Admit rate has ranged 17%–29% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Denison University is a selective liberal arts college in Granville, Ohio, known for its intimate academic environment, strong programs in economics and STEM fields, and a vibrant campus life that blends intellectual rigor with Midwestern charm. With an acceptance rate hovering around 17-29%, Denison attracts students who thrive in small classes and a tight-knit community, though its sticker price—and graduation rates—can give pause.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Letters of recommendation
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
Demonstrated competencies
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
2,380
In-state tuition
$67,000
Out-of-state tuition
$67,000
Location
Granville, OH (30 miles from Columbus)
Acceptance Rate
17-29%
4-Year Graduation Rate
77%
Median Early-Career Salary
$62,838
Average Financial Aid Package
$59,206
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$67,753
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
1.7×
Median debt at graduation
$26,000
Graduation rate
79%
First-year retention
89%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
80%
Pell (lower-income) share
42%
First-generation share
17%
Endowment / student
$436,563
Financial health
2.2 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Economics$50,439
History$38,289
Political Science and Government$37,208
Communication and Media Studies$36,134
International Relations and National Security Studies$35,060
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$33,993
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
6
Per 1,000 students
2.52
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
92
Summer high
82°F
Winter low
26°F
Annual rain
46.9"
Annual snow
22.3"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Low
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
130
Scholarly works
5,256
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
0.9%
Bottom → top quintile
30%
From bottom quintile
3%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Denison University?
Denison University's acceptance rate is approximately 17% (Granville, OH), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Denison University?
Admitted students at Denison University typically score 1320–1490 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Denison University cost?
At Denison University, the average net price (after aid) is about $40,007 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Denison University?
Denison University enrolls approximately 2,380 undergraduate students.
Where is Denison University located?
Denison University is located in Granville, OH.
Admissions
Denison's admissions process is highly selective, with Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. ranging from 17% to 29% depending on the source (reports vary widely). The middle 50% of admitted students score between 1320–1470 on the SAT or 29–33 on the ACT. Notably, Denison is test-optional, allowing applicants to forgo standardized scores. The university emphasizes Holistic admissionsA review that weighs the whole applicant — grades, essays, activities, and context — rather than relying on test scores and GPA alone., though competitive applicants typically present strong GPAs and rigorous high school coursework. Recent application numbers have surged, with over 8,800 applicants for the Class of 2023—a record at the time.
Denison offers a with standout programs in economics, biology, and computer science—fields that reportedly lead to the lowest post-grad unemployment. Popular majors also include political science, communications, and biochemistry. Small classes (often under 20 students) and accessible professors define the academic experience. The university has invested in new facilities and interdisciplinary programs, blending traditional liberal arts with career-focused training. A biochemistry major’s day-in-the-life video showcases labs, seminars, and close faculty mentorship—hallmarks of Denison’s hands-on approach.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Psychology, General$32,569
Education, General$30,771
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Life at Denison revolves around residential camaraderie (all four years are on-campus) and a bustling slate of clubs, though Greek life—while present—lacks traditional houses, mixing members across dorms. Students describe a work-hard, play-hard culture, with parties often hosted in dorm lounges or off-campus apartments. The Niche reviews highlight strong dining options and a safe, walkable campus. A YouTube tour captures the vibe: students biking between Collegiate Gothic buildings, studying in sunlit common areas, and gathering for campus-wide traditions like First-Year Sing.
Denison’s graduation rates lag slightly behind peers: 77% in four years, 83% in six (below the 90%+ seen at top liberal arts colleges). However, alumni earnings are strong, with a median salary of $62,838 (per federal data)—above the national midpoint for four-year colleges. The Princeton Review reports even higher figures: $67,100 early-career and $144,100 mid-career. Top earners often hail from economics and STEM fields, while education and arts graduates typically start closer to $35,000–$38,000.
Denison’s sticker price is steep—roughly $85,000 for 2025–26—but the university meets 99% of demonstrated need with an average aid package of $59,206. Merit scholarships (averaging $25,273) further defray costs, and 60% of students receive grants. The Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. calculator suggests many families pay closer to $42,177 after aid. Still, Reddit threads reveal angst over affordability, with some students relying on loans (61% borrow).
Denison punches above its weight for a Midwestern liberal arts college, offering Ivy-caliber academics (think: Oxford-style tutorials in some departments) without the cutthroat vibe. Its hybrid model—mixing timeless humanities courses with data science and finance tracks—appeals to students seeking both intellectual exploration and job security. The campus’s quirky traditions (e.g., wrapping the campus chapel in toilet paper) and lack of Greek housing foster an inclusive, if sometimes insular, community. For those who mesh with its tight-knit, slightly preppy culture, Denison delivers outsized outcomes—provided they graduate on time.
Denison University logo · sourceAcademic Quad | Campus Map · sourceDenison University — Village of Granville · sourceCollege Spotlight: Denison University · source
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