Does UIUC or UMass Amherst have a smaller-school feel?

UMass Amherst is more likely to feel smaller and more personal at the university-wide level. Its undergraduate population is substantially smaller than UIUC’s, and its campus life is concentrated in a more contained residential setting in Amherst.

UMass Amherst fits a student who wants a large public university but prefers a campus that can feel like a cohesive college community. It is still a major research university, so some first-year gateway courses will be large.

UIUC fits a student who is comfortable actively creating a smaller world inside a very large, academically intense university. The scale is more noticeable: introductory courses can be very large, the campus and surrounding twin-city setting are broader, and it may take more initiative to get regular professor contact.

For the specific goal of an immediate smaller-school feel, UMass Amherst has the edge. At UIUC, a personal experience is possible, but it is more dependent on choosing a tight-knit major or program and consistently seeking out smaller communities.