Smaller schools are often good for a student in their first year of University. For one thing they tend toward smaller class sizes especially in the first-year classes that everyone has to take. It can be daunting for a student to go from a high school class to an auditorium with several hundred students all taking the same course. The other advantage of smaller classes is a greater degree of interaction with the staff and faculty.

Depending on your learning style, a small University may be the perfect place for your education.
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As I studied in a Small University (FARGS, here in Brazil) I can tell you that you can find advantages by choosing a small place to get you degree.
For example, you will have less students at the library and at the communication room. You will probably have very good teachers that by having less students at their classes will be able to give you more attention. You would also have a smaller account to pay since smaller universities have smaller budgets. I believe that those are the main example I can recall, but you can also think that smaller universities have more interested students that are there to actually learn and not only get a degree...
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larger = more options
smaller = get to know your classmates better
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i would say if you have gone to smaller private schools a small private college will be familiar. larger universities can be overwhelming for some, but can also give you an idea of what it is like to be a part of a large organization. if you can figure out how to graduate from big university, those skills transfer pretty well to the private sector.

overall it really depends on what you are studying and where you would like to work. in general you will make many connections with students and faculty in your college experience. so you might consider going to a school in an area you wouldn't mind end working in.

i would check and see how many of your undergraduate classes will be taught by grad students and have large classes sizes (50+students).

it doesn't make much of a difference how great the professors are if you never get to take classes with them. unfortunately many universities (and even smaller private schools) engage in this bait and switch mentality.

also, don't take the admissions departments word for this. get on message boards and ask current freshman and sophomores about class size and the faculty.
Source(s):
i teach at a 4 year college.

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First a smaller university, its easier to be a star. If you in a large university, your 1 in 3000 or 1 in 6000, or even 1 in 10000. In a small university its easier
for you to be near the top of the game. Also its easier to get more attention from professiors.

The downside is the budget of the departments may be smaller. Typically even large university have money problems too. So to some degree this evens out.

Of your studying at any university, look at the prof's and teachers.
My advisor in my small college was also head of the department,
and so super intellegent. I could have skipped his class, and
still made a A, but I learned deep insight just being there.
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