Dean College vs. Gustavus Adolphus College

Comparable Facts

Compare Dean College in Franklin, MA with Gustavus Adolphus College in Saint Peter, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Gustavus Adolphus College is larger than Dean College based on total student enrollment (1,906 students vs. 1,092 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Dean College is located in Franklin, MA (Large Suburban setting); Gustavus Adolphus College is in Saint Peter, MN (Remote Town setting).
• Dean College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Gustavus Adolphus College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Dean College 15:1; Gustavus Adolphus College 12:1.

Dean College vs. Gustavus Adolphus College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Dean College or Gustavus Adolphus 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 Gustavus Adolphus College than Dean College ($26,094 vs. $32,085).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gustavus Adolphus College are 40.6% lower than at Dean College ($11,804 vs. $19,864).
• Gustavus Adolphus College is 20.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Dean College (about $9,550 more per year; $56,076.00 vs. $46,526.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 20.5% higher at Gustavus Adolphus College than at Dean College (about $9,550 more per year; $56,076.00 vs. $46,526.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Dean College as at Gustavus Adolphus College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Gustavus Adolphus College students is 25.8% larger than aid received by Dean College students ($41,450 vs. $32,958).

Dean College vs. Gustavus Adolphus College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Dean College or Gustavus Adolphus 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 Gustavus Adolphus College and Dean College.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Dean College - Test-free; Gustavus Adolphus College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Dean College Sep 1, 2026; Gustavus Adolphus College Apr 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Gustavus Adolphus College students have a 0.81 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at Dean College (2.88).
• Dean College has a higher acceptance rate (73.7%) than Gustavus Adolphus College (61%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8.7% at Dean College vs. 15.2% at Gustavus Adolphus College.

Dean College vs. Gustavus Adolphus College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Dean College and Gustavus Adolphus 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).

• Gustavus Adolphus College's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than Dean College's (62%).
• Graduates from Gustavus Adolphus College earn a median of about $21,100 more per year than Dean College graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,300 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 Gustavus Adolphus College graduates ($16,353 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Dean College graduates have an estimated $110 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Gustavus Adolphus College graduates ($169 vs. $279).
• More Gustavus Adolphus College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Dean College students, three years after graduation. (82% 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.