How International Students Can Benefit From a Small-Town College
International students looking to get a taste of American culture and lifestyle might find small-town colleges especially appealing—picture cozy local shops and welcoming neighbors.
Joosep Vorno from Estonia says what initially attracted him to Bowdoin College in Maine was its tight-knit community vibe.
“Over my years at Bowdoin, I also realized just how deeply the school is woven into the fabric of Brunswick,” says Vorno, who graduated in 2022 with a double major in German and theater.
Anjanita Mahadoo, an educational consultant at StudyUSA Global Educational Consulting in California, points out that studying in a small town can make the transition smoother and less overwhelming. “Since these college towns often feel familiar—especially for students from developing countries—they can adapt more easily to their new surroundings,” she explains.
While some international students thrive in the energy of big cities, others prefer a quieter, slower-paced college experience.
Here are three reasons to consider a small-town college:
1. Smaller Class Sizes
Small-town colleges often have fewer students, which means more one-on-one attention from professors who might actually know you by name.
“Smaller towns usually mean smaller schools, and that creates a more personal experience for students,” says Claudia Marroquin, Bowdoin’s senior VP and dean of admissions and student aid.
With fewer students, classes are more intimate. Tie Sun, a former international admissions counselor at Illinois Wesleyan University, highlights the difference between a 10-person seminar and a massive lecture hall. Smaller classes make it easier to connect with professors and classmates.
Sun, originally from China, graduated from the university as an international student in 2017.
Beyond enrollment numbers, students can also check a college’s student-to-faculty ratio. At the University of Mississippi, for example, it’s 17:1, says Blair Thomson, the school’s senior international officer and study abroad director.
“A lower ratio means students get more face time with professors—whether it’s asking questions, grasping material better, or forming deeper connections than they would in a big lecture hall,” Thomson explains.
For international students, this setup also encourages stronger bonds with classmates, making friendships easier both in and out of the classroom, says Nitin Agrawal, co-founder and CEO of Interstride, a San Francisco-based ed-tech company supporting international students.
Choosing a small-town college means “the relationships students build—with peers, faculty, staff, and even locals—can lead to a richer, more fulfilling college experience,” Marroquin adds.
Students aren’t just numbers here, she notes. The focus is on helping them grow—academically and personally.
2. More Chances to Immerse in the Community
Small towns often offer a strong sense of belonging, experts say.
“Especially in the American South, where hospitality is a point of pride, locals go out of their way to be welcoming and inclusive,” Thomson says.
She adds that in smaller U.S. towns, off-campus events tend to be cozier, giving international students a natural way to dive into extracurriculars and make friends.
“Smaller campuses make it easier to build real connections and take on visible, valued roles in both campus and town life,” Agrawal notes.
In Brunswick, where Bowdoin is located, “locals show up for talks, sports games, and theater performances—they love striking up conversations with students, whether it’s on the quad or at spots like the Gulf of Maine Bookstore or Little Dog Coffee Shop,” Vorno shares.
Bowdoin even has a “community host” program where locals help students with everything from storage to rides. They also act as ambassadors, “attending student events or even hosting them for Thanksgiving dinner,” Vorno says.
Marroquin explains that this program helps students create a home away from home, forming bonds that last well beyond graduation.
Sun adds that small-town colleges often provide extra perks, like local networking opportunities, internship leads, and even lodging tips for visiting family and friends.
3. Better Opportunities to Improve English
Living in a small town can give international students an extra boost in honing their English skills through immersion.
“Places like Oxford, Mississippi, offer plenty of chances to practice English daily,” Thomson says. “With students from over 90 countries, English becomes the common language.”
She notes that in a small town, international students have to use English regularly—unlike in big cities where they might rely on communities that speak their native language.
“If a student is in a small-town college with fewer chances to use their first language but more opportunities to speak English with natives,” Sun explains, “it can really sharpen their skills, especially in listening and speaking.”
After spending years in Brunswick, Vorno says he feels lucky to have gone to a small-town college, cherishing the friendships he made with classmates, professors, and locals.
One summer, he spent hours working on a research project at a neighborhood coffee shop. “If walking in and ordering ‘the usual’ isn’t the ultimate American experience,” he jokes, “I don’t know what is!”
