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Denison University

Private

Granville, OH

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Denison University, in Granville, OH, is a private small school, enrolling around 2,380 students. It's selective, admitting about 17% of applicants. Among reported majors, Economics shows the strongest outcomes -- $97,394/year in median earnings four years after graduation. Most students arrange their own housing since on-campus living isn't required.

Admissions

Admit rate17%
SAT range1320–1490
ACT range30–33
Undergrads2,380
Yield (admits who enroll)25%
Next deadlineNov 15, 2026 (ED1)

Cost & outcomes

Cost of attendance$81,900
4-year grad rate79%
Median earnings, 10yr out$67,753

From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field.

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How Denison University weighs your application

From Denison University's own Common Data Set, 2024-25, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?

Academic factors
Rigor of secondary school recordVery important
Class rankConsidered
Academic GPAVery important
Standardized test scoresConsidered
Application essayVery important
RecommendationsVery important
Nonacademic factors
InterviewImportant
Extracurricular activitiesImportant
Talent/abilityImportant
Character/personal qualitiesConsidered
First generationConsidered
Alumni relation (legacy)Considered
Geographical residenceConsidered
State residencyConsidered
Volunteer workConsidered
Work experienceConsidered
Level of interest (demonstrated interest)Considered
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Paying it back

Undergrads taking federal loans51%
Loan balance still growing, 3yrs out80%

"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.

Majors & earnings

Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Biology, General$55,654/yr
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
Communication and Media Studies$66,730/yr
Education
Education, General$65,429/yr
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$49,358/yr
Social Sciences
Economics$97,394/yr
Sociology and Anthropology$49,035/yr

Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.

Campus life

On-campus housingYes
Required to live on campusNo
Dormitory capacity2,387
Typical room charge$8,000
Typical board charge$6,770

Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.

What matters in your application

GPARequired
Class rankConsidered, not required
RecommendationsRequired

From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.

Frequently asked questions

What does Denison University look for in applicants?

Per Denison University's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates application essay, recommendations, academic GPA, rigor of secondary school record as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.

What is Denison University's acceptance rate?

Denison University in Granville, OH admits approximately 17% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.

What SAT score do I need for Denison University?

Admitted students at Denison University typically score between 1320–1490 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile).

What ACT score do I need for Denison University?

Admitted students at Denison University typically score between 30–33 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile).

How much does Denison University cost?

Denison University's total cost of attendance is reported at $81,900 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.

When is the application deadline for Denison University?

Denison University's earliest deadline is Nov 15, 2026 (ED1), per its own published admissions calendar.

Does Denison University require students to live on campus?

No -- Denison University doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.

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