Thomas College vs. Dean College

Comparable Facts

Compare Thomas College in Waterville, ME with Dean College in Franklin, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Thomas College is larger than Dean College based on total student enrollment (1,635 students vs. 1,092 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Thomas College is located in Waterville, ME (Rural Fringe setting); Dean College is in Franklin, MA (Large Suburban setting).
• Thomas College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Dean College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Thomas College 20:1; Dean College 15:1.

Thomas College vs. Dean College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Thomas College or Dean College? 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 Thomas College than Dean College ($19,126 vs. $32,085).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Thomas College are 29.1% lower than at Dean College ($14,090 vs. $19,864).
• Dean College is 46.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Thomas College (about $14,702 more per year; $46,526.00 vs. $31,824.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 46.2% higher at Dean College than at Thomas College (about $14,702 more per year; $46,526.00 vs. $31,824.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Dean College than at Thomas College (100% vs. 98%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dean College students is 16.8% larger than aid received by Thomas College students ($32,958 vs. $28,212).

Thomas College vs. Dean College Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Thomas College - Test-free; Dean College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Dean College Sep 1, 2026.
• Thomas College has a higher acceptance rate (96.3%) than Dean College (73.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.1% at Thomas College vs. 8.7% at Dean College.

Thomas College vs. Dean College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Thomas College and Dean 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).

• Dean College's six-year graduation rate (62%) is higher than Thomas College's (45%).
• Graduates from Thomas College earn a median of about $5,800 more per year than Dean College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,000 vs. $35,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Dean College graduates have a $10,647 lower median loan debt than Thomas College graduates ($16,353 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Dean College graduates have an estimated $110 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Thomas College graduates ($169 vs. $279).
• More Thomas College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Dean College students, three years after graduation. (67% 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.