Admission

Denison is committed to enrolling students of high intellectual ability who come from broadly diverse backgrounds. The university provides an environment that supports and promotes academic achievement and personal growth. Denison values its faculty, academic programs, and students who have come to learn and contribute.  Denison's Office of Admission coordinates admission events and reviews all applications to the university.

Secondary School Preparation

Because a Denison academic education is a blend of electives, general education, core courses, and departmental requirements, a broad, rigorous secondary school preparation is highly desirable. The university strongly recommends that, by the time students graduate from secondary school, they  complete the following: four years of English; three years of mathematics, science, social studies, and a foreign language (at least two of which should be in the same language).

Students are encouraged to challenge themselves with rigorous courses, when available. Rigorous courses include, but are not limited to, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, A-Level, honors, and college courses.

Academic performance and the rigor of courses selected are the most important factors considered by the admission committee. Submission of standardized test scores (ACT or SAT) is optional. The application essay, as well as written evaluations from college counselors and academic teachers, provide additional context. Important also is the quality, rather than the quantity, of extracurricular accomplishments, whether school-, community-, or job-related. All offers of admission are conditional based on Denison's Conditions of Admission.

All international applicants must demonstrate adequate English proficiency to qualify for admission. English proficiency waivers are considered on a case-by-case basis after a student applies for admission. Considerations include, but are not limited to, the following: English as the primary language of school instruction; English as the first/native language; TOEFL iBT of 80+; TOEFL Essentials of 8.5+; IELTS of 6.5+; Duolingo English Test (DET) of 115+; SAT Reading of 600+; ACT English of 26+; and an admission interview.

Application Process

First-year and transfer applicants should refer to the admission section of the Denison website for up-to-date information on the application process.

Early Decision

If, after careful research, a student decides that Denison is their first-choice college, the student is encouraged to apply through one of our two early decision rounds. Early decision applicants must sign and submit a binding early decision agreement form.

The deadline for Early Decision 1 is November 15, and the deadline for Early Decision 2 is January 15. Students applying in an early decision round are notified on a rolling basis beginning after the application deadline and once the Office of Admission has received all required application materials. Admitted students must accept the offer of admission and pay a nonrefundable enrollment deposit by the deadline in their admission letter to confirm their place in the entering first-year class. 

All offers of admission are conditional based on Denison's Conditions of Admission.

Regular Decision

Candidates for regular decision admission should apply no later than January 15 and present a consistent record of academic accomplishment. Final notification of admission decisions for completed applications will be made by April 1, and admitted students must respond to the offer and pay their nonrefundable deposit by May 1. 

All offers of admission are conditional based on Denison's Conditions of Admission.

Campus Visit and Interview

There are many ways to engage with Denison students, faculty, and staff. However, there is great value in visiting our campus in person and seeing first-hand all that Denison has to offer.  Denison offers information sessions, various tours of campus, the ability to sit in on a class (when classes are in session), and interview with an admission staff member or senior intern.  Find more information about visiting Denison online. 

Interviews

An interview is not required for admission, but applicants are strongly encouraged to complete an interview. Admission interviews provide prospective students the opportunity to connect with an admission staff member and to get their questions answered. Additionally, interviews help to provide insight into the applicant's personality and character and allow our admission team to understand how an applicant might fit into the Denison community. Learn more about Denison’s approach to admission interviews.

After being offered admission to Denison and paying the nonrefundable enrollment deposit, students seeking deferred enrollment may request a gap year no later than June 1. Requests must be made in writing by emailing the Office of Admission at admission@denison.edu. The request must include a clear explanation of why the deferral is being requested and how it is in the student’s best interest. Review the full Deferred Enrollment Policy for more information. 

The transfer application deadline for spring semester admission is November 15, and the transfer application deadline for fall semester admission is April 15. For further information on Denison's transfer program, please visit the Transfer Admission webpage.

Office of Admission
Denison University
100 W College Street
Granville, Ohio 43023

740-587-6276
denison.edu/admission

Annual Costs

Actual 2024-2025

The university reserves the right to make changes in costs at the beginning of any semester by publication of the new rates for tuition three months in advance, and for housing and food, one month in advance of their effective date. Changes in other fees, charges, or policies may be made by announcement one month in advance of the effective date of the change.

