Private universities generally have a significantly smaller class size than public universities. According to CampusGrotto, it is quite common for a public university to have classes with over 200 students, making it difficult for students to directly communicate with their professor. In contrast, private universities may even have specialized classes with less than 10 students. The smaller class size allows professors to tailor their curriculum to students on a more individualized basis.
The faculty workload in a private university is considerably less spread. Professors are more available for individual faculty meetings to give assistance to students. This also applies outside of classroom academics; professors may work directly with students for outside research projects, job and networking opportunities and even mentorship programs. Students often take advantage of this and establish networks with many of their professors. Some professors have deep connections in their respective fields and are excellent referrals in launching careers.
This is a particular problem for students at public universities wanting to transfer into a private university. Many private university curricula are not held standard by the state; a private university's transfer requirements may not necessarily apply to another public or private university. Additionally, some private universities require entry-level courses to be taken in their college; these universities do not accept transfer units of English, math or science, regardless if these courses' equivalent were already taken. Students looking to apply to multiple private universities must contact each one to make arrangements on a case-by-case basis; some have more flexible requirements than others.
Private universities are generally more expensive than public, sometimes significantly so. According to CampusGrotto, the average tuition among many private colleges was $40,000 per year as of 2007. However, some private schools are making efforts toward providing more financial aid to prospective college students. Smaller private universities in particular are typically looking to create inclusive student bodies by helping students from diverse backgrounds gain admission. Additionally, private universities are usually more flexible with payment plans; parents and students can work with financial aid advisors to work on loan consolidation and long-term payment schedules.