Schools Ranked by Student-Faculty Ratio Page 3

Using the student-to-faculty ratio figures from the NCES database, we calculated how many students each school had per faculty member. Kiplinger recognized that a smaller student-to-faculty ratio is ideal, as that indicates each student is getting more personal instruction.

The NCES database did not have retention rate figures for all of the colleges on our list. We did not, however, want to penalize those colleges without data. To that end, we simply excluded those schools from the rankings in this category.

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What is a Low Student-to-Faculty Ratio?

Although student-to-faculty ratios can differ from country to country and even regionally, in some cases, a low student-faculty ratio typically consists of 15:1 or 10:1, students to faculty. Though totals may vary slightly, this ratio describes a class size of roughly 15 or 10 students per every one teacher or faculty member.

Benefits of a Lower Student Faculty Ratio

There are many benefits of choosing a college or university with a low student-teacher ratio, including smaller classes where students can receive individual attention from instructors, accommodation of different learning and teaching styles, and much more.

Smaller Classes

In a smaller classroom environment, there is a much greater opportunity for the teacher to be directly involved with the students. Additionally, instructors of smaller classes often enjoy lighter workloads than their counterparts at larger universities, which means that the coursework can be personally delivered and graded by the instructor, instead of relying on a teaching assistant or other students for help. Students in smaller classes are also less likely to get "lost in the system" when surrounded by hundreds of other students in a large class, all vying for the attention of the professor. Small online course sizes may also be beneficial, as they can offer ease of communication between students and faculty, and better management of discussion groups and video lectures. Increased communication in small classes allows students to build the advanced communication skills they will need in the workplace after graduation.

Individual Attention

In a larger university or class, a lecture-style format is the preferred method of teaching hundreds of students at a time. In these large lecture halls accommodating hundreds of students, those that prefer or require individual attention may be overlooked by the professor or TA. In schools with a lower student faculty ratio, however, students are more likely to have more direct communication through conversations with their teachers, both in and out of the classroom. This one-on-one time with a professor can develop a lasting relationship, which can be beneficial when asking for references for graduate school or job prospects.

Types of Teaching and Learning

Larger classes and a higher student-faculty ratio can lead to an overwhelming amount of "busy work", including easy-to-grade multiple-choice assignments and superficial tests and quizzes. A smaller class size can allow the breathing room necessary for teachers to assign more projects, papers and written exercises, as well as, take the time to properly evaluate and assess the skills of each student. There may also be greater opportunities to conduct research and collaborate on projects that would, otherwise, have hundreds of students competing for a few limited spots.

Teacher Retention

It has often been said that "quality over quantity" is most important when it comes to education, a theory that could also extend to teachers in all sectors. Recruiting and retaining teachers in an educational environment that has a high student-teacher ratio can be considerably more difficult than in one with a low ratio. The amount of work demanded from faculty in an environment with large classes and a high number of students can place undue stress on teachers, and may cause them to seek other positions. In some cases, the teachers deemed most effective are burdened with the additional responsibility of teaching in larger classes in order to increase test scores, student performance, or collective grade point averages.

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Rank School Student to
Faculty Ratio
Graduation
Rate
Retention
Rate
Acceptance
Rate
Enrollment
Rate
Institutional
Aid Rate
Default
Rate
201

Malone University

12 to 1 57% 70% 69% 21% 86% 5% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
202

Northwest Christian University

12 to 1 53% 69% 68% 23% 91% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
203

Alvernia University

12 to 1 51% 76% 74% 24% 87% 8% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
204

Elizabethtown College

12 to 1 78% 82% 71% 15% 99% 3% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
205

Gannon University

12 to 1 65% 84% 76% 15% 79% 6% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
206

La Salle University

12 to 1 63% 78% 75% 13% 85% 4% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
207

Marywood University

12 to 1 70% 83% 71% 16% 97% 6% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
208

Messiah College

12 to 1 77% 88% 79% 28% 97% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
209

