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Denison University

Denison University is a private nonprofit university in a small suburb of the Columbus, OH metro with 2,405 students and a 17% acceptance rate.

Granville, Ohio · Private nonprofit · Suburb, small · 2,405 students

NCAA Division III · North Coast Athletic Conference

Admission rate

17%

of applicants admitted

SAT average

1,410

combined, admitted students

ACT, middle half

29–32

25th to 75th percentile

Average net price

$40,007

per year, after grants

Graduation rate

79%

within 6 years

Freshman retention

89%

return for sophomore year

Median earnings

$67,753

10 years after entry

Students

2,405

total enrollment

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS) · data snapshot October 2, 2026 · Updated October 2, 2026

First-year deadlines, 2026–27

PlanDeadline
Early decision
Apply early, hear early, and you must enroll if admitted. Binding.		November 15, 2026
Early decision II
A second, later early decision round. Also binding.		January 15, 2027
Regular decision
The standard deadline, with answers in spring. Not binding.		January 15, 2027

Plans are listed in calendar order. What the plans mean

Source: denison.edu · checked September 30, 2026

What families actually pay

Average yearly net price after grants, all students, by family income

$0–30,000$16,656
$30,001–48,000$13,086
$48,001–75,000$17,827
$75,001–110,000$20,839
Over $110,000$48,472

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education, College Scorecard · data snapshot October 2, 2026

AP credit

Most-taken exams, lowest score that earns credit
ExamMin scoreDenison University courseCredits
Calculus AB4MATH 130 No Essentials of Calculus
Calculus BC4MATH 135 No Single Variable Calculus
Biology4BIOL 199 No Modern Topics in Biology
Chemistry4CHEM 999 No Introductory Topics in Chemistry
Psychology4
PSYC 096 No Introductory Topics in Psychology No…PSYC 096 No Introductory Topics in Psychology No credit for PSYC 100 at Denison.
Computer Science A4CS 999 No Introductory Topics in Computer Science
Macroeconomics4
ECON 097 No Introductory Macroeconomics No GE or…ECON 097 No Introductory Macroeconomics No GE or major/minor requirement fulfilled. This course will allow enrollment in Microeconomics (ECON 102). Cannot take Macroeconomics (ECON 101) and receive repeat credit.
Microeconomics4
ECON 098 No Introductory Microeconomics No GE or…ECON 098 No Introductory Microeconomics No GE or major/minor requirement fulfilled. This course will allow enrollment in intermediate course. Cannot take Microeconomics (ECON 102) and receive repeat credit.
Show all 32 exams and every score level
ExamMin scoreCourseCredits
Calculus AB4MATH 130 No Essentials of Calculus
Calculus BC4MATH 135 No Single Variable Calculus
Biology4BIOL 199 No Modern Topics in Biology
Chemistry4CHEM 999 No Introductory Topics in Chemistry
Psychology4
PSYC 096 No Introductory Topics in Psychology No…PSYC 096 No Introductory Topics in Psychology No credit for PSYC 100 at Denison.
Computer Science A4CS 999 No Introductory Topics in Computer Science
Macroeconomics4
ECON 097 No Introductory Macroeconomics No GE or…ECON 097 No Introductory Macroeconomics No GE or major/minor requirement fulfilled. This course will allow enrollment in Microeconomics (ECON 102). Cannot take Macroeconomics (ECON 101) and receive repeat credit.
Microeconomics4
ECON 098 No Introductory Microeconomics No GE or…ECON 098 No Introductory Microeconomics No GE or major/minor requirement fulfilled. This course will allow enrollment in intermediate course. Cannot take Microeconomics (ECON 102) and receive repeat credit.
World History: Modern4
HIST 999 No Introductory Topics in History Course…HIST 999 No Introductory Topics in History Course will not be counted towards major or minor requirements in History.
Environmental Science4
EESC 999 No Science and the Environment If…EESC 999 No Science and the Environment If student is to continue taking ENVS a consultation needs to take place with department chair.
European History4
HIST 999 No Introductory Topics in History Course…HIST 999 No Introductory Topics in History Course will not be counted towards major or minor requirements in History.
Human Geography4SES 999 No Introductory Topics in Environmental Studies
Spanish Language and Culture4
SPAN 999 Yes K Introductory Topics in Spanish…SPAN 999 Yes K Introductory Topics in Spanish Waiver for SPAN 211 Intermediate Spanish. Waiver for SPAN 213 Communication Skills (Oral Communication ‘R’ GE not applied).
Spanish Language and Culture5
SPAN 999 Yes K Introductory Topics in Spanish…SPAN 999 Yes K Introductory Topics in Spanish Waiver for SPAN 211 Intermediate Spanish. Waiver for SPAN 213 Communication Skills (Oral Communication ‘R’ GE not applied). Waiver for SPAN 215 Writing Workshop (Writing ‘W’ GE not applied). Will not count toward the required courses in the Spanish major or minor. Students who continue to become majors or minors must take an additional course.
Computer Science Principles4CS 999 No Introductory Topics in Computer Science
Art History4AHVC 999 Yes A Introductory Topics in Art History
Music Theory4MUS 200 No Music Theory I
Art Studio (Drawing)4ARTS 999 No Introductory Topics in Studio Art
Art Studio 2-D Design4ARTS 999 No Introductory Topics in Studio Art
Art Studio 3-D Design4ARTS 999 No Introductory Topics in Studio Art
Chinese (Lang and Lit)4CHIN 211 Yes K Intermediate Chinese I
Chinese (Lang and Lit)5
CHIN 212 Yes K Intermediate Chinese II Waiver for…CHIN 212 Yes K Intermediate Chinese II Waiver for CHIN 211 Intermediate Chinese I
English (Lang and Comp)4ENGL 999 No Introductory Topics in English
English (Lit and Comp)4ENGL 999 No Introductory Topics in English
French Language or Literature4FREN 211 Yes K Enroll in FREN 213.
French Language or Literature5
FREN 213 Yes K Waiver for FREN 211. Intermediate…FREN 213 Yes K Waiver for FREN 211. Intermediate French. Oral Communication ‘R’ GE not applied. Enroll in course above FREN 213.
German Language and Culture4
GERM 112 No Beginning German II This course will…GERM 112 No Beginning German II This course will allow enrollment in GERM 213 Intermediate Conversation and Composition.
German Language and Culture5
GERM 213 Yes K Intermediate Conversation and…GERM 213 Yes K Intermediate Conversation and Composition Waiver for GERM 112 Beginning German II. Oral Communication ‘R’ GE not applied. This course will allow enrollment in 300 level German.
Government and Politics (Comp)4
PPA 999 No Introductory Topics in Politics and…PPA 999 No Introductory Topics in Politics and Public Affairs Course will not be counted towards major or minor requirements in Politics and Public Affairs.
Government and Politics (U.S.)4
PPA 999 No Introductory Topics in Politics and…PPA 999 No Introductory Topics in Politics and Public Affairs Course will not be counted towards major or minor requirements in Politics and Public Affairs.
History (U.S.)4
HIST 999 No Introductory Topics in History Course…HIST 999 No Introductory Topics in History Course will not be counted towards major or minor requirements in History.
Italian (Lang and Cult)4LANG 999 Yes K Intermediate Languages
Japanese (Lang and Cult)4JAPN 211 Yes K Intermediate Japanese I
Japanese (Lang and Cult)5
JAPN 212 Yes K Intermediate Japanese II Waiver…JAPN 212 Yes K Intermediate Japanese II Waiver for JAPN 211 Intermediate Japanese I
Latin4LAT 999 No Intermediate Latin
Mathematics (Statistics)4MATH 120 No Elements of Statistics
Spanish Literature and Culture4
SPAN 999 Yes K Introductory Topics in Spanish…SPAN 999 Yes K Introductory Topics in Spanish Waiver for SPAN 211 Intermediate Spanish. Waiver for SPAN 213 Communication Skills (Oral Communication ‘R’ GE not applied). Waiver for SPAN 215 Writing Workshop (Writing ‘W’ GE not applied). Waiver for SPAN 220 Introduction to Hispanic Literature (Writing ‘W’ GE not applied). Will not count toward the required courses in the Spanish major or minor. Students who continue to become majors or minors must take an additional course.