Tuition

The annual tuition permits a student to take a maximum of 18 hours each semester. An additional charge of $2,095 is made for each registered hour in excess of 18 hours. All excess-hour charges are billed by Student Accounts. A part-time student (8 hours per semester or fewer) is charged $2,095 for each semester hour of credit.  Please note, for financial aid purposes part-time is defined as 8 hours per semester or fewer.

Student Insurance Plan

A group accident and sickness insurance plan is available to students. Student Accounts sends details of this plan to students in the summer.

Housing

Housing options are: multiple room, single room, apartment, suite or Stone Hall apartment with shared bedroom. In addition, students will be charged for any damage beyond ordinary wear to the room and its contents.

Food

Food is served in the college dining halls throughout the academic year except during scheduled breaks. More detailed information on this and the other meal plan options will be sent to students along with their bill.

Other Fees

Auditing Classes

This privilege may be granted to any student with the approval of the teaching faculty member. A regularly enrolled full-time student may be permitted to audit one course each semester without an additional excess hour fee and without academic credit. In all other cases, an auditor pays a sum equal to one-half the tuition rate paid by a part-time student.

Off-Campus Programs

An administrative fee charged to each student participating in an off-campus program is $1,260 per semester. An administrative fee of $335 will be charged for summer 2025 off-campus programs.

Books and Supplies

Bookstore purchases may be paid by cash, check, credit card, or a "Denison Dollars" debit account. Information on the Denison Dollars account will be sent to all students prior to the start of each semester.

Department of Music Fees

Music fees are required of a student taking private lessons in applied music.  A surcharge of $605 per half-hour (1 credit) or $1,210 per hour (2 credits) of instruction per semester, including the necessary practice time, is assessed for applied music lessons. All declared music majors and minors will be given 1 waived credit hour for private lesson instruction each semester. At the discretion of the music department, music majors may have up to 4 credit hours waived, and music minors may have up to 3 credit hours waived.

Any student paying regular tuition may attend classes (not private lessons) in voice or instrumental music without the surcharge.

Special Fees

An additional fee is assessed for courses such as ceramics, sculpture, printmaking, drawing/life drawing, and photography when the student becomes the owner of tangible items created. Additional course fees also apply to certain courses, including Intermediate Cinema Production, Taekwondo, Skin and Scuba Diving, and certain Denison Seminar courses. A fee is also charged for Model U.N. participation and Model E.U. participation. This is subject to change from semester to semester.

Some fine arts studio courses and science courses may have additional expenses.

Enrollment Deposit

A nonrefundable enrollment deposit is required of all students prior to enrollment at Denison. It is due by the date specified in a student's offer of admission. This deposit is applied to the student's first semester bill.

Semester Bills and Late Payments

Denison bills electronically. Semester bills are available in MyDenison Self-Service in early July for Fall Semester and in early December for Spring Semester. Bills are due approximately three weeks after the bill date. Bills may be paid in advance. Bills not paid by the due date are subject to a late payment fee of 1% per month or any portion thereof on the unpaid balance until the bill is paid in full. Registration for a semester is not permitted unless all fees are paid. 

Payment of Bills

All bills are payable in Student Accounts. To help develop a sense of responsibility and a greater appreciation of the educational opportunity, the university has a policy of collecting payment from the student rather than from the student's parents. The student, however, may grant another party direct access to their bill.

Advanced Course and Housing Registration

The university conducts advanced course registration each semester for the ensuing semester, and housing registration each spring for the following academic year.

All fees must be paid to permit advanced courses and housing registration.

Miscellaneous Bills

Invoices for miscellaneous items such as lost keys, identification cards, residence hall damages, lock core changes, and driving and parking infractions are issued by the department authorizing the charge. All charges (except as noted below) are included on the comprehensive billing statement, which is available electronically in Denison Self-Service. Unpaid library fines and other miscellaneous charges are also periodically added to the billing statement.

The university reserves the right to notify parents when scheduled payments are not met by the student. Students may want to grant others direct access to all bills, both semester and miscellaneous. The student can accomplish this by completing the steps outlined in the "Grant Access" link in their Denison Self-Service account.

A student is ineligible to attend classes unless their bills are paid when due. A student is denied an honorable separation until all university bills are paid in full.

