The student-to-faculty ratio, also known as the student-teacher ratio, is the number of students for every teacher or faculty member at an institution, and is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of faculty.

The student-to-faculty ratio indicates the number of students for every teacher or faculty member at a school or university.

How it's calculated:

You divide the total number of students enrolled by the total number of faculty members.

Why it matters:

A lower ratio (e.g., 10:1) suggests smaller class sizes and potentially more individualized attention from faculty, while a higher ratio (e.g., 20:1) might indicate larger classes.

Example:

If a school has 5,000 students and 500 professors, the student-to-faculty ratio is 10:1 (5,000 students / 500 professors).

National Average:

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) found that the national average for college student-to-faculty ratios is 18:1.