Denison UniversityDenison University
Granville, OH · Midwest
- Acceptance rate
- 17.4%
- SAT mid-50
- 1320-1490
- Cost after aid
- $40,007
- Graduation rate
- 79%
What Denison University says matters
How Denison University rates each admissions factor in its Common Data Set, with the full published numbers below.
- SAT mid-50
- 1340-1480
- ACT mid-50
- 30-33
- CDS year
- 2024-25
Very important
- Rigor of secondary school record
- Class rank
- Academic GPA
- Standardized test scores
- Application essay
- Recommendations
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent or ability
- Character or personal qualities
- First generation
- Alumni relation
- Geographical residence
- State residency
- Religious affiliation or commitment
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
- Level of applicant's interest
The full Common Data Set
Every figure Denison University published for 2024-25, section by section.
First-Time, First-Year Admission73
Entrance Exams
- AP
- X
- Institutional Exam
- X
Applications
- Total full-time, first-time, first-year men who enrolled
- 287
- Total part-time, first-time, first-year men who enrolled
- 0
- Total full-time, first-time, first-year women who enrolled
- 334
- Total part-time, first-time, first-year women who enrolled
- 0
Wait List
- Number of qualified applicants offered a place on waiting list:
- 2,213
- Number accepting a place on the waiting list:
- 464
- Number of wait-listed students admitted:
- 76
Admissions Requirements
- Total academic units
- 20.00
- English
- 4.00
- Mathematics
- 4.00
- Science
- 4.00
- Foreign language
- 4.00
- Social studies
- 4.00
Basis for Selection
- Rigor of secondary school record
- Very Important
- Class rank
- Very Important
- Academic GPA
- Very Important
- Standardized test scores
- Very Important
- Application Essay
- Very Important
- Recommendation(s)
- Very Important
- Extracurricular activities
- Very Important
- Talent/ability
- Very Important
- Character/personal qualities
- Very Important
- First generation
- Very Important
- Alumni/ae relation
- Very Important
- Geographical residence
- Very Important
- State residency
- Very Important
- Religious affiliation/commitment
- Very Important
- Volunteer work
- Very Important
- Work experience
- Very Important
- Level of applicant’s interest
- Very Important
First-time, first-year Profile
- Submitting SAT Scores
- 0.29
- Submitting ACT Scores
- 0.22
- Submitting SAT Scores
- 183
- Submitting ACT Scores
- 138
- SAT Composite: 25th Percentile
- 1,340
- SAT Composite: 50th Percentile
- 1,400
- SAT Composite: 75th Percentile
- 1,480
- SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 25th Percentile
- 660
- SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 50th Percentile
- 700
- SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 75th Percentile
- 730
- SAT Math: 25th Percentile
- 660
- SAT Math: 50th Percentile
- 710
- SAT Math: 75th Percentile
- 760
- ACT Composite: 25th Percentile
- 30%
- ACT Composite: 50th Percentile
- 31%
- ACT Composite: 75th Percentile
- 33%
- ACT Math: 25th Percentile
- 26%
- ACT Math: 50th Percentile
- 28%
- ACT Math: 75th Percentile
- 31%
- ACT English: 25th Percentile
- 29%
- ACT English: 50th Percentile
- 33%
- ACT English: 75th Percentile
- 35%
- SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 700-800
- 53
- SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 600-699
- 45
- SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 500-599
- 2
- SAT Math: 700-800
- 56
- SAT Math: 600-699
- 39
- SAT Math: 500-599
- 5
- SAT Composite: 1400-1600
- 54
- SAT Composite: 1200-1399
- 46
- ACT Composite: 30-36
- 76
- ACT Composite: 24-29
- 24
- ACT Composite: Below 6
- 100
- Percent in top tenth of high school graduating class
- 60%
- Percent in top quarter of high school graduating class
- 88%
- Percent in top half of high school graduating class
- 100%
- Percent in bottom half of high school graduating class
- 0
- Percent in bottom quarter of high school graduating class
- 0
- Percent of total first-time, first-year students who submitted high school class rank:
- 28%
Admission Policies
- Does your institution have an application closing date?
- No
- If yes, maximum period of postponement:
- 1 year
Transfer Admission22
Fall Applicants
- If yes, may transfer students earn advanced standing credit by transferring credits earned from course work completed at other colleges/universities?
