Dean College vs. Pacific Northwest College of Art

Comparable Facts

Compare Dean College in Franklin, MA with Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland, OR on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Dean College is larger than Pacific Northwest College of Art based on total student enrollment (1,092 students vs. 466 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Dean College is located in Franklin, MA (Large Suburban setting); Pacific Northwest College of Art is in Portland, OR (Large City setting).
• Dean College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Pacific Northwest College of Art is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Dean College 15:1; Pacific Northwest College of Art 9:1.

Dean College vs. Pacific Northwest College of Art Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Dean College or Pacific Northwest College of Art? 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 Pacific Northwest College of Art ($32,085 vs. $39,710).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Northwest College of Art are 0.5% lower than at Dean College ($19,760 vs. $19,864).
• Pacific Northwest College of Art is 5.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Dean College (about $2,480 more per year; $49,006.00 vs. $46,526.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.3% higher at Pacific Northwest College of Art than at Dean College (about $2,480 more per year; $49,006.00 vs. $46,526.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Dean College as at Pacific Northwest College of Art (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dean College students is 7.5% larger than aid received by Pacific Northwest College of Art students ($32,958 vs. $30,666).

Dean College vs. Pacific Northwest College of Art Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Dean College - Test-free; Pacific Northwest College of Art - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Dean College Sep 1, 2026.
• Pacific Northwest College of Art has a higher acceptance rate (74.8%) than Dean College (73.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8.7% at Dean College vs. 28.1% at Pacific Northwest College of Art.

Dean College vs. Pacific Northwest College of Art Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Dean College and Pacific Northwest College of Art? 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 Pacific Northwest College of Art's (42%).
• Graduates from Dean College earn a median of about $5,300 more per year than Pacific Northwest College of Art graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,200 vs. $29,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Dean College graduates have a $11,628 lower median loan debt than Pacific Northwest College of Art graduates ($16,353 vs. $27,981).
• Among borrowers, Dean College graduates have an estimated $120 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pacific Northwest College of Art graduates ($169 vs. $289).
• More Dean College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pacific Northwest College of Art students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 50%)

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.