Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Dean College #1465 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $20,903 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Dean College in the 4.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Dean College #1433 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Azimuth ranks Dean College #1465 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting strong graduate outcomes relative to cost paid. Graduates earn about $20,903 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 4.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- CITED_FIELDS: [ "gold_public_institution_scores_4yr_api.composite_rank", "gold_public_institution_scores_4yr_api.composite_percentile", "gold_public_institution_scores_4yr_api.value_added_earnings_10yr_percentile", "gold_public_institution_scores_4yr_api.return_rank", "gold_public_institution_scores_4yr_api.return_index_percentile" ]
Azimuth ranks Dean College #1465 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private master's college in Franklin, Massachusetts, Dean College enrolls roughly 1,089 undergraduates. The institution maintains a 68.3% freshman retention rate and a 53.6% six-year graduation rate, reflecting solid completion outcomes for its student body. Dean College's composite position reflects strength in return on investment paired with moderate access and affordability. Azimuth ranks Dean College #1433 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $20,903 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Dean College in the 4.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance reflects the institution's focus on Visual & Performing Arts, a field where graduates often see solid early-career earnings and steady career progression. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite, reflecting Dean College's position as a selective private institution. 33.7% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 31.7% are first-generation college students. The institution sits in the 29.8 percentile for access and the 9.6 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. For admitted students, Dean College offers need-based financial aid designed to make attendance feasible for families across income levels, though the private tuition structure means families should carefully evaluate net price alongside the institution's strong return metrics.
Dean College's published cost of attendance is $64,889. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $26,996, middle-income families pay around $28,640, and higher-income families pay approximately $34,318. Azimuth ranks Dean College #1288 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The affordability rank reflects both the headline sticker price and the debt load graduates carry; net price and sticker price can differ substantially, and understanding that gap helps families calibrate realistic out-of-pocket costs. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $58,742; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $41,151, median federal debt of $25,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $282 under standard ten-year repayment. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA and CSS Profile, and Dean College participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Dean College is a strong fit for students drawn to the visual and performing arts who want a private college experience in Franklin, MA. The institution's program mix is concentrated in Visual & Performing Arts, which represents 27% of degree output. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $41,151, placing Dean College in the 1.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $20,903 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Dean College in the 4.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 33.7% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 31.7% are first-generation — and delivers completion rates of 37.9% for Pell recipients. Published cost of attendance is $34,318, and median federal student debt at graduation is $25,000. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 73.7% admit rate makes the application process moderately selective, and the program mix favors arts-oriented fields over STEM or business. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find the earnings trajectory and aid package competitive among nonprofit four-year institutions.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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This is the Dean College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Dean College's published cost of attendance is $64,889. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $26,996, middle-income families pay around $28,640, and higher-income families pay approximately $34,318.
Azimuth ranks Dean College #1288 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The affordability rank reflects both the headline sticker price and the debt load graduates carry; [net price and sticker price can differ substantially](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/), and understanding that gap helps families calibrate realistic out-of-pocket costs.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $58,742; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $41,151, median federal debt of $25,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $282 under standard ten-year repayment.
Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA and CSS Profile, and Dean College participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Dean College earn median 4-year earnings of $41,151, placing Dean College in the 1.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $20,903 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Dean College in the 4.9 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Dean College #1433 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Dean College's concentration in visual and performing arts.
Kinesiology is the largest program with 57 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $46,897, and Azimuth ranks the program among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). The Dance program graduates 31 students earning $36,644, while Business Administration and Criminal Justice round out the institution's core offerings.
These programs anchor Dean College's long-term value proposition, with outcomes that reflect both the specialized nature of arts-focused training and the labor-market positioning of creative and performance careers.
Business Administration, Management and Operations
24 graduates
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
57 graduates
Psychology, General
17 graduates
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
20 graduates
Dance
31 graduates
Dean College's program mix centers on visual and performing arts, reflecting the institution's identity as a specialized creative college. Kinesiology is the largest program with 57 graduates, followed by Dance with 31 graduates, Business Administration with 24 graduates, Criminal Justice, and Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 209 students annually, the institution's strength lies in creative and performance-oriented fields where direct-to-workforce outcomes shape early-career earnings. The highest-earning programs at Dean College reflect the creative-industries focus.
Business Administration graduates earn median earnings of $62,986 four years after enrollment, while Kinesiology graduates earn $46,897 and Psychology, General graduates earn $45,086. Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft and Dance round out the earnings leaders, demonstrating that creative-field graduates at Dean College achieve solid four-year outcomes despite the typically lower early-career pay associated with arts-focused institutions.
The program portfolio emphasizes direct-to-workforce creative careers where four-year earnings reflect immediate labor-market entry rather than graduate-school pathways. Kinesiology and Dance, as the largest cohorts, anchor the institution's graduate flow into creative industries, performance venues, and design-related employment.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how creative-field employment aligns with regional and national labor-market trends, particularly in the Boston-Providence corridor where Dean College is positioned.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Young Harris College Similar quality tier (#36286 ranked) | GA | 63% | $47,195 | #36286 | Compare |
Eckerd College Similar quality tier (#36288 ranked) | FL | 76% | $51,819 | #36288 | Compare |
Toccoa Falls College Similar quality tier (#36291 ranked) | GA | 66% | $36,630 | #36291 | Compare |
Maine College Of Art & Design Similar quality tier in Northeast (#36281 ranked) | ME | 76% | $40,778 | #36281 | Compare |
Houghton University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#36280 ranked) | NY | 89% | $46,721 | #36280 | Compare |
