Private colleges are known to have smaller classes compared to large state universities. A college student at a private school may not be familiar with auditorium-style lecture halls that are prevalent in state universities. Private colleges also have a smaller student to faculty ratio, which many believe to be more effective in student learning.
Students may be dissuaded from attending private colleges because of the high cost of attendance, but it is possible to attend a private college and pay less of what one would pay at a public university. This is because private colleges usually have a lot of funding that come in from donors and endowments, allowing the college to extend a bigger grant package to its students.
Another advantage of private colleges is its alumni network. Since private colleges tend to be smaller than public universities, their alumni networks are consequently smaller and are more intimate. Private colleges also create an exclusive atmosphere around its student body, and students may feel that this exclusivity puts them in the leagues of the elite.
The campus of a private college tend to be smaller compared to other universities, and this can be an advantage especially for students who prefer a smaller setting. Having a smaller student body, students at private colleges also enjoy less crowds in quads and public areas as opposed to other universities.
An advantage of a private college is its specialization. Private colleges may specialize in a particular field such as liberal arts or technology, giving the student a more focused curriculum for their career path. Students at private colleges enjoy this advantage over their public school counterparts who take classes in a school with a broader number of departments and specialties.