- Yes
- Men
- 155
- Women
- 115
- Unknown
- 270
- Total
- 34
- Men
- 27
- Another Gender
- 61
- Unknown
- 14
- Total
- 14
- Women
- 28
Application for Admission
- High school transcript
- Required of All
- College transcript(s)
- Required of All
- Essay or personal statement
- Required of All
- Interview
- Required of All
- Standardized test scores
- Required of Some
- Statement of good standing from prior institution(s)
- Required of All
- Fall
- 4
- Winter
- 15
- Fall
- 11
- Winter
- 15
Transfer Credit Policies
- Minimum number of credits that transfers must complete at your institution to earn a bachelor’s degree:
- 63
- American Council on Education (ACE)
- Yes
Academic Offerings and Policies5
Special Study Options
- Double major
- X
- Teacher certification program
- X
Required Course Work
- Arts/fine arts
- X
- English (including composition)
- X
- Sciences (biological or physical)
- X
Student Life29
Percent Participating
- Percent who are from out of state (exclude international/nonresidents from the numerator and denominator)
- 72%
- Percent of men who join fraternities
- 0
- Percent of women who join sororities
- 0
- Percent who live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing
- 100%
- Percent who live off campus or commute
- 100%
- Percent of students age 25 and older
- 0
- Percent who live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing
- 99%
- Percent who live off campus or commute
- 100%
- Percent of students age 25 and older
- 100%
Average Age
- Average age of full-time students
- 18
- Average age of all students (full- and part-time)
- 18
- Average age of full-time students
- 20
- Average age of all students (full- and part-time)
- 20
Activities Offered
- Campus Ministries
- X
- Choral groups
- X
- Dance
- X
- Drama/theater
- X
- International Student Organization
- X
- Jazz band
- X
- Literary magazine
- X
- Music ensembles
- X
- Musical theater
- X
- Pep band
- X
- Radio station
- X
- Student government
- X
- Student newspaper
- X
- Student-run film society
- X
- Television station
- X
- Yearbook
- X
Annual Expenses14
Information
- Please provide the URL of your institution’s net price calculator:
- https://denison.edu/forms/net-price-calculator
Private Tuition
- Tuition
- 71000.00
- Tuition
- 71000.00
All Institutions Expenses
- Required Fees:
- 0.00
- Required Fees:
- 0.00
Estimated Expenses
- Books and supplies:
- 1000.00
- Transportation:
- 3500.00
- Other expenses:
- 3500.00
- Books and supplies:
- 1000.00
- Transportation
- 3500.00
- Other expenses:
- 3500.00
- Books and supplies:
- 1000.00
- Transportation:
- 3500.00
- Other expenses:
- 3500.00
Financial Aid51
Students Awarded Non-need-based Aid
- N. Number of students in line a who had no financial need and who were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid (exclude those who were awarded athletic awards and tuition benefits)
- 249
- O. Average dollar amount of institutional non-need-based scholarship and grant aid awarded to students in line n
- 19,149
- P. Number of students in line a who were awarded an institutional non-need-based athletic scholarship or grant
- 0
- Q. Average dollar amount of institutional non-need-based athletic scholarships and grants awarded to students in line p
- 0
- N. Number of students in line a who had no financial need and who were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid (exclude those who were awarded athletic awards and tuition benefits)
- 885
- O. Average dollar amount of institutional non-need-based scholarship and grant aid awarded to students in line n
- 19,426
- P. Number of students in line a who were awarded an institutional non-need-based athletic scholarship or grant
- 0
- Q. Average dollar amount of institutional non-need-based athletic scholarships and grants awarded to students in line p
- 0
- N. Number of students in line a who had no financial need and who were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid (exclude those who were awarded athletic awards and tuition benefits)
- 0
- O. Average dollar amount of institutional non-need-based scholarship and grant aid awarded to students in line n
- 0
- P. Number of students in line a who were awarded an institutional non-need-based athletic scholarship or grant
- 0
- Q. Average dollar amount of institutional non-need-based athletic scholarships and grants awarded to students in line p
- 0
Methodology
- Both FM and IM
- 2572449.00
Need-based Aid Awarded
- Federal
- 433618.00
- State all states, not only the state in which your institution is located
- 70009557.00
- Institutional: Endowed scholarships, annual gifts and tuition funded grants, awarded by the college, excluding athletic aid and tuition waivers (which are reported below).
- 529744.00
- Scholarships/grants from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) not awarded by the college
- 73545368.00
- Total Scholarships/Grants
- 5323213.00
- Student loans from all sources (excluding parent loans)
- 1263750.00
- Federal Work-Study
- 2183468.00
- State and other (e.g., institutional) work-study/employment (Note: Excludes Federal Work-Study captured above.)
- 8770431.00
- Total Self-Help
- 277191.00
- Parent Loans
- 1437872.00
- Tuition Waivers Note: Reporting is optional. Report tuition waivers in this row if you choose to report them. Do not report tuition waivers elsewhere.
