According to U.S. News & World Report, the UI is one of 30 “well-regarded and affordable colleges” offering small class sizes.

Researchers recognized the UI for offering 50 percent of its classes with 19 or fewer students, while financial difficulties have led to overstuffed classrooms as a result of professor layoffs at other universities, said Kim Clark, the author of the report.

Clark said many students are concerned increasing class sizes could negatively affect their education by limiting the amount of individual attention their professors can provide.

The UI also has the highest percentage of full-time faculty among schools listed, at 95 percent. The lowest amount listed is 45 percent at Keene State College in New Hampshire.

The report lists five other schools with a similar number of small classes as the UI, including the University of Colorado-Boulder and Murray State University in Kentucky.

— by Holly Hines