Is the University of Maine or Dartmouth better for small classes?

Dartmouth is the clearer pick for small classes and a more personal classroom experience. It is a much smaller undergraduate-focused institution, and its teaching model puts a strong emphasis on discussion-based courses, close faculty access, and seminar-style learning. Students there are more likely to find themselves in classes where speaking up, meeting professors, and getting to know classmates is part of the norm.

University of Maine can still offer personal academic experiences, especially once you get into upper-level courses in your major, but it is a larger public university and will usually have more big introductory classes. In many departments, the first year or two may include larger lectures, with smaller sections, labs, or discussion groups rather than consistently intimate classes across the board.

Dartmouth tends to fit students who want professors to be highly central to the academic experience from the beginning. If you care about frequent class participation, office-hour relationships that feel natural rather than optional, and courses that often revolve around conversation instead of lecture, Dartmouth aligns more closely with that environment.

Maine makes more sense for a student who is comfortable navigating some larger classes early on and is looking for a broader public-university setting. You can absolutely build strong faculty relationships there, but it usually takes a bit more initiative and may depend more on your department and course level.

If small classes are one of your top priorities rather than just a preference, Dartmouth stands out pretty clearly.