Source: denison.edu · checked September 24, 2026

Biggest majors

MajorGraduates
Econometrics and Quantitative Economics65
Mass Communication/Media Studies47
International Business/Trade/Commerce42
Biology/Biological Sciences39
Research and Experimental Psychology, Other36
Data Science29
Sports Studies24
Computer Science24
Show the other 34 majors
Political Science and Government17
Writing13
Mathematics11
History11
Film/Cinema/Media Studies10
Education9
Social Sciences9
Sociology and Anthropology9
International Public Health/International Health9
Technical Theatre/Theatre Design and Technology8
International Relations and Affairs8
Fine/Studio Arts7
Physics7
Biochemistry7
English Language and Literature7
Women's Studies7
Environmental Studies7
Philosophy6
Environmental Science5
Journalism5
Chemistry4
East Asian Studies3
Spanish Language and Literature3
Dance3
Music3
African-American/Black Studies2
French Language and Literature2
Anthropology1
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences, Other1
Geology/Earth Science1
Religion/Religious Studies1
Applied Mathematics1
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics1
German Language and Literature1

Bachelor’s graduates, first major, most recent year · Source: U.S. Dept. of Education, IPEDS · data snapshot October 2, 2026

Ranked programs

Where Denison University ranks in the top 25 on our top-programs lists, best rank first. How we rank programs

Sports and campus life

Men’s varsity · NCAA Division III, North Coast Athletic Conference

Baseball, Basketball, Football, Golf, Lacrosse, Soccer, Squash, Swimming and Diving (combined), Tennis, Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)

Women’s varsity · NCAA Division III, North Coast Athletic Conference

Basketball, Fencing, Field Hockey, Golf, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Squash, Swimming and Diving (combined), Tennis, Track and Field and Cross Country (combined), Volleyball

Faith groups

Cru, Hillel, Newman Connection

Also

Study abroad

Greek life

17% of men in fraternities · 43% of women in sororities · 31% of undergraduates overall (Common Data Set 2023–24)

Sources: U.S. Dept. of Education athletics data (EADA), Common Data Set (Greek life), connection.newmanministry.com · checked September 4, 2026 · data snapshot October 2, 2026

The place

Setting

Suburb, small

Federal locale classification

Metro area

Columbus, OH

2,225,377 people

Big-city metro (1 million+)

Yes

More about the place

Nearest airport

John Glenn Columbus International (CMH)

Nearest hub airport

John Glenn Columbus International (CMH)

Walkability

EPA walkability index 4.7 of 20

Elevation

1,077 ft

Time zone

Eastern

January low

21°F

July high

86°F

Annual snowfall

15.2 in

Days at 90°F or higher

15 per year

One-bedroom fair market rent

$1,180 per month

Sources: U.S. Dept. of Education (IPEDS locale), U.S. Census metro estimates, NOAA climate normals, HUD fair market rents, EPA walkability · data snapshot October 2, 2026

Colleges nearby

Straight-line distance between campuses

Similar colleges

Private nonprofit, suburban campus, NCAA Division III, similar size