Art Center College of Design vs. Dean College

Comparable Facts

Compare Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA with Dean College in Franklin, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Art Center College of Design is larger than Dean College based on total student enrollment (2,308 students vs. 1,092 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Art Center College of Design is located in Pasadena, CA (Midsize City setting); Dean College is in Franklin, MA (Large Suburban setting).
• Art Center College of Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Dean College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Art Center College of Design 9:1; Dean College 15:1.

Art Center College of Design vs. Dean College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Art Center College of Design or Dean College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Dean College than Art Center College of Design ($32,085 vs. $53,271).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Art Center College of Design are 1.2% lower than at Dean College ($19,632 vs. $19,864).
• Art Center College of Design is 16.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Dean College (about $7,644 more per year; $54,170.00 vs. $46,526.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 16.4% higher at Art Center College of Design than at Dean College (about $7,644 more per year; $54,170.00 vs. $46,526.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Dean College than at Art Center College of Design (100% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dean College students is 47.1% larger than aid received by Art Center College of Design students ($32,958 vs. $22,412).

Art Center College of Design vs. Dean College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Art Center College of Design or Dean College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Dean College and Art Center College of Design.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Art Center College of Design - Test-free; Dean College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Dean College Sep 1, 2026.
• Art Center College of Design has a higher acceptance rate (74.5%) than Dean College (73.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31.5% at Art Center College of Design vs. 8.7% at Dean College.

Art Center College of Design vs. Dean College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Art Center College of Design and Dean College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Dean College's six-year graduation rate (62%) is higher than Art Center College of Design's (54%).
• Graduates from Art Center College of Design earn a median of about $23,100 more per year than Dean College graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,300 vs. $35,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Dean College graduates have a $14,897 lower median loan debt than Art Center College of Design graduates ($16,353 vs. $31,250).
• Among borrowers, Dean College graduates have an estimated $154 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Art Center College of Design graduates ($169 vs. $323).
• More Art Center College of Design graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Dean College students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 53%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.