Dean College is committed to helping students and families invest in and benefit from the value of a private college education.
2026-2027 Academic Year
Below is a list of the cost per credit for the 2026-2027 academic year.
- $430 per one credit
- $1,290 per three credits
- $1,720 per four credits
There is a $25 registration fee per semester, and full payment must be made at the time of registration. Dean College accepts VISA, MasterCard, Discover and American Express. You may register in-person from Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Center for Student Financial Planning and Services, first floor of Dean Hall. You may also register by calling 508-541-1624 or by faxing 508-541-1941 (credit card only).
File Your FAFSA
Students must be accepted to a degree granting program to be eligible for financial aid.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a free application, and should be completed if you wish to receive consideration for federal student aid – or possible state funds - as a part time student. Dean’s federal school code—002144— should be used when you complete the online application at studentaid.gov.
Financial Aid and Enrolled Credits
Financial aid eligibility is based on the number of financial aid-eligible credits you are enrolled in. Students seeking financial aid must also complete the Part-Time Studies Financial Aid Application and indicate the number of credits in which you plan to enroll.
If you change your enrollment plan, you must contact us at sfp@dean.edu so we can revise your financial aid offer and discuss any changes with you.
Tentative Award and Verification Policy
If your financial aid award says “tentative,” it has been estimated based on the income and tax estimates that you provided on your FAFSA.
The U.S. Department of Education and Dean College select applications for verification. The verification process requires Dean College to verify certain information that is listed on a student’s FAFSA. This process is conducted by reviewing student and parent’s tax information; additional documents may be required. For more information on additional documents that may be required, please visit www.dean.edu/forms.
Changes to eligibility may result in an updated offer should differences be found in the information provided on the FAFSA and/or verification process. Should there be changes to your eligibility due to verification, a revised aid offer will be provided.
Any student failing to complete their financial aid paperwork during their period of enrollment will be ineligible for all federal and/or state funds for that academic year.
Types of Financial Aid
Federal Pell Grants
The Federal Pell Grant is funded by the federal government and is determined based on the information provided on the FAFSA and enrollment status.
Federal Direct Student Loan
Federal Direct Student Loans are long-term, fixed-interest rate federal student loans offered based on a review of your FAFSA, Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), and your enrollment status. First-time borrowers must complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) and an Entrance Counseling session online at studentaid.gov.
Repayment of Student Loans begins six months after you graduate, withdraw, or drop below half-time enrollment status (six credits). Learn more about Federal Direct Loans.
There are two types of Direct Student Loans:
- Subsidized: No interest accrues until you graduate, withdraw, or drop below half-time enrollment status.
- Unsubsidized: Interest begins to accrue immediately.
Direct Loan Annual and Aggregate Loan Limits
| Year of Study | Dependent Student Amount | Independent Student Amount |
|---|---|---|
| First year (0-29 credits) | $5,500 (max $3,500 Sub.) | $9,500 (max $3,500 Sub.) |
| Second year (30-59 credits) | $6,500 (max $4,500 Sub.) | $10,500 (max $4,500 Sub.) |
| Third and beyond (60+ credits) | $7,500 (max $5,500 Sub.) | $12,500 (max $5,500 Sub.) |
| Aggregate Total Loan Amount | $31,000 (max $23,000 Sub.) | $57,500 (max $23,000 Sub.) |
We recommend all students read the Federal Student Basics to understand the terms and repayment options of their Federal Student Loans.
Important Note: Part-time students must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credits per term in order to qualify for Federal Direct Student Loans.
Office of Continuing and Professional Studies Financial Aid Policies
Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy for Aid Recipients
In addition to the academic progress standards published in the Academic Requirements section of the Academic Catalog, financial aid recipients must meet academic progress criteria established in accordance with federal regulations. The Center for Student Financial Planning and Services will evaluate students satisfactory academic progress at the conclusion of the Spring semester after grades are posted. Students who leave the College and are readmitted will be evaluated before aid is offered regardless of the term in which they return to Dean.
Student’s must maintain a 2.0 cumulative grade point average.
Students must successfully complete 60% of all attempted coursework. Any course in which a student is enrolled after the regular drop/add period is considered an attempted course.
