Overview of Denison University

Denison University is a private liberal arts university with an acceptance rate of 34%. Situated in Granville, Ohio, about 30 miles east of Columbus, Denison’s 900-acre campus is home to a 550-acre biological reserve. Denison boasts an impressive 9-to-1 student/faculty ratio, and for strengths in the liberal arts and STEM, Denison earned a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. The institution has a large selection of undergraduate and graduate degree programs for students to choose from. Outside of the classroom, students will find plenty of opportunities to engage with the campus community via the university’s many clubs and organizations.

Enrollment

• Total Enrollment: 2,285 (all undergraduates)
• Gender Breakdown: 46 percent male/54 percent female
• 99 percent full-time

Cost of Attendance Information

• Tuition and Fees: $53,830
• Books: $1,200
• Room and Board: $13,050
• Other Expenses: $1,320
• Total Cost: $69,400

Financial Aid Information

• Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 95 percent
• Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of Aid
  • Grants: 94 percent
  • Loans: 44 percent

• Average Amount of Aid
  • Grants: $32,467
  • Loans: $6,635

Academic Programs Offered

• Most Popular Majors: Social Sciences; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs; Psychology; and English Language and Literature/Letters

Retention and Graduation

• First-Year Student Retention (full-time students): 89 percent
• 4-Year Graduation Rate: 82 percent
• 6-Year Graduation Rate: 85 percent

NCAA Athletic Programs

• Men’s Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Lacrosse, Soccer, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field
• Women’s Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Field Hockey, Golf, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball
• On the athletic front, Denison is a member of the NCAA’s Division III North Coast Athletic Conference.

Overview of Denison University Admissions

Denison University, which accepts a third of applicants, has a competitive admissions pool. However, Denison is test-optional, meaning that students can choose whether or not to submit scores from the SAT or ACT. This institution has a robust admissions process that involves a multitude of academic measures. A persuasive essay and glowing recommendation letters can bolster your application, along with being involved with student organizations and attempting a challenging course load. Students with unique talents and accomplishments can still receive strong consideration even if their GPAs are outside of the admissions offices mean range. After applying, students will receive a message from an admissions counselor about the next steps of the application process. Interested students should check out the university’s website, which has helpful tips and contact information for the admissions offices.

Admissions Data

During the 2018-19 admissions phase, Denison University had an acceptance rate of 34%.  for every 100 students who submitted applications, 34 students gained admission, making Denison’s admissions process competitive.

SAT Requirements and Scores

Denison University has a test-optional standardized testing policy. Applicants to Denison may submit SAT or ACT scores to the school, but they are not required. During the 2018-19 admissions phase, 45% of admitted students provided SAT scores.

This admissions data shows that of those students who provided scores during the 2018-19 admissions phase, most of Denison’s admitted students fall within the top 20% on the SAT. For the reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to Denison scored between 600 and 670, while 25% scored below 600, and 25% scored over 670. 50% of admitted students scored between 610 and 710 on the math section, while 25% scored below 610, and 25% scored above 710. While the SAT is optional, this data reveals to us that a cumulative SAT score of 1380 or higher is competitive for Denison University.

ACT Requirements and Scores

Denison has a test-optional standardized testing policy. Applicants to Denison may submit SAT or ACT scores to the school, but they are not required. During the 2018-19 admissions phase, 31% of admitted students provided ACT scores.

This admissions data shows us that of those who provided scores during the 2018-19 admissions phase, most of Denison’s admitted students fall within the top 11% on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to Denison received a cumulative ACT score between 28 and 31, while 25% scored over 31, and 25% scored below 28.

GPA

In 2019, over two-thirds of students admitted to Denison had mean GPAs of 3.73 and over, or were ranked in the top ten percent of their class. Successful applicants to Denison have A grades primarily.

Safety Net Schools: Easy to Gain Admission

If past admission data predicts that you would be a competitive candidate for Denison University, then it should be easy for you to gain admissions to the schools below. If Denison University is currently out of your reach, then you are sure to be a competitive candidate for the schools below.

Penn State University Park, United States Military Academy, Hofstra University, Auburn University, Temple University, Seton Hall University, University of Alabama

Same Tier: Just As Hard to Gain Admission

If you’re a competitive candidate for Denison University, then you should have an equal chance of gaining admissions at these schools.

University of Connecticut, Rochester Institute of Technology, American University, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Syracuse University, Drexel University, University of California, Davis

Reach Institutions: Gaining Admissions Will Be More of a Challenge

These schools are more challenging to gain admission into than Denison University. If you improve your GPA and SAT/ACT scores, then you’ll be a competitive candidate for these schools.

New York University, Boston College, Villanova University, Binghamton University, University of California, Santa Barbara, University of Texas at Austin, University of Washington

Applying to Denison University

Application Deadline: January 15

Undergraduate Admissions Website: https://denison.edu/campus/admission

Undergraduate Application Link(s):

https://denison.edu/campus/admission/apply-for-admission