Ringling College of Art and Design vs. Dean College

Comparable Facts

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

Ringling College of Art and Design is larger than Dean College based on total student enrollment (1,666 students vs. 1,092 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Ringling College of Art and Design is located in Sarasota, FL (Small City setting); Dean College is in Franklin, MA (Large Suburban setting).
• Ringling College of Art and Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Dean College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Ringling College of Art and Design 11:1; Dean College 15:1.

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

Which college is more expensive, Ringling College of Art and 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 Ringling College of Art and Design ($32,085 vs. $62,012).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ringling College of Art and Design are 3.8% lower than at Dean College ($19,100 vs. $19,864).
• Ringling College of Art and Design is 24.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Dean College (about $11,374 more per year; $57,900.00 vs. $46,526.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 24.4% higher at Ringling College of Art and Design than at Dean College (about $11,374 more per year; $57,900.00 vs. $46,526.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Ringling College of Art and Design as at Dean College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dean College students is 78.7% larger than aid received by Ringling College of Art and Design students ($32,958 vs. $18,442).

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

Which college is harder to get into, Ringling College of Art and 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 Ringling College of Art and Design.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Ringling College of Art and Design - Test-free; Dean College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Dean College Sep 1, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Ringling College of Art and Design students have a 0.6 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at Dean College (2.88).
• Dean College has a higher acceptance rate (73.7%) than Ringling College of Art and Design (69.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.5% at Ringling College of Art and Design vs. 8.7% at Dean College.

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

How do outcomes compare for Ringling College of Art and 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).

• Ringling College of Art and Design's six-year graduation rate (66%) is higher than Dean College's (62%).
• Graduates from Ringling College of Art and Design earn a median of about $6,600 more per year than Dean College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,800 vs. $35,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Dean College graduates have a $10,647 lower median loan debt than Ringling 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 Ringling College of Art and Design graduates ($169 vs. $279).
• More Ringling College of Art and Design graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Dean College students, three years after graduation. (67% 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.