A passing grade is successful completion of a course with a grade of D– or better. Failure, withdrawal after the second week (or at any time during which a withdrawal grade of W or RW will be posted to the student’s transcript), or an incomplete (I) in a class constitutes an attempted course that is not successfully completed. Repeated courses will be counted when measuring this standard.
Federal aid recipients cannot continue to receive aid after they have attempted more than 150% of the number of credits required for their degree. For example: A student who have attempted more than 90 credits for a 60 credit-hour degree will be ineligible for additional aid.
Transfer credits are counted in the total number of credits attempted. Repeated courses will be counted when measuring this standard.
Students who fail to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards may not be eligible for financial aid in subsequent academic periods. Students who do not meet the College’s standards and who are allowed by the College to return on probation may appeal to regain eligibility for financial aid through the Center for Student Financial Planning and Services.
Students not making Satisfactory Academic Progress will be notified in writing by the Financial Aid Office. Eligibility can be regained by submitting an appeal at least one month prior to the beginning of the following term. Appeals should contain a signed letter from the student and any documentation that supports claims of extenuating circumstances. Supporting letters from advisors and professors are also encouraged. Grounds for appeal include the student’s documented illness or other extenuating circumstances. Additional documentation may be requested depending on the nature of the appeal. Decisions will be made by the Academic Appeals Committee.
Students may also regain eligibility by taking coursework to improve their grades or completion rate without the benefit of financial aid. Students can be re-evaluated for eligibility at any time and can be considered for financial aid in the term following the point at which the standards are met. Academic achievements at other colleges can be considered as part of an appeal, but transfer work will not affect a student’s GPA or completion rate record at Dean.
Withdrawal
Students may withdraw from courses during the Withdrawal Period with the approval of their advisors and the faculty members teaching the courses they wish to withdraw from. Students are assigned a ‘W’ grade for the courses they withdraw from during the Withdrawal Period. W grades have no impact on students’ GPAs but may impact students’ academic standings, financial aid eligibility as well as athletic eligibility. Tuition, excluding fees, is refundable for full semester and quarter classes as follows:
- Withdrawal by 11:59 p.m. on the 7th day of the term – 100% refund
- Withdrawal between the 8th day of the term and 11:59 p.m. on the 14th day of the term – 50% refund
- No refund after the 14th day of the term.
*Credits transfer to most regionally accredited, degree-granting college or university.
Students may withdraw from courses during the Withdrawal Period with the approval of their advisors and the faculty members teaching the courses they wish to withdraw from. Students are assigned a ‘W’ grade for the courses they withdraw from during the Withdrawal Period. W grades have no impact on students’ GPAs but may impact students’ academic standings, financial aid eligibility as well as athletic eligibility.
Return of Title IV Funds
Students who withdraw from all classes but attended the College for at least one day during the semester and received or were eligible to receive financial aid, are subject to a Return to Title IV Funds calculation.
Title IV Credit Balances
A Title IV credit balance occurs whenever the amount of Title IV funds credited to a student’s account for a payment period exceeds the amount assessed the student for allowable charges associated with that payment period. In those cases, a refund check will be made available to students to pick up or mail to your permanent address within 14 days of disbursement. You may request a student refund for any portion of any credit balance on your student account. Refunds will only be issued for actual credit balances and will not be issued based on “pending” financial aid.
Repeat Credit Policy for Financial Aid Recipients
A repeated course may count toward a student’s enrollment status (full-time or part-time status) for financial aid eligibility under the following conditions:
- The course is repeatable for credit. Please see specific course descriptions for applicability.
- The student received a failing grade or withdrawal in the previous attempt and is re-taking the course to receive credit
- The student received a passing grade and is re-taking the course for the first time in order to achieve an academic standard set by the student’s specific program (such as a minimum grade requirement in Education, etc.) or to improve the GPA.
Repeated courses cannot count toward enrollment status for financial aid eligibility in the following case:
- The student has already taken and passed the course and is repeating the course again.
Please note: Students may not re-take a course without meeting with their academic advisor.
All repeated courses, regardless of whether they are eligible for financial aid, count toward the students' attempted credits for the purpose of determining satisfactory academic progress and progress toward degree completion within the maximum allotted timeline for financial aid eligibility.