Dean College vs. Sterling College

Comparable Facts

Compare Dean College in Franklin, MA with Sterling College in Craftsbury Common, VT on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Dean College is larger than Sterling College based on total student enrollment (1,092 students vs. 57 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Dean College is located in Franklin, MA (Large Suburban setting); Sterling College is in Craftsbury Common, VT (Remote Rural setting).
• Dean College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Sterling College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Dean College 15:1; Sterling College 7:1.

Dean College vs. Sterling College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Dean College or Sterling 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 Sterling College than Dean College ($21,854 vs. $32,085).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sterling College are 44.9% lower than at Dean College ($10,950 vs. $19,864).
• Dean College is 14.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Sterling College (about $5,766 more per year; $46,526.00 vs. $40,760.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14.1% higher at Dean College than at Sterling College (about $5,766 more per year; $46,526.00 vs. $40,760.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Dean College as at Sterling College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dean College students is 1.2% larger than aid received by Sterling College students ($32,958 vs. $32,556).

Dean College vs. Sterling College Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Dean College - Test-free; Sterling College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Dean College Sep 1, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Sterling College students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.1) than students at Dean College (2.88).
• Dean College has a higher acceptance rate (73.7%) than Sterling College (66.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8.7% at Dean College vs. 10.9% at Sterling College.

Dean College vs. Sterling College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Dean College and Sterling 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 Sterling College's (50%).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Dean College graduates have a $682 lower median loan debt than Sterling College graduates ($16,353 vs. $17,035).
• Among borrowers, Dean College graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Sterling College graduates ($169 vs. $176).
• More Sterling College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Dean College students, three years after graduation. (74% 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.