Dean College vs. Colby-Sawyer

Comparable Facts

Compare Dean College in Franklin, MA with Colby Sawyer College in New London, NH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Dean College is larger than Colby-Sawyer based on total student enrollment (1,092 students vs. 972 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Dean College is located in Franklin, MA (Large Suburban setting); Colby Sawyer College is in New London, NH (Distant Rural setting).
• Dean College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Colby Sawyer College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Dean College 15:1; Colby Sawyer College 10:1.

Dean College vs. Colby-Sawyer Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Dean College or Colby-Sawyer? 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 Colby Sawyer College than Dean College ($27,496 vs. $32,085).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colby Sawyer College are 12.6% lower than at Dean College ($17,364 vs. $19,864).
• Dean College is 143.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Colby-Sawyer (about $27,401 more per year; $46,526.00 vs. $19,125.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 143.3% higher at Dean College than at Colby Sawyer College (about $27,401 more per year; $46,526.00 vs. $19,125.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Dean College as at Colby Sawyer College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dean College students is 197% larger than aid received by Colby Sawyer College students ($32,958 vs. $11,098).

Dean College vs. Colby-Sawyer Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Dean College or Colby-Sawyer? 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 Colby-Sawyer and Dean College.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Dean College - Test-free; Colby-Sawyer - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Dean College Sep 1, 2026.
• Colby-Sawyer has a higher acceptance rate (80.1%) than Dean College (73.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8.7% at Dean College vs. 13% at Colby-Sawyer.

Dean College vs. Colby-Sawyer Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Dean College and Colby-Sawyer? 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 Colby Sawyer College's (54%).
• Graduates from Colby Sawyer College earn a median of about $9,700 more per year than Dean College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,900 vs. $35,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Dean College graduates have a $10,647 lower median loan debt than Colby-Sawyer graduates ($16,353 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Dean College graduates have an estimated $110 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Colby-Sawyer graduates ($169 vs. $279).
• More Colby-Sawyer graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Dean College students, three years after graduation. (77% 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.