Misericordia University

12 to 1 72% 85% 71% 22% 83% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
210

Moravian College

12 to 1 69% 80% 75% 19% 91% 4% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
211

Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science Inc

12 to 1 61% 85% 63% 63% 23% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
212

Saint Vincent College

12 to 1 69% 87% 70% 23% 96% 4% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
213

Susquehanna University

12 to 1 71% 89% 76% 13% 98% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
214

Villanova University

12 to 1 90% 96% 48% 10% 50% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
215

Widener University-Main Campus

12 to 1 57% 78% 68% 16% 81% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
216

Providence College

12 to 1 85% 90% 57% 10% 71% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
217

Bob Jones University

12 to 1 62% 80% 82% 55% 71% 2% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
218

Lipscomb University

12 to 1 55% 84% 61% 20% 73% 5% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
219

LeTourneau University

12 to 1 57% 69% 45% 14% 66% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
220

Norwich University

12 to 1 56% 74% 57% 18% 93% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
221

College of William and Mary

12 to 1 90% 95% 34% 10% 44% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
222

Gonzaga University

12 to 1 83% 95% 73% 20% 96% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
223

Concordia University-Wisconsin

12 to 1 58% 76% 67% 21% 75% 6% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
224

Wisconsin Lutheran College

12 to 1 62% 75% 92% 38% 89% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
225

Purdue University-Main Campus

12 to 1 75% 92% 59% 15% 51% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
226

Provo College

12 to 1 71% 100% N/A N/A 74% 18% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
227

George Washington University

13 to 1 83% 94% 46% 13% 64% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
228

Florida Southern College

13 to 1 57% 80% 45% 11% 93% 10% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
229

Stetson University

13 to 1 64% 77% 63% 9% 98% 5% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
230

Mercer University

13 to 1 61% 87% 67% 18% 85% 5% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
231

Toccoa Falls College

13 to 1 47% 66% 45% 20% 93% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
232

Greenville College

13 to 1 57% 82% 56% 14% 91% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
233

Illinois Institute of Technology

13 to 1 73% 87% 53% 11% 89% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
234

Lewis University

13 to 1 66% 84% 62% 12% 81% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
235

Lincoln Christian University

13 to 1 61% 67% 60% 36% 84% 8% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
236

Marian University

13 to 1 56% 80% 56% 15% 66% 6% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
237

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

13 to 1 77% 93% 58% 13% 95% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
238

Valparaiso University

13 to 1 67% 82% 82% 11% 91% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
239

Drake University

13 to 1 75% 88% 67% 12% 94% 3% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
240

Morningside College

13 to 1 55% 74% 56% 8% 96% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
241

Northwestern College

13 to 1 67% 82% 72% 21% 94% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
242

University of New England

13 to 1 65% 75% 85% 14% 80% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
243

Emerson College

13 to 1 80% 100% 49% 11% 58% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
244

Gordon College

13 to 1 69% 85% 93% 24% 98% 2% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
245

Merrimack College

13 to 1 71% 83% 79% 11% 89% 4% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
246

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

13 to 1 85% 96% 49% 11% 92% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
247

Calvin College

13 to 1 74% 86% 74% 25% 95% 3% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
248

Grace Bible College

13 to 1 60% 56% 81% 44% 83% 3% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
249

Hamline University

13 to 1 63% 79% 72% 13% 94% 4% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
250

William Carey University

13 to 1 54% 81% 57% 23% 85% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
251

Maryville University of Saint Louis

13 to 1 71% 89% 72% 26% 68% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
252

Webster University

13 to 1 62% 78% 56% 21% 79% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
253

Clarkson College

13 to 1 71% 71% 52% 39% 60% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
254

Seton Hall University

13 to 1 63% 84% 76% 10% 86% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
255

Le Moyne College

13 to 1 68% 88% 62% 9% 90% 6% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
256

Manhattan College

13 to 1 72% 84% 67% 11% 87% 4% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
257

