Denison University is a private nonprofit institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Granville, Ohio. It enrolls 2,380 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
64/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes86
Value10
Affordability5
Selectivity92
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 17.4%, Denison University is a selective institution.
Acceptance Rate
17.4%
Very Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1320 – 1490
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
30 – 33
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Denison University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
12.5 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Denison University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $40,007 per year. That's above the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$40,007
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
13%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
51%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$67,000
Room & Board (on-campus)
$16,400
Room & Board (off-campus)
$16,400
Books & Supplies
$1,000
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,500
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,500
Total Cost of Attendance
$81,900
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$16,656
$30,001 – $48,000
$13,086
$48,001 – $75,000
$17,827
$75,001 – $110,000
$20,839
Over $110,000
$48,472
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,50010%percentile
$10,50025%percentile
$26,000Medianpercentile
$28,00075%percentile
$31,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $22,000
↓ $4,000
No Pell $20,500
↓ $5,500
Female students $23,250
↓ $2,750
Male students $19,500
↓ $6,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $12,000, less than completers ($26,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
81% of full-time students who enrolled at Denison University graduate within six years, and 89% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
81%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
89%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Denison University earn a median of $67,753 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$67,753
Earning > $25K
85%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$54,800
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$61,500
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$57,500
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$53,100
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$59,600
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $6,700, about 11% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
9.8 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 90% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Denison University is home to 2,380 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
2,380
Part-Time
0%
First-Generation
17%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 60.3%1,436
International 17.5%416
Hispanic 7.3%174
Black 5.4%128
Asian 4.2%101
Other 4.0%95
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Denison University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small SuburbGranville, Ohio
Housing
Strongly residential2,387 beds for 2,380 students
Adult Learners
0%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Denison University offers
a varied set of programs:
37 distinct programs across
19 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Denison University is 9:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
9:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$1.3B
Strong financial cushion supports aid and stability
Avg Faculty Salary
$97,620
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
249 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
43
17%
$140,409
Associate Professors
85
34%
$104,095
Assistant Professors
107
43%
$77,614
Instructors
14
6%
$79,786
Pros & Cons of Denison University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Denison University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Highly selective, strong peer cohort
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Strong six-year graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Above-average post-graduation earnings
CONS
High net price compared to most US colleges
Highly competitive admissions, many strong applicants are rejected
Very high published cost of attendance (full-pay families pay much more than the net-price average)
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Best for:
Based on the data, Denison University is a fit for
students prioritizing post-graduation earnings; students seeking a highly selective peer group.
Frequently Asked Questions about Denison University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Denison University.
Is Denison University hard to get into?
Denison University is highly selective. Its acceptance rate is 17.4%, so admitted students generally have strong grades, competitive test scores, and a well-rounded application.
What is the acceptance rate at Denison University?
Denison University has an acceptance rate of 17.4%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Denison University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Denison University scored between 1320 and 1490 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Denison University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Denison University scored between 30 and 33 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Denison University cost?
The average net price after aid at Denison University is $40,007 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Denison University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $67,753 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $40,007 per year. That's roughly 1.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Denison University known for?
Denison University is best known for its programs in Economics, Communication & Media, Biology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Denison University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Denison University are $67,753, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Denison University accredited?
Yes. Denison University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Denison University?
Denison University enrolls 2,380 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Denison University?
Denison University graduates 81% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Denison University a public or private college?
Denison University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Denison University located?
Denison University is located in Granville, Ohio.
What programs does Denison University offer?
Denison University offers 37 distinct programs. The most popular include Economics, Communication & Media, Biology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Denison University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Denison University is 9:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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Rankings That Feature Denison University
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