Dean College vs. MCLA

Comparable Facts

Compare Dean College in Franklin, MA with Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Dean College is larger than MCLA based on total student enrollment (1,092 students vs. 896 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Dean College is located in Franklin, MA (Large Suburban setting); Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is in North Adams, MA (Distant Town setting).
• Dean College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Dean College 15:1; Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 8:1.

Dean College vs. MCLA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Dean College or MCLA? 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 Liberal Arts than Dean College ($16,544 vs. $32,085).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts are 22.5% lower than at Dean College ($15,386 vs. $19,864).
• Dean College is 274.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than MCLA (about $34,090 more per year; $46,526.00 vs. $12,436.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 117.6% higher at Dean College than at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (about $25,145 more per year; $46,526.00 vs. $21,381.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Dean College than at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dean College students is 264.4% larger than aid received by Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts students ($32,958 vs. $9,045).

Dean College vs. MCLA Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsMassachusetts College of Liberal Arts 960/1180.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsMassachusetts College of Liberal Arts 17/21.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Dean College - Test-free; MCLA - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Dean College Sep 1, 2026.
• Accepted freshman MCLA students have a 0.32 point higher average high school GPA (3.2) than students at Dean College (2.88).
• MCLA has a higher acceptance rate (89.7%) than Dean College (73.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8.7% at Dean College vs. 11.5% at MCLA.

Dean College vs. MCLA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Dean College and MCLA? 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 Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts's (53%).
• Graduates from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts earn a median of about $1,900 more per year than Dean College graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,100 vs. $35,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Dean College graduates have a $8,306 lower median loan debt than MCLA graduates ($16,353 vs. $24,659).
• Among borrowers, Dean College graduates have an estimated $85 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MCLA graduates ($169 vs. $254).
• More MCLA 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.