Choosing by Location, Size, and Campus Setting

Why size and setting matter

Two colleges with similar academics can offer completely different daily lives depending on their size and setting. These factors shape class sizes, how easily you meet people, what you do on weekends, and how connected you feel to a city or a tight community.

Unlike a major, which you might change, size and setting are fixed once you enroll. That makes them worth thinking through early, because they affect your comfort and sense of belonging for the whole degree.

School size

Size is usually described as small, medium, or large by total enrollment. Smaller schools often mean smaller classes, more contact with faculty, and a community where faces become familiar. Larger schools often offer more majors, facilities, research, and a wider range of clubs and events.

Neither is better in the abstract — they suit different people. Ask whether you prefer a close, recognizable community or a big environment with many options, and remember that big universities can still feel small within a department or residential college.

• Smaller: smaller classes, closer faculty contact, tight community
• Larger: more majors, facilities, research, clubs, and events
• Check class sizes in first-year courses, not just totals
• Ask how big your specific department or program is

Campus setting: urban, suburban, rural

Setting describes where the campus sits. Urban campuses put you in or near a city with internships, transit, and off-campus life, but often less green space and higher living costs. Rural campuses tend to be self-contained and community-focused, with more on-campus life and nature, but fewer off-campus options.

Suburban campuses fall in between — a defined campus with a town or city within reach. The right setting depends on how you like to spend time outside class and how much you rely on the surrounding area versus the campus itself.

Region, climate, and distance

Region affects climate, culture, cost of living, and how far you are from home or from major airports — which matters for international students planning travel. A place that looks great online can feel very different in deep winter or intense summer heat.

Distance from home is a personal trade-off between independence and ease of visiting. There is no correct answer, but be honest about how often you will realistically want to travel back, and what that costs in time and money.

Matching it to you

Picture your ideal ordinary week: where you study, who you see, what you do on a free afternoon. Then test each college on your list against that picture, using virtual tours and current students if you cannot visit in person.

Write your preferences down before you fall for a specific school's name, so you judge each option against what genuinely suits you rather than rationalizing a choice after the fact.

• Do I want a city at my doorstep or a self-contained campus?
• Can I handle the climate year-round?
• How far from home is comfortable, and what does travel cost?
• Does the cost of living in this area fit my budget?