Harvard vs. Northwestern: Which university has smaller undergraduate class sizes?

The practical difference is that Harvard has a larger share of small undergraduate classes overall, while Northwestern also offers many discussion-based courses but has a somewhat more visible mix of medium and large lectures, especially in high-enrollment introductory subjects. At both universities, an introductory course in areas such as economics, computer science, psychology, or biology may meet in a large lecture format but add smaller discussion sections, labs, or recitations. Upper-level courses in a major tend to become much smaller at each school, often built around seminar discussion, research, or close faculty interaction.

Harvard’s undergraduate curriculum also includes small first-year seminars and, in many departments, advanced tutorials or reading- and writing-intensive classes. Large gateway courses certainly exist, so a Harvard student should not expect every first-year class to be intimate.

Northwestern’s quarter system can create a different rhythm: students take more, shorter courses across the year, which can make it easier to reach specialized electives relatively quickly. Many Northwestern upper-level classes are small, and its discussion sections and labs can make large introductory lectures feel less anonymous.

For a student whose highest priority is maximizing the likelihood of small, discussion-centered classes across the undergraduate experience, Harvard has the edge. Northwestern can provide that environment too, particularly after introductory requirements, but Harvard is more consistently favorable on class size alone.