- 0.00
- Athletic Awards
- 234476.00
Non-need-based Aid Awarded
- Federal
- 63236.00
- State all states, not only the state in which your institution is located
- 18538782.00
- Institutional: Endowed scholarships, annual gifts and tuition funded grants, awarded by the college, excluding athletic aid and tuition waivers (which are reported below).
- 632946.00
- Scholarships/grants from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) not awarded by the college
- 19469440.00
- Total Scholarships/Grants
- 5088822.00
- Student loans from all sources (excluding parent loans)
- 1378232.00
- State and other (e.g., institutional) work-study/employment (Note: Excludes Federal Work-Study captured above.)
- 6467054.00
- Total Self-Help
- 3608861.00
- Parent Loans
- 1845128.00
- Tuition Waivers Note: Reporting is optional. Report tuition waivers in this row if you choose to report them. Do not report tuition waivers elsewhere.
- 0.00
Source Type Loan
- A. Any loan program: Federal Perkins, Federal Stafford Subsidized and Unsubsidized, institutional, state, private loans that your institution is aware of, etc. Include both Federal Direct Student Loans and Federal Family Education Loans.
- 199
- B. Federal loan programs: Federal Perkins, Federal Stafford Subsidized and Unsubsidized. Include both Federal Direct Student Loans and Federal Family Education Loans.
- 199
- C. Institutional loan programs.
- 62
- D. State loan programs.
- 0
- E. Private student loans made by a bank or lender.
- 42
- A. Any loan program: Federal Perkins, Federal Stafford Subsidized and Unsubsidized, institutional, state, private loans that your institution is aware of, etc. Include both Federal Direct Student Loans and Federal Family Education Loans.
- 39.00
- B. Federal loan programs: Federal Perkins, Federal Stafford Subsidized and Unsubsidized. Include both Federal Direct Student Loans and Federal Family Education Loans.
- 39.00
- C. Institutional loan programs.
- 12.00
- D. State loan programs.
- 0.00
- E. Private student loans made by a bank or lender.
- 8.00
- A. Any loan program: Federal Perkins, Federal Stafford Subsidized and Unsubsidized, institutional, state, private loans that your institution is aware of, etc. Include both Federal Direct Student Loans and Federal Family Education Loans.
- 38899
- B. Federal loan programs: Federal Perkins, Federal Stafford Subsidized and Unsubsidized. Include both Federal Direct Student Loans and Federal Family Education Loans.
- 24209
- C. Institutional loan programs.
- 7049
- D. State loan programs.
- 0
- E. Private student loans made by a bank or lender.
- 59200
Institutional Aid
- If your institution has recently implemented any major financial aid policy, program, or initiative to make your institution more affordable to incoming students such as replacing loans with grants, or waiving costs for families below a certain income level please provide details:
- na &RPPRQ'DWD6HW
Disciplinary Areas of Degrees Conferred41
Diploma/Certificates
- TOTAL (should = 100%)
- 0
Associate
- TOTAL (should = 100%)
- 0
Bachelors
- Agriculture
- 0
- Natural resources and conservation
- 3.95
- Architecture
- 0
- Area, ethnic, and gender studies
- 3.34
- Communication/journalism
- 10.02
- Communication technologies
- 0
- Computer and information sciences
- 4.4
- Personal and culinary services
- 0
- Education
- 2.12
- Engineering
- 0
- Engineering technologies
- 0
- Foreign languages, literatures, and linguistics
- 2.28
- Family and consumer sciences
- 0
- Law/legal studies
- 0
- English
- 3.34
- Liberal arts/general studies
- 0
- Library science
- 0
- Biological/life sciences
- 7.89
- Mathematics and statistics
- 2.73
- Military science and military technologies
- 0
- Parks and recreation
- 4.1
- Philosophy and religious studies
- 1.8
- Theology and religious vocations
- 0
- Physical sciences
- 2.43
- Science technologies
- 0
- Psychology
- 6.68
- Homeland Security, law enforcement, firefighting, and protective services
- 0
- Public administration and social services
- 0
- Social sciences
- 19.27
- Construction trades
- 0
- Mechanic and repair technologies
- 0
- Precision production
- 0
- Transportation and materials moving
- 0
- Visual and performing arts
- 6.53
- Health professions and related programs
- 2.73
- Business/marketing
- 8.35
- History
- 1.97
- Other
- 0
- TOTAL (should = 100%)
- 100%
Enrollment And Persistence67
Enrollment by Racial/Ethnic Category
- Nonresidents
- 107
- Hispanic/Latino
- 46
- Black or African American, non-Hispanic
- 23
- White, non-Hispanic
- 386
- American Indian or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic
- 0
- Asian, non-Hispanic
- 29
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic
- 0
- Two or more races, non-Hispanic
- 26
- Race and/or ethnicity unknown
- 4
- TOTAL
- 621
- Nonresidents
- 415
- Hispanic/Latino
- 175
- Black or African American, non-Hispanic
- 128
- White, non-Hispanic
- 1,436
- American Indian or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic
- 2
- Asian, non-Hispanic
- 101
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic
- 1
- Two or more races, non-Hispanic
- 92
- Race and/or ethnicity unknown
- 30
- TOTAL
- 2,380
- Nonresidents
- 420
- Hispanic/Latino
- 175
- Black or African American, non-Hispanic
- 128
- White, non-Hispanic
- 1,441
- American Indian or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic
- 2
- Asian, non-Hispanic
- 102
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic
