During his senior year in 1987, Crowe's last race wearing the B.U. singlet was a thrilling victory at the NCAA Championships in hot and sultry Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He became the University's seventh individual national champion in outdoor track. Dean took control of his trial heat, pushing the field to a 13:47 qualifying round. Then in the final Dean assumed control early in the race and gradually upped the pace as the laps and the heat took their toll until running 1:55 for the final two laps, leading his teammate Are Nakkim in with a 1-2 finish in 13:43.

After being hindered by injury during his freshman campaign, Crowe began to shine as a sophomore during the 1984-85 academic year. He established school records in the Distance Medley Relay (9:52.55) and the 1500 meters (3:47.27), which he set while earning his first All-America honor in the 1500 at the 1985 Indoor NCAA Championships. In 1986, Crowe won the 5K at the prestigious Penn Relays, clocking 13:35.9, with a 1:56 final 800 meters.

Complementing these triumphs on the track, Crowe enjoyed considerable success in cross-country. He led Boston University to its highest ever finish at the NCAA Championships, when the club placed third in 1986. The year before, the Terriers hinted at their future accomplishments by finishing eighth in the nation. Crowe, who finished sixth in 1986 and 10th in 1985, earned All-America laurels on each occasion.

He similarly dominated the opposition at the local and regional level, capturing the individual title at the highly competitive IC4A Championships and the New England meet in 1986. Following his junior year, he was selected to represent Oceana in the 1987 World Cup.

A 1988 graduate, Crowe still holds the existing University records in the outdoor 5K (13:32.04).

In May of 1996, Dean Crowe was inducted into the Boston University Athletic Hall of Fame.