Dean College vs. Nichols

Comparable Facts

Compare Dean College in Franklin, MA with Nichols College in Dudley, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Nichols College is larger than Dean College based on total student enrollment (1,392 students vs. 1,092 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Dean College is located in Franklin, MA (Large Suburban setting); Nichols College is in Dudley, MA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Dean College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Nichols College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Dean College 15:1; Nichols College 15:1.

Dean College vs. Nichols Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Dean College or Nichols? 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 Dean College than Nichols ($32,085 vs. $32,337).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Nichols College are 20.5% lower than at Dean College ($15,800 vs. $19,864).
• Dean College is 8.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Nichols (about $3,821 more per year; $46,526.00 vs. $42,705.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.9% higher at Dean College than at Nichols College (about $3,821 more per year; $46,526.00 vs. $42,705.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Dean College than at Nichols College (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dean College students is 27.7% larger than aid received by Nichols College students ($32,958 vs. $25,809).

Dean College vs. Nichols Admissions comparison

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

• Nichols College reports an open admissions policy.
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsNichols College 1028/1236.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Dean College - Test-free; Nichols - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Dean College Sep 1, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Nichols students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (2.9) than students at Dean College (2.88).
• Nichols has a higher acceptance rate (80.8%) than Dean College (73.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8.7% at Dean College vs. 18.1% at Nichols.

Dean College vs. Nichols Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Dean College and Nichols? 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 Nichols College's (43%).
• Graduates from Nichols College earn a median of about $16,600 more per year than Dean College graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,800 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 Nichols graduates ($16,353 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Dean College graduates have an estimated $110 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Nichols graduates ($169 vs. $279).
• More Nichols graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Dean College students, three years after graduation. (68% 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.