Dean College
- Graduation Rate
- 48% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $38,109 C-
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $30,684 F
- 79% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 74% C+
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A D+ overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 8.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $8.5 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $8.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $914,822.
What The Data Says
-
A D+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
-
Every $1 invested returns $8.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Dean College Matters
Dean College is a private college in Franklin, MA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate College
- Enrollment
- 1,089
- Setting
- Suburban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Visual & Performing Arts, Communications, Criminal Justice
Why students choose Dean College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 74% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $30,684 a year after grants and scholarships — 79% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $38,109 ten years after enrolling — 7% below the typical college, against $25,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.9% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 84% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.66 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
At Dean College, you'll find a welcoming environment for students who appreciate a smaller campus vibe, with an enrollment of just 1,089. The school is particularly suited for those interested in practical fields like Business & Marketing, Visual & Performing Arts, and Communications. With a 74% acceptance rate, it opens its doors to a diverse range of applicants, making it accessible for many who want to explore their passions in a supportive setting.
When it comes to what happens after graduation, the numbers tell a promising story. Graduates earn an average of $38,109 within ten years of completing their degrees. While the graduation rate sits at 48%, it’s important to remember that many students are able to find fulfilling career paths even if they don't finish their degrees. Affordability is a consideration here too, with a median debt of $25,000, which is relatively manageable for many graduates entering the workforce.
Looking at the financial aspect, the net price after aid is around $30,684. This means that students need to be mindful of their financial commitments as they pursue their education. Those who thrive at Dean College tend to be proactive, engaged, and ready to take advantage of the networking opportunities that come with being part of a close-knit community. The blend of focused programs and a supportive atmosphere creates a unique space for personal and professional growth.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Dean College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Dean College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Dean College, located in Franklin, Massachusetts, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 74%. The graduation rate is roughly 48%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 74%
- Retention Rate
- 68%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 23%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,401
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 16:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.58
- First-Gen Students
- 32%
- Applicants
- 4,860
- Admitted
- 3,691
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Dean College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Dean College is $46,526, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $30,684. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $26,996 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $46,526
- Out-of-State
- $46,526
- Avg Net Price
- $30,684
- Median Debt
- $25,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 34%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 72%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $26,996
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $26,798
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $28,640
- Family Income $110K+
- $34,318
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Dean College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Dean College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Dean College report median earnings of $38,109, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $30,046
- 8 Years
- $33,302
- 10 Years
- $38,109
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.66x
- Earning > $25K
- 51%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (88)
- 49%
- 100% (88)
- 49%
- 100% (88)
- 49%
- 100% (88)
- 49%
How Dean Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Dean College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Dean College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $30,684/year ($122,736 total). Graduates earn $38,109 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,037,558 in total earnings — a net gain of $914,822 (8.5× your investment). The median debt is $25,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 48% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $122,736
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,037,558
- Net Return
- $914,822
- ROI Multiple
- 8.5×
- Cost Per Year
- $30,684
- Median Debt
- $25,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 48%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Dean College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Dean College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.87%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 9.4% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 9.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $91,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.87%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 9.3%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 9.4%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $124,181
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $5,462,354
- Investment Income
- $2,896,061
Top Programs
The fields Dean College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 20% $49,387 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 20% $31,037 early-career
- Communications 12%
- Criminal Justice 9%
- Psychology 5% $37,047 early-career
- Humanities 5%
- Biology & Biomedical 4%
- Education 3%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Dean College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Dean College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Dean College, located in Franklin, Massachusetts, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 74%. The graduation rate is roughly 48%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Dean College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Dean College is $46,526, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $30,684. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $26,996 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,000 in federal student loans.
Is Dean College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Dean College report median earnings of $38,109, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Dean College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Dean College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.87%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 9.4% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 9.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $91,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Dean College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Dean College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.66, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Dean College.
- Saint Mary-of-the-Woods CollegeSaint Mary of the Woods, IN · Close peer49% grad $43,845 earn 72% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar net price
- Emmanuel UniversityFranklin Springs, GA · Close peer38% grad $38,208 earn 74% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity
- Converse UniversitySpartanburg, SC · Close peer54% grad $40,867 earn 68% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Johnson & Wales University-CharlotteCharlotte, NC · Close peer51% grad $43,418 earn 80% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Toccoa Falls CollegeToccoa Falls, GA · Close peer45% grad $36,630 earn 66% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Anderson UniversityAnderson, IN · Close peer52% grad $48,899 earn 79% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Dean College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Dean College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.66, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note