Dean College vs. CCAD

Comparable Facts

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

Dean College is larger than CCAD based on total student enrollment (1,092 students vs. 916 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Dean College is located in Franklin, MA (Large Suburban setting); Columbus College of Art & Design is in Columbus, OH (Large City setting).
• Dean College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Columbus College of Art & Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Dean College 15:1; Columbus College of Art & Design 10:1.

Dean College vs. CCAD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Dean College or CCAD? 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 Columbus College of Art & Design than Dean College ($31,801 vs. $32,085).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbus College of Art & Design are 42.4% lower than at Dean College ($11,450 vs. $19,864).
• Dean College is 14% more expensive for in-state tuition than CCAD (about $5,701 more per year; $46,526.00 vs. $40,825.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14% higher at Dean College than at Columbus College of Art & Design (about $5,701 more per year; $46,526.00 vs. $40,825.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Dean College as at Columbus College of Art & Design (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dean College students is 43.3% larger than aid received by Columbus College of Art & Design students ($32,958 vs. $23,000).

Dean College vs. CCAD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Dean College or CCAD? 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 CCAD and Dean College.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Dean College - Test-free; CCAD - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Dean College Sep 1, 2026.
• Dean College has a higher acceptance rate (73.7%) than CCAD (67.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8.7% at Dean College vs. 32.1% at CCAD.

Dean College vs. CCAD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Dean College and CCAD? 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).

• Columbus College of Art & Design's six-year graduation rate (64%) is higher than Dean College's (62%).
• Graduates from Columbus College of Art & Design earn a median of about $2,900 more per year than Dean College graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,100 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 CCAD graduates ($16,353 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Dean College graduates have an estimated $110 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CCAD graduates ($169 vs. $279).
• More CCAD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Dean College students, three years after graduation. (63% 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.