Dean College
Franklin, Massachusetts · Private Nonprofit · 73.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 16/100 · Poor Value
Dean College scores 16 (Poor Value) on the CampusROI scale — a small private institution in Franklin, MA with 1,089 enrolled students and a $46,526 sticker tuition discounted to a $30,684 net price. The score reflects an 84.5-year payback period, a 0.871 debt-to-earnings ratio, a 53.6% completion rate, and a repayment rate of 62.1% at 7 years. Median 6-year earnings of $28,700 are among the lowest of any institution in this dataset — lower than the median annual earnings for a high school graduate in Massachusetts. The combination of low earnings and high cost produces the 84.5-year payback, which is effectively infinite on any reasonable financial planning horizon. Dean College's program concentration is heavily in performing arts, exercise science, and business, with Dance (34 grads, $24,236 year-one, grade F) and Kinesiology (56 grads, $28,609 year-one, grade D) as the two largest programs by graduate count. Business Administration (28 grads, $39,200 year-one) is the only program earning a grade above D, at C. The Scorecard does not report standardized test score ranges for Dean College.
The data raises concerns about Dean College
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score16/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Payback period>50 years - Graduates earn at or near the level of high school completers — the cost may not recoup within a working career.
Dean College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $46,526/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $46,526/yr |
| Average net price | $30,684/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $122,736 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $38,109 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $28,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $265 |
| Estimated payback period | >50 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 53.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,089 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Dean College is $46,526/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $30,684/year, or roughly $122,736 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $26,996/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $34,318/year.
The median graduate leaves with $25,000 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $265 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $38,109 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.87 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $26,996 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $26,798 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $28,640 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $31,161 |
| $110,001+ | $34,318 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $26,996 per year at Dean. This is a high net price for a private institution with these outcomes — at $26,996 per year in Massachusetts, low-income students can access far better-value options including UMass and state community colleges. The 30001-48000 bracket pays $26,798, essentially the same. For low-income students, the combination of $27,000 per year in net price and $28,700 median 6-year earnings is financially untenable. The completion rate of 53.6% adds borrowing risk on top of outcomes risk.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $28,640 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $31,161. These figures track closely to the lowest income brackets, indicating that Dean's aid structure does not meaningfully differentiate across income levels — the net price is nearly the same whether a family earns $30,000 or $110,000. For middle-income families, the near-flat aid schedule makes Dean an expensive choice regardless of financial circumstances. The 84.5-year payback period is calculated using median earnings, which means half of graduates face even longer payback periods than the institutional median.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $34,318 per year at Dean — a four-year total near $137,000. At $28,700 median earnings, this represents the worst cost-to-earnings ratio of any institution in this dataset at the full-pay level. Families in this income bracket who are considering Dean for a student in dance, theater, or kinesiology should recognize that the financial investment is being made in a vocation, not in earnings. The decision is legitimate if understood in those terms — but no financial analysis supports paying $34,000 per year for outcomes that produce $24,000-$29,000 in year-one earnings.
Earnings by Major
Top 6 most popular majors at Dean College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $46,897 | D |
| Dance | $36,644 | F |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $36,724 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $62,986 | C |
| Psychology | $45,086 | D |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management | $33,485 | - |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is Dean's only program earning above a D grade: 28 graduates, $39,200 year-one, $62,986 at year four, grade C on $26,250 median debt. At $30,684 net price, a C-grade outcome with $39,200 year-one earnings is financially marginal — the payback on $26,250 in debt against $39,200 in year-one earnings is manageable, but the total cost of $122,736 over four years against those earnings is not. Business students at Dean are paying private school prices for outcomes that a Massachusetts public university would deliver at half the net cost.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology is Dean's largest program by graduate count at 56 graduates, earning a D grade: $28,609 year-one, $46,897 at year four, debt-to-earnings 0.944 on $27,000 median debt. At $28,609 year-one in the Greater Boston area — one of the highest cost-of-living regions in the country — kinesiology graduates face severe financial constraints. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.944 means graduates owe almost exactly their annual pre-tax income. Students who attend Dean for kinesiology with the goal of becoming physical therapists, athletic trainers, or fitness professionals should know that this bachelor's degree alone does not produce competitive earnings in the Boston market.
Dance
Dance earns an F grade: 34 graduates, $24,236 year-one, $36,644 at year four, debt-to-earnings 1.114 on $27,000 median debt. Year-one median earnings of $24,236 in Massachusetts — a state with a $15/hour minimum wage — reflect the severe demand limitations of professional dance as a career. Graduates owe more in debt than they earn in a year. The four-year figure of $36,644 shows modest growth but remains well below the median wage in Massachusetts. Dean's dance program has professional reputation in its field; the ROI data reflects the economics of that field, not an institutional failure. Students must enter dance at Dean knowing that the financial case does not exist.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 58.0% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 61.9% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 57.8% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 62.1% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 73.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,089 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 33.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,401 |
Dean's 73.7% admission rate is broadly accessible. No standardized test score ranges are reported. The institution is likely evaluating applicants in performing arts through auditions and portfolio review rather than academic credentials alone. Prospective students should be clear about whether their goal is professional performing arts training or a credential that leads to employment — the data suggests the latter is not what Dean's primary programs deliver. Business Administration at $30,684 net price with a C grade is mediocre; prospective business students should compare directly with Massachusetts public universities.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Dean's Scorecard peer schools are American International College, Amherst College, Mary Baldwin University, Missouri Valley College, and Faulkner University — a disparate grouping. The comparison to Amherst College is particularly misleading as a peer grouping — Amherst is a highly selective institution with exceptional outcomes. American International College is a more accurate regional Massachusetts peer. Dean's ROI of 16 places it at the very bottom of nearly any peer comparison. The institution's clearest differentiator is its performing arts focus and Franklin, MA campus environment — values that are real for a specific student population but are not captured in the ROI framework.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dean College (this school) | 16 | $30,684 | $38,109 |
| Amherst College | 90 | $23,367 | $77,644 |
| American International College | 38 | $23,274 | $53,124 |
| Mary Baldwin University | 25 | $12,756 | $44,427 |
| Faulkner University | 19 | $22,085 | $43,457 |
| Missouri Valley College | 16 | $18,086 | $43,221 |
Who Thrives Here
Dean admits 73.7% of applicants. The Scorecard does not report SAT or ACT score ranges. With 1,089 enrolled undergraduates and a 33.7% Pell grant rate, Dean serves a moderately mixed-income student body that is likely drawn primarily to its performing arts and sport management programs. The institution has historical strength in dance and theater, and a significant portion of its value proposition is non-financial: performance training, industry connections, and conservatory-style programming in a small New England setting. Students who attend Dean for dance or theater are making a vocational and artistic choice; the financial data does not support it as an investment in earnings.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Dean College. With a net cost of $30,684 per year and median graduate earnings of only $38,109 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds >50 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $25,000 against $38,109 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.