ASU vs. University of Richmond: Which Has Better Undergraduate Teaching Quality?

The biggest practical tradeoff is scale: Arizona State offers far more courses, programs, and research opportunities, while the University of Richmond offers a smaller undergraduate environment where close faculty contact is built into the normal classroom experience. At Richmond, professors rather than graduate teaching assistants lead undergraduate instruction, and faculty advising and mentoring are central to the residential liberal-arts model. ASU has many excellent, highly engaged professors, but the experience can vary more by college, major, and course size.

For regular undergraduate teaching, Richmond is more consistently set up for discussion-based classes, individual feedback on writing and projects, and getting to know instructors outside class. Richmond’s small student body also makes it easier for a professor to recognize a student’s work over multiple semesters.

ASU can be a strong teaching choice in specific departments, honors courses, and smaller upper-level classes. Its Barrett, The Honors College can create a more seminar-oriented experience within a very large university. Still, introductory courses at ASU may be large, and students often need to take more initiative to seek office hours, research roles, and mentorship.

For the priority you named, the University of Richmond has the clearer advantage. It is more likely to provide consistently accessible professors and engaged undergraduate instruction across your first years, whereas ASU can provide that experience but does not deliver it as uniformly across the institution.