Is Purdue or Lehigh better for smaller class sizes?

Lehigh is the better fit for smaller class sizes. It is a much smaller university overall than Purdue, and that usually translates into more seminar-style and discussion-based classes, especially outside the biggest intro courses. Purdue, by contrast, is a very large public research university where many first-year and lower-division classes are more likely to be taught in big lecture formats.

The biggest difference is scale. Lehigh’s undergraduate population is far smaller, so students typically experience a more intimate classroom environment and more direct access to professors earlier on. At Purdue, even though there are plenty of smaller upper-level classes and labs, the sheer size of the student body means large introductory sections are much more common.

Teaching style also tends to feel different because of that size. Lehigh often has more of a private-school classroom experience, with discussion, participation, and faculty interaction built in as a normal part of undergrad life. Purdue offers excellent academics, but the student experience in many departments starts with larger, more structured courses before narrowing into smaller classes later.

Advising and faculty accessibility usually follow the same pattern. At Lehigh, it is typically easier to build close relationships with professors through class alone, rather than needing to seek them out separately through office hours or research. At Purdue, those relationships are absolutely possible, but students often have to be more intentional about finding smaller communities within a much bigger campus.