Dean College vs. Paul Smith's College

Comparable Facts

Compare Dean College in Franklin, MA with Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science in Paul Smiths, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Dean College is larger than Paul Smith's College based on total student enrollment (1,092 students vs. 948 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Dean College is located in Franklin, MA (Large Suburban setting); Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science is in Paul Smiths, NY (Distant Rural setting).
• Dean College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Dean College 15:1; Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science 12:1.

Dean College vs. Paul Smith's College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Dean College or Paul Smith's 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 Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science than Dean College ($28,443 vs. $32,085).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science are 28.3% lower than at Dean College ($14,236 vs. $19,864).
• Dean College is 40.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Paul Smith's College (about $13,517 more per year; $46,526.00 vs. $33,009.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 40.9% higher at Dean College than at Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science (about $13,517 more per year; $46,526.00 vs. $33,009.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Dean College as at Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dean College students is 43.5% larger than aid received by Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science students ($32,958 vs. $22,973).

Dean College vs. Paul Smith's College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Dean College or Paul Smith's 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 Paul Smith's College and Dean College.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Dean College - Test-free; Paul Smith's College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Dean College Sep 1, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Dean College students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (2.88) than students at Paul Smith's College (2.8).
• Paul Smith's College has a higher acceptance rate (76.5%) than Dean College (73.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8.7% at Dean College vs. 18.8% at Paul Smith's College.

Dean College vs. Paul Smith's College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Dean College and Paul Smith's 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).

• Dean College's six-year graduation rate (62%) is higher than Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science's (37%).
• Graduates from Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science earn a median of about $1,500 more per year than Dean College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,700 vs. $35,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Dean College graduates have a $8,647 lower median loan debt than Paul Smith's College graduates ($16,353 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, Dean College graduates have an estimated $89 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Paul Smith's College graduates ($169 vs. $258).
• More Paul Smith's College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Dean College students, three years after graduation. (70% 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.