Boston College vs. Colby: Which Has Smaller Classes?

The biggest practical difference is scale: Colby is a much smaller undergraduate college, so small, discussion-centered classes are more consistent across the curriculum, while Boston College combines many small seminars with larger introductory and Core Curriculum courses. Its undergraduate-only setting also means classroom life is centered almost entirely on undergraduates.

At Colby, students are likely to encounter seminar-style classes early, particularly in the humanities and social sciences, with professors knowing students well and discussions continuing outside class. Introductory courses can still be larger, especially in popular fields, but the overall academic environment is intentionally intimate.

Boston College offers plenty of small upper-level classes, especially within majors, honors courses, and electives. However, first-year students should expect some larger lectures, particularly in introductory economics, psychology, biology, business-related coursework, and parts of the Core. Discussion sections and smaller follow-on courses help balance that experience, but BC will feel more like a mid-sized university than a small liberal arts college.

For a student who places discussion-based teaching and reliably small classes near the top of the list, Colby has the clearer advantage. Boston College can still provide close faculty interaction, but it is more likely to require navigating a few larger courses before reaching the most intimate classroom experiences.