Are small classes more common at the University of Michigan or Wake Forest University?

The biggest practical tradeoff is scale: Wake Forest is much smaller overall, while the University of Michigan operates on a large public-university model. That usually means small classes are more common at Wake Forest, especially in introductory and mid-level courses, and it is typically easier there to have discussion-based classes earlier in college. Michigan absolutely offers small seminars and close faculty relationships too, but students are more likely to encounter big lecture classes, especially in popular intro courses.

Wake Forest’s undergraduate focus tends to create a more consistently personal classroom experience across departments. With a smaller student body and fewer giant gateway courses, class participation and professor access are often built into the normal rhythm of academics rather than something you have to seek out later.

At Michigan, the experience can vary a lot by major, department, and course level. In upper-level classes, honors programs, and smaller departments, students can definitely find close-knit academic settings. But as a general day-to-day reality, Michigan has more large classes simply because of its size and breadth.

So if your main question is where small classes are more common, Wake Forest is the clearer answer. Michigan can still feel personal with the right program choices, but Wake Forest is more likely to give you that personal class environment by default.