Dean College vs Cambridge College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Cambridge College comes closer — median earnings $45,998 against a $124,288 total, vs $38,109 at Dean College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Dean College | Cambridge College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $30,684 | $31,072 |
| Total net cost | $122,736 | $124,288 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,109 | $45,998 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $21,791 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$327,756 | -$171,528 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Dean College or Cambridge College?
Dean College, at $30,684 a year after aid versus $31,072 — a gap of $388 a year, or $1,552 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Dean College or Cambridge College graduates earn more?
Cambridge College graduates report a median $45,998 ten years after entry, $7,889 more than the $38,109 at Dean College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Dean College or Cambridge College?
Cambridge College: its completers carry a median $21,791 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Dean College, a difference of $3,209. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
54% of students finish at Dean College, against 11% at Cambridge College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.