The policy on breakage fees applies to all supplies and equipment issued in any lab course in chemistry (including directed studies, senior research, and individual work for honors) or through the Athletics, Physical Education, and Recreation Department. In addition to breakage fees, the Athletics, Physical Education, and Recreation Department also charges for lost equipment if the student is negligent in returning borrowed equipment by the date requested.

Although a record is kept of all breakage, students are not ordinarily charged for breakage amounting to less than $5 per semester. However, when the breakage in any one semester is $5 or more, students will be billed directly by Student Accounts for the total amount of all breakage, including the first $5.

Additionally, students who fail to check out of a laboratory or locker properly (either when dropping a course during a semester or at the regular check-out time at the end of a semester) will be charged a fee of $25, plus the cost of any breakage, regardless of the amount.

The university accepts checks for payment of bills; however, a $30 charge is assessed on all payments returned by the bank. The university does not provide check-cashing privileges for students at Student Accounts. Granville has numerous banking and savings institutions that offer a variety of checking and savings plans. It is recommended that students establish an account with a local financial institution to facilitate their bill-paying and cash needs.

A $25 wire processing fee is charged on all incoming and outgoing wire transfers.

Payment Plans

Several monthly payment plans and educational loans are available to students and parents. Details of these plans are sent to students each spring for the following year of enrollment. Learn more about payment plans.

Refunds

Where applicable, refunds are automatically issued upon withdrawal or graduation. Continuing students may request refunds any time their account has a credit balance.

Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018

In accordance with the VBTA, Denison agrees to make certain concessions to existing policy for covered individuals.  A covered individual is any individual who is entitled to educational assistance under chapter 31, Vocational Rehabilitation, or chapter 33, Post 9/11 GI Bill® benefits.  These concessions, outlined below, are limited to the portion of funds paid by the Veterans Administration.

We will not impose any penalty, including the assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities, or the requirement that a covered individual borrow additional funds, on any covered individual because of the individual’s inability to meet their financial obligations to the institution due to the delayed disbursement of funding from the Department of Veterans Affairs under chapter 31 or 33.

We will permit any covered individual to attend or participate in the course of education during the period beginning on the date on which the individual provides to the educational institution a Certificate of Eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance under chapter 31 or 33 and ending on the earlier of the following dates:

1.   The date on which payment from the VA is made to the institution.  
2.   90 days after the date the institution certified tuition and fees following the receipt of the COE

The Office of Financial Aid is the department of record for these dates. 

Late Registration 

Students failing to complete all registration matters by the final deadline of the tenth class date of the term and/or failing to respond properly to university officials' notices regarding the problem shall be withdrawn from all pre-registered courses. Such withdrawal shall carry with it financial forfeitures in accordance with the refund schedules outlined below. Appeal of this action shall be to the academic standing board and, if upheld, will normally carry a minimum penalty of $50 and other disciplinary sanctions as deemed appropriate.

Refund or Forfeiture of Tuition, Housing and Food

Withdrawal from the university at any time is official only upon written notice to the dean of students or their designee. A request to the Registrar for a transcript of credits shall neither be considered a notice of withdrawal from the university nor a cancellation of a housing and/or food reservation. For further information, please consult Leaves and Returns.

In the event of an official withdrawal after the first day of classes, a student may receive a partial refund. The withdrawal process begins when a student meets with the dean of students or their designee for an exit interview. A student will not be considered withdrawn without an exit interview. Upon official withdrawal or suspension, any adjustments to the account are automatically made in accordance with university policy and a refund or bill will be sent as needed. Please contact Student Accounts with questions regarding the amount of refund or forfeiture of charges.

*NOTE: Taking a Leave of Absence or withdrawing from the university may have serious implications concerning your financial aid and repayment plan. Contact the Office of Financial Aid by phone (740-587-6276) or email (finaid@denison.edu).

The enrollment deposit is nonrefundable.

A student will receive a refund of tuition based upon withdrawal before the end of the respective full week of classes. Please see the chart below.

No refunds are granted after the 8th week (9th week for medical withdrawal). In the event of withdrawal of a student because of dismissal, the medical withdrawal schedule will apply. A student who stops attendance without completing an exit interview or notifying the dean of students or their designee of their withdrawal is not entitled to a refund of charges.

