Dean College vs. Massachusetts College of Art and Design

Comparable Facts

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

Massachusetts College of Art and Design is larger than Dean College based on total student enrollment (1,989 students vs. 1,092 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Dean College is located in Franklin, MA (Large Suburban setting); Massachusetts College of Art and Design is in Boston, MA (Large City setting).
• Dean College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Massachusetts College of Art and Design is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Dean College 15:1; Massachusetts College of Art and Design 9:1.

Dean College vs. Massachusetts College of Art and Design Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Dean College or Massachusetts College of Art and Design? 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 Massachusetts College of Art and Design than Dean College ($24,864 vs. $32,085).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Massachusetts College of Art and Design are 2.3% lower than at Dean College ($19,412 vs. $19,864).
• Dean College is 202.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Massachusetts College of Art and Design (about $31,126 more per year; $46,526.00 vs. $15,400.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.2% higher at Dean College than at Massachusetts College of Art and Design (about $3,126 more per year; $46,526.00 vs. $43,400.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Dean College than at Massachusetts College of Art and Design (100% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dean College students is 216.3% larger than aid received by Massachusetts College of Art and Design students ($32,958 vs. $10,421).

Dean College vs. Massachusetts College of Art and Design Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Dean College or Massachusetts College of Art and Design? 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 Massachusetts College of Art and Design and Dean College.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Dean College - Test-free; Massachusetts College of Art and Design - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Dean College Sep 1, 2026; Massachusetts College of Art and Design Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Massachusetts College of Art and Design students have a 0.65 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at Dean College (2.88).
• Massachusetts College of Art and Design has a higher acceptance rate (76.3%) than Dean College (73.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8.7% at Dean College vs. 17.3% at Massachusetts College of Art and Design.

Dean College vs. Massachusetts College of Art and Design Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Dean College and Massachusetts College of Art and Design? 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).

• Massachusetts College of Art and Design's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than Dean College's (62%).
• Graduates from Massachusetts College of Art and Design earn a median of about $3,500 more per year than Dean College graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,700 vs. $35,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Dean College graduates have a $8,897 lower median loan debt than Massachusetts College of Art and Design graduates ($16,353 vs. $25,250).
• Among borrowers, Dean College graduates have an estimated $92 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Massachusetts College of Art and Design graduates ($169 vs. $261).
• More Massachusetts College of Art and Design 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.