Dean College vs. PAFA

Comparable Facts

Compare Dean College in Franklin, MA with Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Dean College is larger than PAFA based on total student enrollment (1,092 students vs. 41 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Dean College is located in Franklin, MA (Large Suburban setting); Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
• Dean College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Dean College 15:1; Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts 2:1.

Dean College vs. PAFA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Dean College or PAFA? 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 PAFA ($32,085 vs. $33,323).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts are 6.1% lower than at Dean College ($18,662 vs. $19,864).
• Dean College is 4.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than PAFA (about $1,926 more per year; $46,526.00 vs. $44,600.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.3% higher at Dean College than at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (about $1,926 more per year; $46,526.00 vs. $44,600.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Dean College as at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dean College students is 33% larger than aid received by Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts students ($32,958 vs. $24,785).

Dean College vs. PAFA Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Dean College - Test-free; PAFA - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Dean College Sep 1, 2026; PAFA Feb 1, 2027.

Dean College vs. PAFA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Dean College and PAFA? 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).

• Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts's six-year graduation rate (73%) is higher than Dean College's (62%).
• Graduates from Dean College earn a median of about $13,200 more per year than PAFA graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,200 vs. $22,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Dean College graduates have a $10,147 lower median loan debt than PAFA graduates ($16,353 vs. $26,500).
• Among borrowers, Dean College graduates have an estimated $105 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than PAFA graduates ($169 vs. $274).
• More PAFA 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.