California College of the Arts vs. Dean College

Comparable Facts

Compare California College of the Arts in San Francisco, CA with Dean College in Franklin, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California College of the Arts is larger than Dean College based on total student enrollment (1,308 students vs. 1,092 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California College of the Arts is located in San Francisco, CA (Large City setting); Dean College is in Franklin, MA (Large Suburban setting).
• California College of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Dean College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California College of the Arts 8:1; Dean College 15:1.

California College of the Arts vs. Dean College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, California College of the Arts 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 California College of the Arts ($32,085 vs. $46,823).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dean College are 10.1% lower than at California College of the Arts ($19,864 vs. $22,099).
• California College of the Arts is 29.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Dean College (about $13,700 more per year; $60,226.00 vs. $46,526.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 29.4% higher at California College of the Arts than at Dean College (about $13,700 more per year; $60,226.00 vs. $46,526.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Dean College than at California College of the Arts (100% vs. 96%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dean College students is 0% larger than aid received by California College of the Arts students ($32,958 vs. $32,953).

California College of the Arts vs. Dean College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, California College of the Arts 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 California College of the Arts.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: California College of the Arts - Test-free; Dean College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Dean College Sep 1, 2026.
• Accepted freshman California College of the Arts students have a 0.46 point higher average high school GPA (3.34) than students at Dean College (2.88).
• California College of the Arts has a higher acceptance rate (91.1%) than Dean College (73.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8% at California College of the Arts vs. 8.7% at Dean College.

California College of the Arts vs. Dean College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for California College of the Arts 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 California College of the Arts's (49%).
• Graduates from California College of the Arts earn a median of about $8,300 more per year than Dean College graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,500 vs. $35,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Dean College graduates have a $11,647 lower median loan debt than California College of the Arts graduates ($16,353 vs. $28,000).
• Among borrowers, Dean College graduates have an estimated $120 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than California College of the Arts graduates ($169 vs. $289).
• More California College of the Arts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Dean College students, three years after graduation. (62% 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.