Tight-Knit: The Gift of a Small Student Body at Montana Bible College
On how many college campuses can a professor walk into a classroom, glance at their students, and know which one is church hunting, which one is stressed about a midterm for another class, and which one can make some really scrumptious pancakes?
As Montana Bible College’s writing instructor, I can attest that this is a very normal experience for me. Long before I know my students’ writing ability, I learn many other things about them. I know which state they moved to Montana from. I know what kind of car they drive and when it's giving them trouble. I know who absolutely refuses to watch rom-coms and who can’t live without pasta!
This is the reality of teaching at a small college and experiencing the privilege of a tight-knit student body. As someone who also began as a student at MBC, I know the value of the small student body from both sides. I know the gift of being tight-knit.
There’s something special about attending a small college. At a small school, students are more than faces in a crowd or numbers on ID badges. A small school offers a sense of belonging, meaningful relationships, and the opportunity for every student to be known, supported, and celebrated.
Montana Bible College is no exception to this. With a current enrollment of less than 50 students, everybody knows everybody at MBC. However, a small student body isn’t simply a matter of numbers — it is a gift that shapes the entire student experience. A small student body creates opportunities for connection that last far beyond the classroom.
At a small school, everyone is known, and being known is the first step toward feeling that you belong.
As an instructor at Montana Bible College, I can attest that the deep, personal connections that develop in a smaller school environment are truly priceless.
Because of the smaller class sizes, there is more one-on-one time between students and professors. Professors get to know their students as individuals, not merely faces in the seats. We learn about their unique personalities. We can identify their strengths, recognize their interests, and support their goals.
This enables students to feel seen, heard, and valued as individuals. They are not defined by their student ID number or the grade they receive in the course. As Senior Noah Blomquist attested:
“The smaller size of MBC means that the professors and staff know you by name...the relationships I formed with my professors moved beyond academics to actual friendships."
For Noah, this means going to professors with questions about classwork and coming out two hours later after talking about the implications of extraterrestrial life for the Christian faith and receiving godly advice on problems he is facing in his life.
Through real conversations, students get to know their professors personally, rather than simply watching them give a lecture and walk out the door. Because of this relationship-building, professors can also identify when students need extra support or encouragement and tailor an individualized plan to scaffold them. At a small school, there is more time and opportunities to tutor.
A small school also creates more opportunities for students to discover their specific abilities and gifts. There are more chances to try something new and receive specific, individualized encouragement from professors. They are able to develop their confidence.
The sense of belonging helps students feel more comfortable taking academic and personal risks. There are also moments to celebrate their achievements, whether big milestones or small victories. In a tight-knit school, students have more chances to find their place and make meaningful contributions.
A connected school community helps students grow not only academically, but also socially and emotionally. Friendships and relationships among students form quickly because of smaller class sizes, naturally creating a tight-knit community that feels more like family.
“I love getting to attend a college that has a smaller student body than most because it feels like a family while we’re away from our own,” sophomore Laysa Bergeron said. “A smaller student body really just creates that special bond with everyone rather than just a few people like at bigger colleges.”
A small school can turn individual experiences into shared memories. Familiarity also builds a culture of encouragement and shared pride within the community. Students learn the value of cooperation, respect, and responsibility. They learn to cheer one another on. Fun traditions and shared fun experiences build bonds and strengthen relationships. Close relationships can help students develop confidence in expressing themselves and navigating challenges. Students can embrace challenges such as midterms and finals together and celebrate overcoming these hurdles.
“I formed lifelong friendships," Noah said. "Those friendships that started out with watching movies and going to class together developed into something so much more. Those men who welcomed me have now become my brothers, godly men whom I trust with my life and whom I would gladly lay down my life for.”
Ultimately, students graduate with the feeling that Montana Bible College is more than a school; it is a family. I know this personally because, as aforementioned, I was that student myself.
As graduation day drew nearer, I realized I was not at all ready to leave the college. And while I had enjoyed learning theology and writing papers, it was the Christian community offered at MBC that caused me to be hesitant to drive back home to Oklahoma after turning my tassel. The relationships I had formed at MBC are what made it an easy decision to remain.
The lasting impact of MBC is unique. Through the daily experiences of the small student body, students are making memories that will last them a lifetime. Those familiar faces, shared experiences, and personal encouragement leave a welcoming feeling that extends past graduation. The deep relationships with professors and peers become meaningful connections that continue long after the caps are tossed into the air. As Noah reiterated:
“A small school like MBC is where it is at."
"Through the relationships I’ve made at this school, I finally feel like I belong somewhere. Through the school, I have the guys that I call when things go sideways; through the school, I have godly mentors who walk alongside me through the ups and downs of life. Through the school, I have seen God work wonders in my own life and in the lives of those around me. Through the school, ultimately, I’ve been able to draw nearer to God and strengthen my faith and reliance on Him. I am convinced that none of that could’ve happened the way it did at a larger university.”
The strength of a student body lies not in the number of students, but in the quality of the relationships. And though students do eventually have to leave the school and move on, those relationships and the feeling of belonging are what will stay with them long after they drive away from campus for the last time.
At a small school, every student belongs, and every student is known. That’s the gift of a tight-knit student body.
In a small school, it's hard to get lost in the crowd—and that’s what makes it so special.
Because at Montana Bible College, a student is more than a number or a face in the crowd.
They are family.
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