Denison University
A good fit for competitive applicants and students who prefer a mid-size campus. no major red flags in the data. solid earnings of $57,600 within 10 years; strong 79% graduation rate.
About This School
Denison University is a private nonprofit institution located in Granville, Ohio with approximately 2,380 undergraduate students enrolled. Admissions are highly selective, with an acceptance rate of 17%. The average net price after financial aid is $40,007 per year. The graduation rate is 79%, and the typical graduate earns $57,600 within 10 years of enrollment.
Denison University is a private liberal arts college in Granville, Ohio, United States. One of the earliest colleges established in the former Northwest Territory, Denison University was founded in 1831. It was first called the Granville Literary and Theological Institution, later took the name Granville College, and, in the mid-1850s, was renamed Denison University, in honor of William S. Denison, a major early benefactor. The college enrolled 2,300 students in fall 2023. Students choose from 65 academic programs.
This is a strong option for students who want a tight-knit liberal arts experience — an 89% freshman retention rate and 80% graduation rate suggest students genuinely thrive here, and the $21,250 median debt at graduation is quite manageable. That said, the $38,111 average net price is still steep, and median earnings of $57,600 a decade out are solid but not exceptional, so students should think carefully about their intended field before committing. The highly selective 17% acceptance rate means this is a school students need to earn, but those who fit the small-college, residential liberal arts mold will likely find it worth the investment.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 10% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
Denison University graduates earn most above the national rate in Education, General ($65,429 vs $49,808 nationally), and most below it in Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics ($49,358 vs $55,000).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economics | 78 | $97,394 | $82,686 | +$14,708 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 51 | $66,730 | $56,359 | +$10,371 |
| Biology, General | 47 | $55,654 | $57,214 | −$1,560 |
| Education, General | 20 | $65,429 | $49,808 | +$15,621 |
| Sociology and Anthropology | 16 | $49,035 | $46,959 | +$2,076 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 11 | $49,358 | $55,000 | −$5,642 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2,380 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
Schools Like This in Ohio
John Carroll University
University Heights, OH · Private nonprofit
The University of Findlay
Findlay, OH · Private nonprofit
Ohio Northern University
Ada, OH · Private nonprofit
Oberlin College
Oberlin, OH · Private nonprofit
University of Northwestern Ohio
Lima, OH · Private nonprofit
Ashland University
Ashland, OH · Private nonprofit
See How Colleges Compare
Denison University is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Denison University?
Denison University has an acceptance rate of 17%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Denison University hard to get into?
Denison University is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of 17%. Solid grades and a complete application give most applicants a real shot.
How much does Denison University cost?
The average net price at Denison University is about $40,007 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Denison University?
Denison University has a graduation rate of 79%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
All school names, logos, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Their use on this page is for identification purposes only and does not imply endorsement or affiliation with CollegeHelpGuide.