Is the University of Michigan or Emory better for smaller class sizes?

Emory is better for smaller class sizes and a more personal classroom feel. It is a much smaller undergraduate environment than the University of Michigan, and that difference shows up quickly in intro courses, advising, and how easy it is to get to know professors. At Michigan, especially in popular majors and first-year classes, it is more common to encounter large lectures before classes narrow later on.

One major differentiator is scale. Michigan is a very large public research university, so even though it offers plenty of small seminars and discussion-based courses, the overall experience includes more big lecture classes, particularly in economics, psychology, biology, and other high-demand fields. Emory’s smaller undergraduate population usually makes the average classroom feel less crowded from the start.

Another difference is professor access. Emory tends to emphasize close faculty interaction and discussion-heavy learning, and students often find it easier to build relationships with professors earlier in college. Michigan absolutely has excellent faculty and strong office-hour culture, but the size of the student body means access can feel less immediate, especially in the first year when many classes are taught at a much larger scale.

The classroom structure also matters. At Michigan, large lectures are often paired with smaller discussion sections led by GSIs, which can still provide support but is not the same as consistently learning in professor-led small classes. At Emory, you are more likely to have the professor directly involved in a smaller setting across more of your courses.

For a student who learns best in less crowded classrooms, Emory is more likely to deliver that experience across the board.