’s break it down.
1. Smaller Classes Mean More Attention
The most obvious benefit of small class sizes in college is the opportunity for instructors to give you individual attention.
From introductory courses to graduate seminars, most private universities allow you to proceed through your degree with access to your professors that can’t be replicated at larger schools.
This means no more waiting in line for office hours or having your questions go unanswered in class.
Pacific’s average class size of only 19 grants you the ability to form a closer relationship with your education, something which studies have proven dramatically increases a student’s ability not only to continue their degree beyond the first year, but successfully graduate into their chosen field.
2. Smaller Classes Mean Better Instructors
Courses taught in enormous lecture halls are often rigid and formulaic, leaving little room for you to ask questions and discover the perfect way to interact with what you’re learning.
More students also means more time prepping and grading, which means instructors have less energy to devote to forming meaningful relationships within their classes.
Not only do smaller class sizes allow instructors to devote more of their time to helping students, but they also entice and retain the best possible faculty — think fewer graduate assistants and more PhDs at the head of the class.
No undergraduate courses are taught by teaching assistants at Pacific, meaning that your education is led by experts with demonstrated experience in their field.
Pacific’s attention to small class size has attracted professors that include Fulbright Scholars, acclaimed novelists, pioneering healthcare researchers, and industry leaders in business and marketing.
3. Smaller Classes Mean More Hands-On Learning
With large, crowded courses and programs it can be difficult — at times nearly impossible — to get tangible, practical job training in some of the more popular degree paths, which could leave you unprepared for your career after graduation.
What small class sizes offer is the exact opposite, giving you ample resources and opportunities to acquire on-the-job training from experts in their field.
Courses with fewer students can more easily integrate real-world examples and practicum into their framework.
For those seeking post-graduate degrees in fields like health studies, life science, and business, these hands-on experiences can mean the difference between getting accepted and living on the waitlist.
From aspiring educators spending time in our on-campus Early Learning Community, future doctors gaining valuable skills at Pacific’s EyeClinics, to student artists getting their hands dirty at our robust studio spaces, Pacific’s small college class size enables you to succeed from the very start.
4. Smaller Classes Mean More Flexibility
Classes with a large number of students are designed to be easier for professors to manage, which often means that little changes from semester to semester.
As a result, professors can have difficulty adapting course material to help students learn in the best possible way. Small class size empowers professors to adapt their teaching to fit the way you learn best.
This flexibility means that professors can get to what you are passionate about sooner, and with greater attention paid to what will truly benefit you. This is especially true for students with disabilities or those for whom English is a second language.
Studies have shown that greater flexibility in the classroom — a byproduct of small class size — enables student success.
5. Smaller Classes Mean Greater Community
In a classroom filled with 100, 200, or even 300 students, making connections within your major can seem intimidating.
Lower that number to 20 (even lower in Pacific’s case) and a real community can start to form, leading to lifelong connections and a strong network of alumni eager to help one another succeed.
The growth of an intimate cohort is strongest when class sizes are kept low, and the benefits show not only in the years after graduation, but in the moments shared in and out of the classroom.
The formation of these close-knit groups is especially important for a diverse student population, and fosters inclusion through companionship. From orientation to graduation, the bonds made in these small classes extend far beyond your time on campus.
6. Smaller Classes Mean Graduating On Time
Large class sizes mean equally large waitlists, and failing to get into courses you need can add costly years to your degree. Enter Pacific’s Four-Year Graduation Guarantee, a program which empowers you to finish your degree on time and with as little cost as possible.
Guarantees like this are only possible if class sizes are kept small, allowing you to never worry whether or not you’ll be able to get into sought-after courses necessary for your major.
Graduating on time means getting into your career faster and making impacts right away. That’s our promise.
There’s so much more to consider when choosing a college, and you may have many more questions about what the experience might be like. The best way to get those questions answered is to contact your specific Admissions Counselor today.