- 1
- Two or more races, non-Hispanic
- 93
- Race and/or ethnicity unknown
- 32
- TOTAL
- 2,394
Graduation Rates
- Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant
- 146
- Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant
- 148
- Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan
- 360
- Total
- 654
- Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant
- 0
- Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant
- 0
- Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan
- 0
- Total
- 0
- Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant
- 146
- Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant
- 148
- Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan
- 360
- Total
- 654
- Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant
- 104
- Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant
- 105
- Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan
- 268
- Total
- 477
- Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant
- 7
- Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant
- 8
- Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan
- 22
- Total
- 37
- Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant
- 1
- Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant
- 0
- Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan
- 1
- Total
- 2
- Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant
- 112
- Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant
- 113
- Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan
- 291
- Total
- 516
- Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant
- 77.71
- Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant
- 76.35
- Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan
- 80.83
- Total
- 78.9
- Total
- 0
- Total
- 0
- Total
- 0
- Total
- 0
- 2021 Cohort
- 150
Instructional Faculty And Class Size28
Instructional Faculty
- A. Total number of instructional faculty
- 251
- B. Total number who are members of minority groups
- 54
- C. Total number who are women
- 118
- D. Total number who are men
- 129
- E. Total number who are nonresidents (international)
- 17
- F. Total number with doctorate, or other terminal degree
- 245
- G. Total number whose highest degree is a master’s but not a terminal master’s
- 6
- H. Total number whose highest degree is a bachelor’s
- 0
- I. Total number whose highest degree is unknown or other (Note: Items f, g, h, and i must sum up to item a.)
- 0
- J. Total number in stand-alone graduate/professional programs in which faculty teach virtually only graduate-level students
- 0
- A. Total number of instructional faculty
- 56
- B. Total number who are members of minority groups
- 9
- C. Total number who are women
- 18
- D. Total number who are men
- 19
- E. Total number who are nonresidents (international)
- 1
- A. Total number of instructional faculty
- 307
- B. Total number who are members of minority groups
- 63
- C. Total number who are women
- 136
- D. Total number who are men
- 148
- E. Total number who are nonresidents (international)
- 18
- F. Total number with doctorate, or other terminal degree
- 245
- G. Total number whose highest degree is a master’s but not a terminal master’s
- 6
- H. Total number whose highest degree is a bachelor’s
- 0
- I. Total number whose highest degree is unknown or other (Note: Items f, g, h, and i must sum up to item a.)
- 0
- J. Total number in stand-alone graduate/professional programs in which faculty teach virtually only graduate-level students
- 0
Student to Faculty Ratio
- Fall 2024 Student to Faculty ratio
- 9
- based on ____ students
- 2,385
- and ____ faculty
- 270
About Denison University
Denison University is a very small private university in Granville, OH, in a city setting.
What Denison University looks for
Denison University accepts roughly 17%, which means a strong application is necessary but not sufficient. Most admitted students are at or above the mid-50 in test scores and have at least one extracurricular thread that AOs read as substantive. The supplements matter. The "why us" essay is where many otherwise-strong applications fall apart, because it reads as a Mad Libs of the school's website rather than a real plan.
Frequently asked
What SAT score do I need for Denison University?
Denison University's middle 50% SAT range is 1320 to 1490. A score in or above that band keeps you in the conversation; below it, the rest of your application has to do more work.
What ACT score do I need for Denison University?
Middle 50% ACT range is 30 to 33. The top of that range or above is what most admitted students submit when they choose to send a score.
What is the acceptance rate at Denison University?
Denison University admits roughly 17% of applicants. Selective, but stats inside the middle 50% put you in real contention.
What does Denison University actually cost after financial aid?
Average net cost (after institutional aid) is about $40,007 per year. Net cost varies enormously by family income; run the school's net price calculator for an estimate that reflects your situation.
Is Denison University a reach, match, or safety for me?
Compare your stats to the middle 50% above. If you are at or below the 25th percentile, treat Denison University as a reach. If you are in the middle 50%, it is a match. Above the 75th percentile and the school accepts above 25% overall, it is closer to a safety. Selectivity below 20% should be treated as a reach for everyone, period.
