Dean College vs. Nichols

Dean College and Nichols College side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Dean College
Nichols College

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Dean College (73.7% admitted vs 80.8%). Typical SAT N/A vs 1130.
  • Cheaper after aid: about even. Average net price is $32,085 at Dean College vs $32,337 at Nichols. Dean College in-state tuition is about $3,821 more per year.
  • Graduation: Dean College 62% vs Nichols 43%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Dean College $35,200 vs Nichols $51,800 (median).
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Key differences

Dean College Nichols College
Acceptance rate
Dean College more selective
Dean College73.7%
Nichols80.8%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Nichols higher
Dean College-
Nichols1028-1236
Average net price
About even
Dean College$32,085
Nichols$32,337
In-state tuition
Nichols $3,821 less
Dean College$46,526
Nichols$42,705
Out-of-state tuition
Nichols $3,821 less
Dean College$46,526
Nichols$42,705
Graduation rate
Dean College +19 pts
Dean College62%
Nichols43%
Median earnings (10 years)
Nichols +$16,600
Dean College$35,200
Nichols$51,800

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Dean College 4,617
  • Nichols 2,296
  • Admitted
  • Dean College 3,403
  • Nichols 1,856
  • Acceptance rate
  • Dean College 73.7%
  • Nichols 80.8% Open
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Dean College 8.7%
  • Nichols 18.1% Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • Dean College
  • Nichols 1130
  • Typical ACT score
  • Dean College
  • Nichols
  • Average high school GPA
  • Dean College 2.88
  • Nichols 2.9
  • Typical high school grades
  • Dean College B
  • Nichols B
  • Admissions standards
  • Dean College Unavailable
  • Nichols Moderate
  • Applicant competition
  • Dean College Low
  • Nichols
  • SAT range
  • Dean College
  • Nichols 1028-1236
  • ACT range
  • Dean College
  • Nichols
  • Submit test scores
  • Dean College Test-free
  • Nichols Open admission
  • Application deadline
  • Dean College Sep 1, 2026
  • Nichols
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Dean College $46,526
  • Nichols $42,705
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Dean College $46,526
  • Nichols $42,705
  • Room & board
  • Dean College $19,864
  • Nichols $15,800
  • Average net price
  • Dean College $32,085
  • Nichols $32,337
  • Average grant aid
  • Dean College $32,958
  • Nichols $25,809
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Dean College 100%
  • Nichols 99%
  • Graduation rate
  • Dean College 62%
  • Nichols 43%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Dean College $35,200
  • Nichols $51,800
  • Making student loan payments
  • Dean College 53%
  • Nichols 68%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Dean College $16,353
  • Nichols $27,000
  • Median loan payment
  • Dean College $169
  • Nichols $279
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Dean College 15:1
  • Nichols 15:1
  • Popular majors
  • Dean College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (26%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (25%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (9%)
  • Nichols
    • Business (75%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (12%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
    • Psychology (3%)
    • Education (2%)
  • Location
  • Dean College Franklin, MA
  • Nichols Dudley, MA
  • Setting
  • Dean College Large Suburban
  • Nichols Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Dean College 1,092
  • Nichols 1,392
  • Type
  • Dean College Private 4 Year
  • Nichols Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Dean College
  • Nichols #855

Comparable Facts

Compare Dean College in Franklin, MA with Nichols College in Dudley, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Nichols College is larger than Dean College based on total student enrollment (1,392 students vs. 1,092 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Dean College is located in Franklin, MA (Large Suburban setting); Nichols College is in Dudley, MA (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Dean College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Nichols College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Dean College 15:1; Nichols College 15:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Nichols College are 20.5% lower than at Dean College ($15,800 vs. $19,864).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 8.9% higher at Dean College than at Nichols College (about $3,821 more per year; $46,526 vs. $42,705).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Dean College than at Nichols College (100% vs. 99%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Dean College students is 27.7% larger than aid received by Nichols College students ($32,958 vs. $25,809).

Admissions details

  • SAT or ACT scores are test-free at Dean College, open admission at Nichols.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Dean College Sep 1, 2026.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Nichols average a 2.9 high school GPA, 0.02 higher than at Dean College (2.88).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8.7% at Dean College vs. 18.1% at Nichols.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Dean College graduates have a $10,647 lower median loan debt than Nichols graduates ($16,353 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Dean College graduates have an estimated $110 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Nichols graduates ($169 vs. $279).
  • More Nichols graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Dean College students, three years after graduation (68% vs. 53%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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