A pro rata refund of the housing and food charge will be made following official withdrawal or dismissal from Denison as of the date the student vacates university premises, discontinues use of university facilities and services, and returns their room key. The dean of students or their designee will determine this date.

Other Conditions

If a student withdraws after the deadline and before the first day of classes because of illness or other approved extenuating circumstance, the enrollment deposit remains nonrefundable.

In the case of a student withdrawing from a course or from the university for any reason, fees for applied music lessons are not refunded after the second week of class, other course fees are not refunded after the fourth week of class. 

In the unlikely event that a public health agency requires Denison University to halt operations--including the cancellation of classes--as the result of a pandemic or some similar occurrence, Denison will reopen and continue the semester as soon as public authorities permit it. Prepaid tuition, fees, housing and food would not be refunded under this circumstance. Prepayments will be held and applied to the continued semester as though there were no interruption of services.

Motor Vehicle Policy

All students are required to register any vehicle present on the Denison campus. A Denison registration sticker is not only a parking permit, but is also required for roadway use of a motor vehicle.

Safety Glasses Requirement

In accordance with the provisions of the state law (i.e. amended Sections 3313.643, 3743.52 and 3743.99 of the Revised Code of the State of Ohio file No. 225, effective June 22, 1972):

All students enrolled in specified laboratory and studio courses in art, biology, chemistry, geosciences, physical education, physics, theatre, and cinema MUST wear industrial-quality eye protective devices at all times while participating or observing any of the laboratory or studio work.

The Ohio law (a copy of which is on file in the departments named above) is written in such a way that "industrial-quality eye protective devices" means devices meeting the standards of the American National Standard Practice for Occupational and Educational Eye and Face Protection (Z87.1-1968) approved by the American National Standards Institute Inc., and subsequent revisions thereof, provided such revisions are approved and adopted by the State of Ohio Industrial Commission. In particular, the law specifies that "all impact resistant lenses must be capable of withstanding an impact test in which a five-eighths inch steel ball weighing approximately fifty-six hundredths of an ounce is dropped from a height of fifty inches upon the horizontal upper surface of the lens in the manner prescribed under the code of federal regulations, Title 21, Section 3.84."

Please note that eyeglasses normally supplied by your optician, optometrist, or ophthalmologist may be specified to be "impact-resistant" and still not meet the specifications of the Ohio law, as quoted above.

Accordingly, students enrolled in the above departmental courses and who do not ordinarily wear glasses will, without exception, be required to purchase a pair of safety glasses meeting the above specifications. Such glasses will ordinarily be available in the Denison bookstore, but they may be purchased elsewhere. Students who already wear prescription lenses (either contact or otherwise) will also be required to wear safety glasses when in the laboratory, studio, or work areas. These may be of a variety that cover their ordinary glasses, or they may be a pair prepared according to the student's prescription and meeting the safety standards. The university has arrangements with a local supplier to furnish both kinds at prices that are both fair and competitive.

Financial Aid Information

Denison is strongly committed to enrolling highly qualified students, regardless of their financial means. Denison meets 100% of the demonstrated financial need of all students.

Families with any doubts about their ability to pay for a Denison education without help, should not hesitate to apply for financial aid. The Office of Financial Aid welcomes the opportunity to help prospective students and  their families plan for college.

Applying for Financial Aid

To apply for need-based financial aid at Denison University, students must submit required financial aid documents by November 15 (for Early Decision 1 and spring transfer applicants), by January 15 (for Early Decision 2 and Regular Decision applicants), or by April 15 (for fall transfer applicants). The required need-based financial aid documents for domestic students include: 

• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) 
• College Board CSS Profile
• Earning statements & Asset and Family Verification 

All international applicants must submit the Denison International Student Certification of Finances, regardless of their intention to apply for financial aid. 

Visit Denison’s website for more information on applying for financial aid.

Types of Financial Aid

Financial aid awarded is designed to help meet a student’s financial need, if the student has applied for need-based financial aid. Financial packages will usually consist of scholarships, grants, student employment, and/or loans.

Denison’s endowment supports the awarding of all Denison merit scholarships and Denison need-based grant aid each year, totaling over $70 million.