Dean College vs. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design

Comparable Facts

Compare Dean College in Franklin, MA with Pennsylvania College of Art and Design in Lancaster, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Dean College is larger than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design based on total student enrollment (1,092 students vs. 414 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Dean College is located in Franklin, MA (Large Suburban setting); Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is in Lancaster, PA (Small City setting).
• Dean College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Dean College 15:1; Pennsylvania College of Art and Design 10:1.

Dean College vs. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Dean College or Pennsylvania College of Art and Design? 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 Pennsylvania College of Art and Design than Dean College ($28,826 vs. $32,085).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design are 13.3% lower than at Dean College ($17,230 vs. $19,864).
• Dean College is 44.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (about $14,376 more per year; $46,526.00 vs. $32,150.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 44.7% higher at Dean College than at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (about $14,376 more per year; $46,526.00 vs. $32,150.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Dean College as at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dean College students is 119.9% larger than aid received by Pennsylvania College of Art and Design students ($32,958 vs. $14,989).

Dean College vs. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Dean College - Test-free; Pennsylvania College of Art and Design - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Dean College Sep 1, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Pennsylvania College of Art and Design students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.13) than students at Dean College (2.88).
• Pennsylvania College of Art and Design has a higher acceptance rate (99.2%) than Dean College (73.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8.7% at Dean College vs. 32.5% at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design.

Dean College vs. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Dean College and Pennsylvania College of Art and Design? 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 Pennsylvania College of Art and Design's (52%).
• Graduates from Dean College earn a median of about $6,500 more per year than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,200 vs. $28,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Dean College graduates have a $10,647 lower median loan debt than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates ($16,353 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Dean College graduates have an estimated $110 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates ($169 vs. $279).
• More Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Dean College students, three years after graduation. (58% 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.