Which college has smaller class sizes, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign or Dartmouth?

Dartmouth is the one that will usually feel more personal in the classroom. It is a much smaller undergraduate-focused Ivy, and its classes are typically smaller, with more discussion-based courses and easier day-to-day access to professors. If class size is one of your top priorities, Dartmouth is the clearer fit.

Dartmouth tends to suit students who want a close-knit academic environment where seminar-style classes are common and faculty interaction is built into the experience. Because the student body is smaller, it is usually easier to get to know professors, participate regularly in class, and build relationships that can matter for research, mentoring, and recommendations.

UIUC can still offer strong access to professors, especially in upper-level courses, honors sections, and certain majors, but it is a large public research university. That means many intro classes are bigger, and students often have more interaction with teaching assistants early on. The scale also creates a different feel: more course options and research activity, but less consistency in having small classes across the board.

For someone who cares most about a classroom experience that feels personal from the start, Dartmouth has the edge. UIUC can absolutely become personal once you find your department, smaller electives, or research groups, but Dartmouth is more likely to give you that smaller-class atmosphere as a normal part of everyday academics.