CONTRIBUTED CONTENT — As colleges strive to enhance the overall learning experience for students, many educators and experts argue that reducing class size can lead to substantial advantages, positively affecting academic achievement, student engagement and overall well-being.

In a journal article via the Institute of Education Sciences measuring the impact of college class size on student retention and graduation, results suggest an increase in collegiate class size leads to an increase in dropout rates and a reduction in on-time degree completion.

One benefit often cited for smaller class size is the heightened level of student-teacher interaction. In smaller classes, professors can dedicate more time to individual students, fostering a supportive and personalized learning environment.

“I got to know every single professor personally, and that helped me feel more connected to what I was learning,” said Shyler Mecham, a recent Snow College student. “It was a good transition from high school to college.”

This close-knit interaction allows educators to better understand the unique strengths and weaknesses of each student, tailoring their teaching methods to accommodate diverse learning styles. Likewise, smaller classes contribute significantly to increased student engagement.  

Janna Thompson, a current athletic training student at Utah Valley University and recent graduate of Snow College, agreed. “I definitely feel class size and professor access helped me in my educational career.”

During college, Thompson had personal access to her professors for ongoing advisement and education. She was also able to learn techniques and useful skills from those professors that better prepared her for her current classes. 

With fewer students to manage, instructors can provide more focused and comprehensive instruction, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to grasp the nuances of the curriculum. In fact, at Snow College, students are immediately immersed in hands-on experience specifically directed at their intended major. 

Thompson added that her experience at Snow College provided her with “a really big advantage over students in my same major and job.” During her undergraduate studies at Snow College, she was able to gain immediate hands-on experience as an athletic trainer intern with the head athletic trainer, Spencer Mack. That experience propelled her knowledge and positioned her as a more experienced student as she advanced toward her master’s degree in athletic training.

In a more focused college setting, additional opportunities arise through dedicated programs such as the GRIT Center for Rural Entrepreneurship at Snow College. At the GRIT Center, students participate in diverse entrepreneurial programming and win funding to put their ideas into action through GRIT Center pitch competitions.

These types of programs offer springboards to successful careers and businesses at the early stage of a student’s career – a substantial advantage to overall student and life success. 

Mecham, a recent winner of the GRIT Center’s Bootstrap Your Business, a competition where students pitch a new business idea for an opportunity to win funding, said, “I couldn’t believe that I could pitch a business idea and actually win money.” 

During the competition, Mecham was able to sit down with a professor regarding her pitch.

“Russ sat down with me beforehand and went through my business plan,” she said. “He gave me advice and helped me gather my thoughts. I don’t know that I would have success in my business if it hadn’t been for Bootstrap.”

In a more expansive education setting, such as a four-year university, these opportunities are rarely readily available until after a student completes undergraduate studies.  

Beyond the academic realm, the advantages of small class size and individualized learning extend to the development of interpersonal skills. In smaller groups, students can collaborate with their peers, engaging in group projects that help build and sustain relationships.

Interpersonal skills are necessary for challenging students to initiate real-world efforts at an earlier education stage, creating an invaluable advantage over the traditional collegiate experience. These collaborative environments mirror the world students face as working adults, preparing them for success in their future careers.

From improved student-teacher interaction to enhanced academic performance and overall well-being, the importance of reconsidering a traditional university education is underscored when considering the potential benefits.

As students deliberate the type of education they are seeking, the shift toward smaller class size and practical skill-building could be a pivotal trend in shaping the next generation.

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