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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 are the graduation rates for students at Denison University?

Denison's reported four-year graduation rate is 72%, while its six-year rate is 79%. These measures follow cohorts of first-time, full-time, degree-seeking students; they should not be read as predicted completion rates for an individual transfer or part-time student.

The reported first-year retention rate is 89%, meaning that measure tracks how many first-time students returned for a second year. Graduation and retention figures are useful for assessing typical enrollment patterns, but they do not explain why particular students stayed, transferred, or left. Students estimating their own timeline should also consider their intended major, approved transfer credits, and ability to enroll in required courses.

What is the earning potential for graduates at Denison University?

Program-level College Scorecard figures offer a limited look at earnings one year after completion for eligible federally aided former students with earnings records. They are not starting-salary offers, estimates for every graduate, or guarantees of employment.

In the October 2026 Scorecard figures, the one-year median is $53,668 for economics and $38,133 for communication and media studies. Reported medians include $28,030 for biology and $25,270 for psychology. These are different programs, not a ranking of what an individual student will earn: sample size, further study, occupation, location, and the timing of measurement all affect interpretation.

Denison's Knowlton Center for Career Exploration offers career advising, résumé and interview preparation, internship and job-search support, employer connections, and alumni networking. Those services are opportunities to use while enrolled, not verified employment outcomes. Students weighing a major should consider both the reported earnings window and the education or training commonly needed for their intended work.

Denison University Graduation Rate

Avg. graduation
79%
4-year graduation
72%
6-year graduation
79%

Denison University Retention and Employment

First-year retention, full-time students
89%
Employed 1 year after graduation
97%

Denison University Median Alumni Salary Over Time

1 year after graduation
$48,343
4 years after graduation
$62,838
5 years after graduation
$69,092
7 years after graduation
$74,836
10 years after starting college
$73,151

Alumni Salary for Denison University Degrees

Degrees

Avg. salary

Biology, General

$28,030

Communication and Media Studies

$38,133

Economics

$53,668

Education, General

$35,288

Natural Resources Conservation and Research

$27,021

Psychology, General

$25,270

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies

$27,013

Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

$35,424

Sociology and Anthropology

$28,362

Denison University Graduations Per Degree

BACHELOR’S Degree

Women Men Total

Social Sciences

4069109

Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs

401252

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

311546

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

212142

Psychology

29736

Visual and Performing Arts

201131

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

92029

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services

61824

Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and Kinesiology

121224

English Language and Literature/Letters

16420

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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