Having a low student to teacher ratio can be a very good attribute of a college. A low ratio of students to teachers means that students can potentially get more one-on-one time with faculty members. Where the student teacher ratio is high, it often means that teachers can be overwhelmed by the sheer number of students they have to instruct and grade. Thus, it is no coincidence that many of the best colleges, academically speaking, have low student teacher ratios.
BrokeScholar analyzed every four-year public college and every four-year private not-for-profit college in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia. In order to avert small, specialized colleges, like seminaries with their tiny undergraduate populations, from automatically ranking highest, this study required colleges to have a minimum undergraduate population of 1,000 to be considered. For this report, we’re focusing on four-year public colleges.
Read on to find out the public colleges and universities with the best student teacher ratio.
Public Colleges With the Best Student Teacher Ratio
Public colleges and universities include many large state schools, with massive undergraduate populations and student populations overall. Thus, finding a school with a small student teacher ratio can be tough at these types of institutions. Below, we go state by state and identify the public four-year colleges that have the best student to teacher ratio:
Alabama
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: University of Montevallo
Student to teacher ratio: 12 to 1
Alaska
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: University of Alaska Southeast
Student to teacher ratio: 9 to 1
Arizona
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: University of Arizona
Student to teacher ratio: 17 to 1
Arkansas
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Student to teacher ratio: 11 to 1
California
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: California State Polytechnic University - Humboldt
Student to teacher ratio: 16 to 1
Colorado
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: United States Air Force Academy
Student to teacher ratio: 8 to 1
Connecticut
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: United States Coast Guard Academy
Student to teacher ratio: 7 to 1
Delaware
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: University of Delaware
Student to teacher ratio: 15 to 1
District of Columbia
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: University of the District of Columbia
Student to teacher ratio: 8 to 1
Florida
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Student to teacher ratio: 14 to 1
Georgia
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: Georgia Institute of Technology
Student to teacher ratio: 14 to 1
Hawaii
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: University of Hawaii at Hilo
Student to teacher ratio: 13 to 1
Idaho
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: Idaho State University
Student to teacher ratio: 13 to 1
Illinois
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: Chicago State University
Student to teacher ratio: 10 to 1
Indiana
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: Indiana University – South Bend and Indiana University - Southeast
Student to teacher ratio: 12 to 1
Iowa
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: University of Iowa
Student to teacher ratio: 15 to 1
Kansas
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: Washburn University
Student to teacher ratio: 13 to 1
Kentucky
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: University of Louisville
Student to teacher ratio: 13 to 1
Louisiana
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: Louisiana State University - Alexandria
Student to teacher ratio: 15 to 1
Maine
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: University of Maine at Farmington
Student to teacher ratio: 11 to 1
Maryland
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: United States Naval Academy and University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Student to teacher ratio: 8 to 1
Massachusetts
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: Massachusetts College of Art and Design
Student to teacher ratio: 9 to 1
Michigan
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
Student to teacher ratio: 12 to 1
Minnesota
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: University of Minnesota – Morris
Student to teacher ratio: 11 to 1
Mississippi
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: Delta State University
Student to teacher ratio: 10 to 1
Missouri
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: Harris-Stowe State University
Student to teacher ratio: 8 to 1
Montana
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: Montana Technological University
Student to teacher ratio: 13 to 1
Nebraska
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: University of Nebraska at Kearney
Student to teacher ratio: 13 to 1
Nevada
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: University of Nevada - Reno
Student to teacher ratio: 17 to 1
New Hampshire
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: Keene State College
Student to teacher ratio: 15 to 1
New Jersey
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: Rutgers University – Newark and The College of New Jersey (TCNJ)
Student to teacher ratio: 13 to 1
New Mexico
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Student to teacher ratio: 10 to 1
New York
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: United States Military Academy
Student to teacher ratio: 7 to 1
North Carolina
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: University of North Carolina at Asheville
Student to teacher ratio: 14 to 1
North Dakota
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: Minot State University
Student to teacher ratio: 11 to 1
Ohio
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: Miami University - Hamilton
Student to teacher ratio: 12 to 1
Oklahoma
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: Northwestern Oklahoma State University
Student to teacher ratio: 14 to 1
Oregon
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: Western Oregon University
Student to teacher ratio: 12 to 1
Pennsylvania
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: Lincoln University and Temple University
Student to teacher ratio: 13 to 1
Rhode Island
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: Rhode Island College
Student to teacher ratio: 13 to 1
South Carolina
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Student to teacher ratio: 11 to 1
South Dakota
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Student to teacher ratio: 11 to 1
Tennessee
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: Tennessee State University
Student to teacher ratio: 14 to 1
Texas
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Student to teacher ratio: 7 to 1
Utah
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: University of Utah
Student to teacher ratio: 18 to 1
Vermont
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: Northern Vermont University
Student to teacher ratio: 10 to 1
Virginia
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: University of Mary Washington and University of Virginia’s College at Wise
Student to teacher ratio: 11 to 1
Washington
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: The Evergreen State College
Student to teacher ratio: 14 to 1
West Virginia
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: West Liberty University
Student to teacher ratio: 11 to 1
Wisconsin
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: University of Wisconsin - Superior
Student to teacher ratio: 16 to 1
Wyoming
Public college with best student to teacher ratio: University of Wyoming
Student to teacher ratio: 14 to 1
