Dean College vs. Cornish College of the Arts

Comparable Facts

Compare Dean College in Franklin, MA with Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, WA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Dean College is larger than Cornish College of the Arts based on total student enrollment (1,092 students vs. 505 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Dean College is located in Franklin, MA (Large Suburban setting); Cornish College of the Arts is in Seattle, WA (Large City setting).
• Dean College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cornish College of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Dean College 15:1; Cornish College of the Arts 6:1.

Dean College vs. Cornish College of the Arts Cost Comparison

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

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Dean College than Cornish College of the Arts ($32,085 vs. $41,758).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cornish College of the Arts are 19.3% lower than at Dean College ($16,030 vs. $19,864).
• Dean College is 11.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cornish College of the Arts (about $4,842 more per year; $46,526.00 vs. $41,684.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 11.6% higher at Dean College than at Cornish College of the Arts (about $4,842 more per year; $46,526.00 vs. $41,684.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Dean College as at Cornish College of the Arts (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dean College students is 78% larger than aid received by Cornish College of the Arts students ($32,958 vs. $18,515).

Dean College vs. Cornish College of the Arts Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Dean College or Cornish College of the Arts? 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 Cornish College of the Arts and Dean College.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Dean College - Test-free; Cornish College of the Arts - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Dean College Sep 1, 2026.
• Dean College has a higher acceptance rate (73.7%) than Cornish College of the Arts (62.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8.7% at Dean College vs. 19.3% at Cornish College of the Arts.

Dean College vs. Cornish College of the Arts Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Dean College and Cornish College of the Arts? 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).

• Dean College's six-year graduation rate (62%) is higher than Cornish College of the Arts's (45%).
• Graduates from Dean College earn a median of about $3,500 more per year than Cornish College of the Arts graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,200 vs. $31,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Dean College graduates have a $10,647 lower median loan debt than Cornish College of the Arts graduates ($16,353 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Dean College graduates have an estimated $110 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cornish College of the Arts graduates ($169 vs. $279).
• More Cornish College of the Arts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Dean College students, three years after graduation. (63% 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.