How does a small private college compare to a large state university?

It entirely depends on what you want and what you're willing to put into it.

Brian, your brain problem seems to be "presenting" itself again, seek help immediately

I've been to both and preferred state school. Like someone else said, it's entirely dependent on your personality and what type of experience you're looking for.

However, I'll also add that I couldn't imagine going to a state school and not going greek. That's the easiest way to meet people and forge lifelong connections.

If you're not great at meeting people and/or want a more intimate educational experience, small private is the way to go because it's almost like high school.

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Having attended a larger university a few years back nearly all of my classes had three to five hundred people in them

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This has to be the biggest lie people tell about big public universities. Sure I had a couple of 200+ person classes, but past freshman year its been mostly 30-40 person classes with a few that get up to 60-70.

This is at Alabama, which has 30k+ undergrads.

The ROI is not there for a private college, IMO. Samford university is twice the tuition cost of state schools, for example.

the issues you raised in the OP are significant.

I can't comprehend how anyone stays in school at a huge school with massive classes.
I know of some schools that have giant screens like a rock concert.

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It seems like smaller colleges really care about their students and do everything they can to help them succeed. This was not my experience at a larger school.

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In general, yes, you do get more attention and personalized help at a smaller school. However, colleges/universities are all about what you want to get out of them.

If you want to go to graduate school (esp. a PhD program), a smaller school can be a huge benefit. You'll get more personalized letters of recommendation (which is just about everything in PhD admissions), opportunities for undergrad research, and likely have more chances for interdisciplinary work.

If you want to make contacts in the business world and are extroverted, a large university might be a better option. You'll be able to network with a wide range of people.

Few people realize this, but the diversity of higher education institutions in the US is one of our most important strengths. No other country in the world has private liberal arts colleges, public research universities, and various other schools at the level of quality that we do.

I went to a small school to try and play ball before I realized I wasn't good enough and went to UGA so I have seen both worlds. The quality of the small school obviously matters. I went to a pretty decent school that was in the middle of nowhere, had a pretty good nightlife. It would have been fine going there and I would undoubtedly have graduated with a higher gpa and a tigger community.

But, for me it sucked.

Everything was so predictable. Everyone either went to athens or Atlanta on the weekends. There was no soul to the place.

Ive worked at both.

I went to two different SEC universities - Mississippi State for undergrad and LSU for both graduate degrees.

I worked at both of those universities, and now I am at a small private liberal arts college.

For the undergraduate student, I fully believe that the small private college has a lot of advantages. First name basis with faculty, smaller classes, more resources to help struggling students. When I attend graduation, I genuinely know about most of the graduating seniors.

What a lot of people don't know about small private colleges is that you shouldn't get turned off by sticker shock. Many times, there are more scholarships available. For example, a student with a 26 ACT could pay roughly the same out of pocket at many smaller colleges vs. large state universities. I also think smaller colleges do a better job at getting you out (higher graduation rates, less time).

The disadvantages of the smaller colleges are mainly lack of majors (especially STEM), and quite frankly the small atmosphere isn't for everyone. Some people like to hide in a class of 200 and hate the thought of being in a class with only 8-10 people.

As far as grade forgiveness, getting to know your professors more helps with that. I have deadlines, but I also understand that life happens. One of the students I advise got way behind this semester in a class - the professor sat down with him and worked out a plan to get everything in - with no penalty. Thats more likely to happen at a small college.

I like to tell those looking at colleges to attend to try to ignore the three S's. Size, Sizzle and Sports. Those three things are very hard to ignore - but they have very little to do with the academic experience.

Loyola FTW