Maine College of Art & Design vs. Dean College

Comparable Facts

Compare Maine College of Art & Design in Portland, ME with Dean College in Franklin, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Dean College is larger than Maine College of Art & Design based on total student enrollment (1,092 students vs. 475 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Maine College of Art & Design is located in Portland, ME (Small City setting); Dean College is in Franklin, MA (Large Suburban setting).
• Maine College of Art & Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Dean College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Maine College of Art & Design 8:1; Dean College 15:1.

Maine College of Art & Design vs. Dean College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Maine College of Art & Design or Dean 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 Dean College than Maine College of Art & Design ($32,085 vs. $39,639).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Maine College of Art & Design are 13.5% lower than at Dean College ($17,184 vs. $19,864).
• Dean College is 8.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Maine College of Art & Design (about $3,584 more per year; $46,526.00 vs. $42,942.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.3% higher at Dean College than at Maine College of Art & Design (about $3,584 more per year; $46,526.00 vs. $42,942.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Maine College of Art & Design as at Dean College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dean College students is 62.5% larger than aid received by Maine College of Art & Design students ($32,958 vs. $20,277).

Maine College of Art & Design vs. Dean College Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Maine College of Art & Design - Test-free; Dean College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Dean College Sep 1, 2026.
• Maine College of Art & Design has a higher acceptance rate (76.1%) than Dean College (73.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.1% at Maine College of Art & Design vs. 8.7% at Dean College.

Maine College of Art & Design vs. Dean College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Maine College of Art & Design and Dean 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 Maine College of Art & Design's (42%).
• Graduates from Dean College earn a median of about $3,600 more per year than Maine College of Art & Design graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,200 vs. $31,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Dean College graduates have a $10,647 lower median loan debt than Maine College of Art & Design graduates ($16,353 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Dean College graduates have an estimated $110 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Maine College of Art & Design graduates ($169 vs. $279).
• More Maine College of Art & Design 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.