Niagara University

13 to 1 63% 88% 85% 22% 85% 8% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
258

Roberts Wesleyan College

13 to 1 62% 78% 66% 18% 79% 6% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
259

Rochester Institute of Technology

13 to 1 68% 89% 57% 16% 82% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
260

University at Buffalo

13 to 1 74% 88% 60% 15% 55% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
261

Gardner-Webb University

13 to 1 52% 73% 53% 12% 58% 10% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
262

University of Mary

13 to 1 60% 75% 96% 46% 86% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
263

Baldwin Wallace University

13 to 1 67% 83% 60% 18% 84% 3% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
264

Cedarville University

13 to 1 72% 86% 74% 26% 88% 2% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
265

John Carroll University

13 to 1 73% 85% 82% 19% 97% 4% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
266

Mount Carmel College of Nursing

13 to 1 72% 85% 82% 54% 50% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
267

Walsh University

13 to 1 60% 78% 80% 30% 85% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
268

Oklahoma Christian University

13 to 1 49% 79% 59% 17% 96% 8% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
269

Multnomah University

13 to 1 55% 70% 59% 29% 90% 3% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
270

DeSales University

13 to 1 70% 78% 78% 16% 79% 4% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
271

Duquesne University

13 to 1 74% 85% 76% 20% 92% 3% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
272

Juniata College

13 to 1 73% 86% 77% 14% 92% 2% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
273

Philadelphia University

13 to 1 65% 82% 64% 13% 88% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
274

Saint Joseph's University

13 to 1 79% 90% 82% 14% 90% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
275

Salve Regina University

13 to 1 72% 86% 73% 12% 81% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
276

Citadel Military College of South Carolina

13 to 1 67% 86% 77% 25% 62% 5% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
277

Columbia College

13 to 1 50% 76% 89% 36% 81% 9% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
278

Dallas Baptist University

13 to 1 58% 72% 42% 17% 86% 8% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
279

Texas Christian University

13 to 1 76% 90% 43% 11% 66% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
280

Maranatha Baptist University

13 to 1 44% 77% 69% 55% 65% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
281

Saint Norbert College

13 to 1 73% 82% 78% 16% 94% 3% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
282

Touro University Worldwide

13 to 1 N/A 100% N/A N/A 76% 4% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
283

Spring Hill College

14 to 1 53% 81% 41% 6% 99% 8% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
284

Chapman University

14 to 1 79% 90% 48% 10% 79% 4% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
285

Hope International University

14 to 1 42% 91% 34% 12% 82% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
286

University of Redlands

14 to 1 72% 85% 68% 11% 81% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
287

University of San Francisco

14 to 1 71% 83% 64% 8% 61% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
288

Regis University

14 to 1 73% 79% 66% 10% 54% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
289

Jacksonville University

14 to 1 41% 68% 54% 12% 68% 10% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
290

Elmhurst College

14 to 1 67% 79% 55% 13% 95% 2% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
291

Loyola University Chicago

14 to 1 74% 86% 71% 10% 83% 5% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
292

McKendree University

14 to 1 56% 71% 63% 19% 75% 9% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
293

Olivet Nazarene University

14 to 1 61% 77% 77% 18% 89% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
294

University of Illinois at Springfield

14 to 1 48% 77% 63% 18% 65% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
295

Ball State University

14 to 1 60% 82% 61% 16% 65% 7% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
296

Mount Mercy University

14 to 1 65% 78% 61% 21% 86% 4% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
297

Stevenson University

14 to 1 53% 80% 60% 13% 81% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
298

Babson College

14 to 1 89% 96% 26% 7% 48% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
299

Boston College

14 to 1 92% 95% 29% 7% 45% 2% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
300

Endicott College

14 to 1 71% 86% 73% 20% 77% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A

Methodology

For each college, we gathered data for nine different metrics: the number of full-time faculty per part-time faculty member; institutional financial aid, acceptance, retention, graduation, job placement, and default rates; years accredited; and undergraduate tuition. Learn more