


Denison University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Institutional accreditation evaluates the university as a whole and is relevant to its eligibility to participate in federal student aid programs.
Accreditation does not mean another college must accept a Denison course in transfer. The receiving institution makes that decision. Likewise, students considering a career with professional licensing requirements should check the requirements for the specific occupation and jurisdiction; institutional accreditation alone does not establish that a particular program meets them.
Denison uses selective first-year admission rather than an open-admission policy. Applicants generally submit an application, a secondary-school transcript, information about their academic coursework, recommendations, and written application responses. A high school diploma or recognized equivalent is needed for degree-seeking enrollment.
Denison considers applicants' school records and grades, including the rigor of their college-preparatory coursework. Class rank may be considered when available, but it is not required. Applicants should check the current application instructions for the testing policy applicable to their entry term rather than assume that submitting an SAT or ACT score is mandatory. Students whose schooling was not primarily in English should also review Denison's current English-proficiency instructions and any applicable exemption criteria.
In the reported admissions cycle, Denison admitted about 17% of its 15,012 first-year applicants. Among enrolled students who submitted scores, the median SAT composite was 1330 and the median ACT composite was 30. Because only a minority of enrolled students submitted either test, those medians describe score submitters, not the entire entering class or a minimum for admission. Denison offers application rounds with different deadlines; applicants should confirm the current dates and binding terms of any Early Decision option before applying.
Applicants should distinguish Denison's application charge, if one applies to their submission method, from an enrollment deposit paid after admission. The charge and available waivers should be checked in the current application instructions and in the application portal before submission.
Students for whom an application charge presents a financial hardship can review the fee-waiver questions in the Common Application and Denison's admissions instructions. A waiver request is best completed before submitting the application, when the portal identifies how the charge will be handled; an enrollment deposit follows a separate policy.
Denison students can pursue Army ROTC through a cooperating host institution rather than an Army ROTC unit operated on Denison's campus. Participation may require travel for military-science classes, leadership activities, or training, so the schedule matters alongside a student's academic timetable.
ROTC enrollment, scholarship consideration, and commissioning are separate decisions. Scholarship and service-obligation terms depend on the program and the student's status. Interested applicants should confirm the current host arrangement and cross-enrollment procedure with Denison and the Army ROTC host before assuming that a particular course or award will be available.
Denison considers transfer applicants for fall and spring entry and generally accepts appropriate coursework from other accredited institutions for transfer-credit review. Admission as a transfer student does not automatically mean every previous course will satisfy a Denison major or graduation requirement.
Transfer applicants should expect to provide official transcripts from every college attended, along with any secondary-school records and other materials specified for their applicant category. The university evaluates transferable credit and its application to degree requirements; students comparing offers should request an official evaluation and discuss remaining major requirements with Denison before making an enrollment decision. This is especially important for sequential courses or a planned study-abroad term.
The reported entering group included 23 transfer-in degree-seeking students. That small number makes individual advising and the timing of a transfer-credit evaluation particularly consequential for someone trying to estimate time to graduation.
Denison supports off-campus study, including international programs, as part of an undergraduate degree. Options can vary by destination, term, academic subject, and whether a program is run by a partner or another provider rather than directly by Denison.
Students planning a semester or other period abroad need advance academic approval so courses can be applied appropriately to their degree. They should compare program charges, housing and travel expenses, and the treatment of Denison aid before committing. Early planning is particularly useful for majors with tightly sequenced required courses or for students considering more than one term away.
24% of admitted students enrolled (621 of 2,611)
Regular application deadline
January 15Early Decision
Yes, deadline November 15Early Action
NoMedian composite SAT score
1330Median composite ACT score
30Percent of students submitting ACT scores
18.6%Percent of students submitting SAT scores
26.6%High school completions
General Educational Development (GED) requiredComputer required
NoComputer purchase/lease plan is available in the institution
YesSecondary school GPA
RequiredSecondary school rank
Considered but not requiredSecondary school record
RequiredCompletion of college-preparatory program
RequiredRecommendations
RequiredFormal demonstration of competencies
Considered but not requiredAdmission test scores
Considered but not requiredTOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language
RequiredOther Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)
Neither required nor recommendedOpen admission policy
NoDual credit
NoCredit for life experiences
NoAdvanced placement (AP) credits
YesOrientation program
YesDisabilities services
YesOff-campus study
YesROTC-Army
ROTC branch unit at a cooperating host institutionStudy abroad
YesStudent can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization
NoPreparation at another institution required
NoApproved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher
NoAccept ACE recommendation for credit
YesPossible transfer
Fall, SpringData last updated on November 5, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.