Denison University - Profile, Rankings and Data | US News Best Colleges

Denison University

#39 in National Liberal Arts Colleges (tie)

4 year • Granville, OH

4 year • Granville, OH
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Overview

Denison University is a private institution that was founded in 1831. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,330 (fall 2022), its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 850 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Denison University's ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges is National Liberal Arts Colleges, #39. Its tuition and fees are $64,000.


Denison University,  a small liberal arts college, is set in the proportionally small town of Granville, Ohio. From campus, students can walk to the restaurants and shops that line Granville’s main street. Bikers may enjoy the 36-mile trail that connects Granville to the nearby Ohio cities of Newark, Johnstown and Alexandria. The state capital, Columbus, is about 25 miles away, and students can get there in the free Big Red Express shuttles, which run three days a week. All students must live on campus, unless they are married, have children, are over the age of 25 or commute from a nearby parent’s home. Freshmen will only live with other first-year students. Close to 30 percent of students are involved in Denison’s Greek system, which comprises about 15 fraternities and sororities. There are more than 150 student clubs and organizations on campus. Student athletes compete as the Denison Big Red in the NCAA Division III North Coast Athletic Conference, but the school does not have an official mascot, despite frequent attempts by students to find one. More than three quarters of students play sports at some level. Besides playing or cheering for sports teams, students can catch performances by famous musicians like Yo-Yo Ma in the Vail Series or get a quick cooking lesson from a faculty member during the on-campus Chowder Hours.


Students can get on-the-job experience before graduation with the help of the robust Denison Internship Program. To hone effective skills before entering  the job market, students can enroll in several leadership initiatives at Denison, including a six-day retreat called LeaderShape. Notable Denison alumni include actors Steve Carell and Jennifer Garner, former Ohio State football coach Woody Hayes and geologist Kirtley Mather, who named Mount Denison in Alaska’s Aleutian Peninsula after the university.

Denison University is a private institution that was founded in 1831. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,330 (fall 2022), its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 850 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Denison University's ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges is National Liberal Arts Colleges, #39. Its tuition and fees are $64,000.


Denison University,  a small liberal arts college, is set in the proportionally small town of Granville, Ohio. From campus, students can walk to the restaurants and shops that line Granville’s main street. Bikers may enjoy the 36-mile trail that connects Granville to the nearby Ohio cities of Newark, Johnstown and Alexandria. The state capital, Columbus, is about 25 miles away, and students can get there in the free Big Red Express shuttles, which run three days a week. All students must live on campus, unless they are married, have children, are over the age of 25 or commute from a nearby parent’s home. Freshmen will only live with other first-year students. Close to 30 percent of students are involved in Denison’s Greek system, which comprises about 15 fraternities and sororities. There are more than 150 student clubs and organizations on campus. Student athletes compete as the Denison Big Red in the NCAA Division III North Coast Athletic Conference, but the school does not have an official mascot, despite frequent attempts by students to find one. More than three quarters of students play sports at some level. Besides playing or cheering for sports teams, students can catch performances by famous musicians like Yo-Yo Ma in the Vail Series or get a quick cooking lesson from a faculty member during the on-campus Chowder Hours.


Students can get on-the-job experience before graduation with the help of the robust Denison Internship Program. To hone effective skills before entering  the job market, students can enroll in several leadership initiatives at Denison, including a six-day retreat called LeaderShape. Notable Denison alumni include actors Steve Carell and Jennifer Garner, former Ohio State football coach Woody Hayes and geologist Kirtley Mather, who named Mount Denison in Alaska’s Aleutian Peninsula after the university.

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At-a-Glance

Setting

Suburban

Tuition & Fees

$64,000

Undergraduate Enrollment

2,330

Acceptance Rate

22%

100 W. COLLEGE/PO BOX B, Granville, OH, 43023

2024 Rankings

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Admissions

Jan. 15

Application Deadline

22%

Acceptance Rate

SAT Range*

1270-1460

ACT Range*

29-32

High School GPA*

N/A

* These are the average scores of applications admitted to this school. Ranges represent admitted applicants who fell within the 25th and 75th percentile.

Will You Get Into Denison University?

College Admissions Calculator

Data provided by U.S. News College Compass Users.

Cost

Tuition & Fees

$64,000

Room & Board

$15,400(2023-24)

Average Need-Based Aid Package

$53,335

$32,002

Annual Cost*

$32,002

Annual Cost*

Tuition & Fees

$64,000

Room & Board

$15,400(2023-24)

Average Need-Based Aid Package

$53,335

*Average cost after aid

Academics

82%

4-Year Graduation Rate

9:1

Student/Faculty Ratio

68%

Classes With Fewer Than 20 Students

Popular Majors

MAJOR

% OF GRADUATES

ALUMNI STARTING SALARY

Social Sciences

21%

$60,929

Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs

9%

$39,938

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

9%

$29,113

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

9%

N/A

Psychology

8%

$27,423

Social Sciences
21% Percent of Graduates
$60,929 Alumni Starting Salary
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
9% Percent of Graduates
$39,938 Alumni Starting Salary
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
9% Percent of Graduates
$29,113 Alumni Starting Salary
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
9% Percent of Graduates
N/A Alumni Starting Salary
Psychology
8% Percent of Graduates
$27,423 Alumni Starting Salary

* In cases where salary data at the specific major level is unavailable, a general salary for the major category is displayed.

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Students

2,330

Undergraduate Enrollment

Graduate Enrollment

N/A

Total Enrollment

2,330

Full-Time Degree-Seeking Students

2,312

Student Diversity

Gender Distribution

Male48%
Female52%

Ethnic Diversity

20%

Minority Enrollment

20%

Minority Enrollment

60%

White

17%

International

7%

Hispanic

6%

Black

4%

Two or more races

3%

Asian

2%

Unknown

Not Specified is not included in this breakdown due to an enrollment of 0%.

Campus Life

Housing and Dorms

Types of campus housing available:

  • coed dorms
  • women's dorms
  • men's dorms
  • apartment for single students
  • cooperative housing
  • theme housing
  • wellness housing
  • other housing options
  • Student Activities

    82+

    Sports Teams

    9

    Fraternities

    8

    Sororities

    After College

    Graduation Rate

    82%

    Graduating Students Who Have Borrowed (any loan type, 2021)

    44%

    Average Debt at Graduation

    $31,610

    $37,494

    Median Starting Salary of Alumni

    $37,494

    Median Starting Salary of Alumni

    Graduation Rate

    82%

    Graduating Students Who Have Borrowed (any loan type, 2021)

    44%

    Average Debt at Graduation

    $31,610

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    Undergraduate data are based on the 2022 school year.

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