Dean College vs. Centra College

Comparable Facts

Compare Dean College in Franklin, MA with Centra College in Lynchburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Dean College is larger than Centra College based on total student enrollment (1,092 students vs. 219 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Dean College is located in Franklin, MA (Large Suburban setting); Centra College is in Lynchburg, VA (Small City setting).
• Dean College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Centra College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Dean College 15:1; Centra College 3:1.

Dean College vs. Centra College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Dean College or Centra College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Centra College are 37.5% lower than at Dean College ($12,424 vs. $19,864).
• Dean College is 258.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Centra College (about $33,543 more per year; $46,526.00 vs. $12,983.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 258.4% higher at Dean College than at Centra College (about $33,543 more per year; $46,526.00 vs. $12,983.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Dean College than at Centra College (100% vs. 0%).

Dean College vs. Centra College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Dean College or Centra 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 Centra College and Dean College.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Dean College - Test-free; Centra College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Dean College Sep 1, 2026.
• Centra College has a higher acceptance rate (100%) than Dean College (73.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8.7% at Dean College vs. 0% at Centra College.

Dean College vs. Centra College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Dean College and Centra 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).

• Graduates from Centra College earn a median of about $9,600 more per year than Dean College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $35,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Centra College graduates have a $4,311 lower median loan debt than Dean College graduates ($12,042 vs. $16,353).
• Among borrowers, Centra College graduates have an estimated $45 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Dean College graduates ($124 vs. $169).
• More Centra College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Dean College students, three years after graduation. (66% 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.