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Denison University

#214 in US ranking Granville, OH
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Programs:
4 years or more

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Denison University award
Denison University award

Cost

Cost / year
$86,900
Tuition & fees
$71,000
Avg. aid
$39,519
Receiving aid
94%

Admissions

Acceptance rate
17%
SAT range
1320–1490
ACT range
30–33

Outcomes

Graduation rate
79%
Median salary
$48,343
1 yr after graduation

What is the accreditation of Denison University?

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.

What are the admission requirements at Denison University?

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.

What are the application fees and waivers at Denison University?

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.

What types of ROTC programs are available at Denison University?

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.

What are the requirements for transfer students at Denison University?

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.

What types of study abroad programs are available at Denison University?

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.

Denison University Admissions Factors

SAT range
1320–1490
4001600
ACT range
30–33
136
Acceptance rate
17%

Acceptance rate vs. median

This school
17%
Ohio
78%
US
78%

24% of admitted students enrolled (621 of 2,611)

ACT scores of enrolled students

ACT in range 18-23
ACT in range 24-29
ACT in range 30-36

Denison University Admissions

Applicants
Total: 15,012
Admission
Total: 2,611
Enrolled
Total: 621
Women
Men

How to Apply to Denison University

Regular application deadline

January 15

Early Decision

Yes, deadline November 15

Early Action

No

Denison University First-Year Students

Where first-year students come from

In-state: 142
Out-of-state: 363
International: 116

Freshmen vs. transfer students

Freshmen: 621
Transfer: 23

Denison University Admission Requirements

Median composite SAT score

1330

Median composite ACT score

30

Percent of students submitting ACT scores

18.6%

Percent of students submitting SAT scores

26.6%

High school completions

General Educational Development (GED) required

Computer required

No

Computer purchase/lease plan is available in the institution

Yes

Secondary school GPA

Required

Secondary school rank

Considered but not required

Secondary school record

Required

Completion of college-preparatory program

Required

Recommendations

Required

Formal demonstration of competencies

Considered but not required

Admission test scores

Considered but not required

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language

Required

Other Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)

Neither required nor recommended

Open admission policy

No

Dual credit

No

Credit for life experiences

No

Advanced placement (AP) credits

Yes

Special learning opportunities

Orientation program

Yes

Disabilities services

Yes

Off-campus study

Yes

ROTC-Army

ROTC branch unit at a cooperating host institution

Study abroad

Yes

Student can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization

No

Preparation at another institution required

No

Approved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher

No

Denison University Transfer Acceptance Rate

Accept ACE recommendation for credit

Yes

Possible transfer

Fall, Spring

Data 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.

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