Dean College offers a small, supportive environment where students receive individualized attention, though graduates face significant earnings challenges compared to peers at other institutions.
The college provides access to higher education but struggles to convert that opportunity into strong long-term financial outcomes for students.
Dean College is a small private nonprofit institution in Franklin, Massachusetts, serving about 1,200 students with a focus on liberal arts and professional programs. The college enrolls a moderate share of Pell Grant recipients (30%) and first-generation students (32%), providing access to students from diverse economic backgrounds. However, Dean College faces challenges in delivering strong long-term financial outcomes for graduates.
Ten years after enrollment, graduates earn a median of $38,109, which places the college in the bottom 11th percentile nationally for earnings outcomes. The college's completion rates are also modest, with 43% of students graduating within six years. These outcomes reflect the institution's emphasis on fields like dance, theater, and liberal arts, which typically lead to lower early-career earnings but may offer other forms of professional fulfillment.
As an "Opportunity Builders" institution, Dean College provides access to higher education but struggles to convert that access into strong economic mobility. The college's small size allows for close faculty-student relationships and individualized support, which can be valuable for students who thrive in intimate academic environments and are pursuing careers where passion and personal growth matter as much as financial returns.
Dean College's program portfolio reflects its dual mission of practical career preparation and creative arts education. Business Administration stands out as the most financially viable option, graduating 37 students annually with median earnings of $41,565—still modest by national standards but representing the college's strongest return on investment. The program provides foundational business skills that translate into entry-level management and administrative roles.
Ballet represents the college's commitment to performing arts, graduating 31 students who typically earn $26,121 early in their careers. While these earnings are low by conventional measures, they reflect the realities of professional dance careers, where financial rewards often come later or through non-traditional paths. The program's large enrollment suggests strong student interest and institutional expertise in dance education.
As a small institution, Dean College graduates relatively few students in each program, which can limit alumni network strength and employer recruitment compared to larger colleges. Students should carefully consider whether their chosen field aligns with their financial goals and debt capacity, particularly given the college's higher-than-average costs and modest earnings outcomes.
Dean College graduates face significant challenges in the job market, with median earnings of $38,109 ten years after enrollment placing the institution in the bottom 11th percentile nationally. This represents earnings that are about $12,754 below what similar students achieve at other institutions, indicating that Dean College graduates consistently underperform financial expectations. The earnings outcomes reflect the college's program mix and the career paths typically associated with its strongest programs.
Business Administration, the college's highest aggregate return program with 37 graduates, produces median earnings of $41,565 ten years out—modestly above the institutional average but still well below national norms for business majors. Ballet, the largest program by enrollment with 31 graduates, leads to median earnings of just $26,121, reflecting the financial realities of careers in dance and performing arts. These two programs illustrate Dean College's dual focus: practical business training alongside creative and artistic disciplines that prioritize personal fulfillment over financial returns.
The college's small scale means fewer total graduates enter the workforce each year, which can limit alumni network strength and employer recruitment compared to larger institutions. Students considering Dean College should carefully weigh their career goals and financial expectations, particularly if they plan to pursue fields outside of business or need strong early-career earnings to manage student debt.
Dean College presents affordability challenges for most families, with net prices that rank in the bottom 8th percentile nationally. Low-income students pay about $26,727 annually, middle-income families face costs around $28,970, and higher-income families pay approximately $32,868 per year. These prices are substantially higher than what most public institutions charge and exceed the costs at many private colleges with stronger outcomes.
The debt burden compounds these affordability concerns. Typical graduates leave with $25,000 in federal student loan debt, while families often take on an additional $33,519 in Parent PLUS loans—creating a combined debt load of nearly $60,000 for many students. Given the college's modest earnings outcomes, this debt level represents a significant financial risk. With median graduate earnings of $38,109, standard loan repayment can consume a substantial portion of a graduate's income, potentially creating long-term financial strain that affects career choices and life decisions.
Dean College Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
