CalArts vs. Dean College

Comparable Facts

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

California Institute of the Arts is larger than Dean College based on total student enrollment (1,277 students vs. 1,092 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California Institute of the Arts is located in Valencia, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Dean College is in Franklin, MA (Large Suburban setting).
• California Institute 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 Institute of the Arts 7:1; Dean College 15:1.

CalArts vs. Dean College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CalArts 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 CalArts ($32,085 vs. $56,239).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Institute of the Arts are 28.8% lower than at Dean College ($14,134 vs. $19,864).
• California Institute of the Arts is 26.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Dean College (about $12,470 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $46,526.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 26.8% higher at CalArts than at Dean College (about $12,470 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $46,526.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Dean College than at California Institute of the Arts (100% vs. 95%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dean College students is 53.9% larger than aid received by California Institute of the Arts students ($32,958 vs. $21,416).

CalArts vs. Dean College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CalArts 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 CalArts.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CalArts - Test-free; Dean College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CalArts Jan 5, 2027; Dean College Sep 1, 2026.
• Dean College has a higher acceptance rate (73.7%) than CalArts (32.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.9% at CalArts vs. 8.7% at Dean College.

CalArts vs. Dean College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CalArts 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).

• California Institute of the Arts's six-year graduation rate (65%) is higher than Dean College's (62%).
• Graduates from California Institute of the Arts earn a median of about $15,200 more per year than Dean College graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,400 vs. $35,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Dean College graduates have a $12,147 lower median loan debt than CalArts graduates ($16,353 vs. $28,500).
• Among borrowers, Dean College graduates have an estimated $125 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CalArts graduates ($169 vs. $294).
• More CalArts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Dean College students, three years after graduation. (64% 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.