Which offers smaller classes, New York University or Williams College?

The main tradeoff is that NYU gives you the scale and course breadth of a major research university, while Williams is structured around a much smaller undergraduate community where close classroom contact is the norm. Williams is far more likely to make small, discussion-driven classes a consistent part of your experience from the first year onward. NYU can offer excellent small seminars and faculty access, but introductory courses, especially in popular subjects, may be much larger.

At Williams, the student-to-faculty ratio is very low, and many courses are seminars built around active conversation, writing, and sustained feedback. Its distinctive tutorial program pairs two students with a professor: students write papers, discuss them in depth, and respond to each other’s work. Professors also tend to know students outside class through advising, residential life, research, and campus activities.

NYU’s experience varies considerably by school, department, and course level. Large lecture courses are more common in fields with high enrollment, while upper-level electives, honors courses, studio classes, and some programs can be quite small. Faculty office hours, research opportunities, and departmental advising can still provide individual attention, but students often need to take more initiative in a large urban university environment.

For a student who places small classes and regular professor interaction near the top of the list, Williams offers the clearer advantage. NYU may still be compelling if its New York City setting, specialized academic options, or larger university resources matter enough to offset a less uniformly intimate classroom experience.