Denison University: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
University Heights, Ohio · Private nonprofit · Open access · CDS 2024-2025
Denison University is a private institution located in University Heights, Ohio. For the most recent reporting cycle, Denison University admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 81%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT of 1295 and an ACT composite around 27. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $28,617 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price. For parents weighing whether Denison University is realistic for their teenager, the most useful planning step is comparing your child's current GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against these admitted-student ranges — not the headline acceptance rate alone.
What GPA does my child need for Denison University?
Denison University has a broadly accessible admissions profile, and most students who complete a standard college-prep curriculum with a 3.0 GPA or higher are competitive for admission. Parents tracking their child's GPA toward this tier of school can use Solyo's free calculator to see weighted, unweighted, and college-recalculated numbers side by side.
What does Denison University weight in admissions?
Denison University reports the following factor importance in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). These are the criteria the admissions committee weighs when reviewing applications.
- • Rigor of secondary school record
- • Academic GPA
- • Extracurricular activities
- • Application essay
- • Talent/ability
- • Character/personal qualities
- • Volunteer work
- • Work experience
- • Class rank
- • Standardized test scores
- • Recommendations
- • Interview
- • First generation status
- • Alumni/ae relation
- • Geographical residence
- • Level of applicant's interest
- • State residency
- • Religious affiliation/commitment
SAT and ACT scores Denison University typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 590–680, with an EBRW midpoint near 620. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 25–30. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.
| 25th percentile | 1160 |
| 50th percentile | 1230 |
| 75th percentile | 1320 |
| % submitting SAT | 18% |
| 25th percentile | 25 |
| 50th percentile | 27 |
| 75th percentile | 30 |
| % submitting ACT | 24% |
- • Test-blind: Denison University does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, even if submitted.
- • Policy detail: Not Considered
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 29% |
| Top 25% of class | 62% |
| Top 50% of class | 87% |
How much does Denison University actually cost?
Published tuition is $49,100 for in-state students and $49,100 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $14,160 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $28,617 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 20% of students receive Pell Grants, a useful indicator of how much need-based aid the school distributes.
| Room and board | $8,650 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $28,617 |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Denison University
| Regular deadline | May 1 |
| Notification date | - |
| Reply deadline | May 1 |
| Rolling admissions | Yes |
| Offers Early Action | Yes |
| EA deadline | November 15 |
Will my child graduate from Denison University?
Retention and graduation rates are the most overlooked numbers in college planning, but they predict actual outcomes far better than acceptance rate. They tell you whether admitted students stay and finish on time.
Other colleges in Ohio parents ask about
How parents track GPA toward selective schools like Denison University
Solyo helps parents track grades pulled directly from school emails, calculate GPA the same way colleges like Denison University recalculate it, and ask an AI college counselor specific questions about their teen's odds. The platform is built for parents — not students — and turns what's usually a fragmented planning process into a single dashboard.
Common questions parents ask about Denison University
What GPA do I need for Denison University?
Denison University has a broadly accessible admissions profile, and most students who complete a standard college-prep curriculum with a 3.0 GPA or higher are competitive for admission.
What SAT or ACT score does Denison University typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 590–680, with an EBRW midpoint near 620. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 25–30.
How much does Denison University actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Denison University after grants and scholarships is $28,617 per year. That figure is more useful for budgeting than the published sticker price, because it reflects what families actually pay after aid is applied.
Is Denison University realistic for my child?
Compare your teen's current unweighted GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against the ranges above. If both numbers fall inside the school's middle-50, Denison University is a target school. If both fall below the 25th-percentile mark, treat it as a reach and balance the application list accordingly.
Data sourced from the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by Denison University, and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Solyo extracts admissions data from official Common Data Set publications and refreshes it annually.