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Main Street, June 2010, Franklin MAPhoto: John Phelan · CC BY 3.0
Colleges in and near Franklin Town

Franklin Town is home to Dean College

Dean College (1,108 students on campus) is inside the city. About 7% of Franklin Town’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Massachusetts (8%).

Dean College

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Franklin Town. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
4
9,238 students on campus
Nearest college
0.7 mi
Dean College
Residents in college
7%
About the same as MA (8%)
Nearest community college
17.4 mi
Massachusetts Bay · $5,856 tuition
Nearest public university
14.8 mi
Framingham State · $11,920 in-state
Median household income
$146K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Franklin Town

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A college in Franklin TownDean College has 1,108 students on campus in Franklin Town, 54% of whom graduate within six years.In-state price at Framingham StateLiving in Massachusetts, Framingham State University charges $11,920 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $18,000. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 17.4 miles awayMassachusetts Bay Community College in Wellesley Hills: tuition and fees $5,856 a year for Massachusetts residents.Students are 7% of residentsAbout the same as Massachusetts (8%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Franklin Town

Three private colleges within 14.2 miles, and one public college within 14.8 miles.

5 mi10 mi15 miBryant UniversityFramingham StateWheaton College (Massachusetts)Franklin Town
University or collegeCommunity college
Dean CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,108 on campus · In Franklin Town74%admitted$31knet price54%graduate$38kearningsBryant UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,504 on campus · 13.2 mi · Smithfield, RI65%admitted$41knet price80%graduate$90kearningsWheaton College (Massachusetts)University or college · Private nonprofit · 1,778 on campus · 14.2 mi · Norton68%admitted$30knet price73%graduate$68kearningsFramingham State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 2,848 on campus · 14.8 mi · Framingham84%admitted$16knet price48%graduate$52kearnings

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at Over $110k, where Franklin Town’s median household income ($145,773) falls.

Framingham State University14.8 mi · Framingham · sticker $27,413$21,962a year
Wheaton College (Massachusetts)14.2 mi · Norton · sticker $79,311$33,956a year
Dean CollegeIn Franklin Town · sticker $64,889$34,318a year
Bryant University13.2 mi · Smithfield, RI · sticker $69,964$44,846a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Franklin Town: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k$100k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Dean CollegeBryant UniversityWheaton College (Massachusetts)Framingham State
Bryant University80% graduate$90k earnings$27k typical debt
Framingham State University48% graduate$52k earnings$25k typical debt
Wheaton College (Massachusetts)73% graduate$68k earnings$26k typical debt
Dean College54% graduate$38k earnings$25k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.

Majors

What students study in Franklin Town

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at Dean College, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Business 20%Visual & performing arts 20%Parks & recreation 17%Communication 12%Public safety 9%Liberal arts 5%Everything else 17%

Biggest programs

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness56 graduates a year
$47k4 yrs out
Dance34 graduates a year
$37k4 yrs out
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft31 graduates a year
$37k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations28 graduates a year
$63k4 yrs out
Psychology, General8 graduates a year
$45k4 yrs out
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management6 graduates a year
$33k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Franklin Town

Is Franklin Town a college town?

No. About 7 of every 100 Franklin Town residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Massachusetts (8). The largest campus in the city, Dean College, has 1,108 students on campus.

What colleges are in Franklin Town?

Dean College is inside the city. Massachusetts Bay Community College is 17.4 miles away in Wellesley Hills.

What is the closest community college to Franklin Town, and what does it cost?

Massachusetts Bay Community College in Wellesley Hills, 17.4 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,856 a year for Massachusetts residents; the federal net price, $7,169, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Framingham State University cost if we live in Massachusetts?

Tuition and fees are $11,920 a year in-state and $18,000 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $11,934 (under $30,000 income) to $21,962 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Franklin Town. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →