Denison University: Student Population And Campus Life

Denison University is a private liberal arts college in Granville, Ohio, founded in 1831. The college enrolled 2,300 students in the fall of 2023, with a gender distribution of 49% male and 51% female students. Denison University offers a variety of academic programs and extracurricular activities, and encourages students to explore their interests both inside and outside the classroom. The university has a competitive selection process, with an acceptance rate of around 17%. Denison's students come from diverse backgrounds, with representation from all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and 79 countries.

Denison University's current student population

Denison University, a private liberal arts college located in Granville, Ohio, currently has an undergraduate enrollment of around 2,300 to 2,406 students. The college's student population is evenly distributed between genders, with 49% male students and 51% female students. Denison University's students come from diverse backgrounds, representing all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and 79 countries, with 78% of the student body comprising out-of-state students.

The student-to-faculty ratio at Denison University is 9:1, allowing for a more personalised learning experience. The university offers its students a wide range of academic programs, with 65 academic programs to choose from. The university also encourages its students to explore a variety of interests and get involved in extracurricular activities, with over 160 campus organisations and clubs catering to different interests.

Denison University's admission rate is around 17%, reflecting its selective nature. The university attracts students from diverse backgrounds, with 13% of its students being first-generation college students and 37% identifying as multicultural. The university is committed to meeting the full demonstrated financial need of its students and provides need-based financial aid and merit-based scholarships.

The campus life at Denison University is vibrant and community-oriented. With a strong emphasis on athletics, the university fields 26 varsity teams in the NCAA Division III and offers a range of club and intramural sports. Denison University's campus provides a mix of historic and contemporary buildings, with 99% of its students living on campus. The university is located just outside of Columbus, a thriving metropolitan area known for its arts, internships, and entrepreneurial opportunities.

The university's admission rate

Denison University is a highly selective institution with an admission rate of around 17% as of 2024. This means that out of more than 14,500 applicants for the Fall 2023 entry, only about 17% received offers. The university's admission rate reflects its competitiveness and the rigorous selection process it employs.

The university looks for students who demonstrate a strong commitment to their academic lives and bring a diverse range of interests, characteristics, and personal qualities to the dynamic campus community. Denison University's holistic review admissions process considers a wide range of criteria beyond standard test scores and results. Extra-curricular activities, awards, honours, character, community contributions, enthusiasm, and special talents are all taken into account during the application process.

In recent years, Denison University has seen an increase in interest from international student populations, with application submissions rising from 2,447 in 2019 to 3,255 in 2021. This has resulted in a corresponding increase in international student enrolment, with 97 newly enrolled international students in 2019 and 131 in 2021.

The university's selectivity is further emphasised by the academic calibre of its student body. For the Fall 2021 enrolled freshmen, the middle 50% of composite SAT scores ranged from 1330 to 1550, while composite ACT scores for the same group ranged from 30 to 35. Additionally, 76% of enrolled freshmen were in the top 10% of their high school classes.

Denison University's low admission rate is a testament to its reputation as a highly competitive and sought-after institution. The university's comprehensive admissions process ensures that it attracts a diverse and ambitious cohort of students who are well-prepared to contribute to the vibrant campus life and rigorous academic programmes that Denison has to offer.

Denison's ranking in the US

Denison University is a private liberal arts college located in Granville, Ohio. It was founded in 1831 and currently has an undergraduate enrollment of around 2,400 students. The university's ranking in the US has been listed by various sources and on several metrics.

US News Best Colleges 2025 Rankings:

Denison University is ranked #36 out of 211 in National Liberal Arts Colleges. It also ranks #52 in Best Value Schools, #161 in Economics, #36 in First-Year Experiences, #49 in Best Undergraduate Teaching, #4 in Most Innovative Schools, and #32 in Top Performers on Social Mobility.

Niche 2025 Rankings:

Denison University received an overall grade of A-minus, ranking it as the #2 Best Liberal Arts College in Ohio.

US News & World Report Best Colleges Ranking:

Denison is ranked #36 in US liberal arts colleges and #9 for “Most Innovative Schools”.

Business Insider Ranking:

Denison is ranked #43 in the "Smartest Liberal Arts Colleges in America".

The New York Times Ranking:

In 2014, Denison was ranked #11 in The New York Times list of the nation's "Most Economically Diverse Top Colleges".

Princeton Review Ranking:

Denison's career services are ranked #4 in the US by the Princeton Review.

Niche Overall Niche Grade:

Denison University received an overall grade of A-minus from Niche, based on rigorous analysis of data and reviews.

The number of academic programs offered

Denison University offers 65 academic programs, including Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BS), and Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degrees. The university's curriculum balances breadth with depth, building academic specialisation upon a liberal arts foundation.

Students can choose from a variety of majors, including Ancient Greek and Roman Studies, Anthropology and Sociology, Applied Mathematics, Arabic, Art History and Visual Culture, Chinese, Classical Studies, Computational Science, Computer Science, Data for Political Research, Digital Humanities, Earth Science, East Asian Studies, Educational Studies, and English (both Creative Writing and Literature).

Other majors offered include Environmental Sciences, Environmental Studies, Financial Economics, Geosciences, Global Commerce, Health, Exercise, and Sport Studies, International Studies, Japanese, Latin American and Caribbean Studies, Mathematics, Middle East and North African Studies, Music (with various specialisations), Neuroscience, Organizational Studies, Philosophy, Politics and Economics, Politics and Public Affairs, Portuguese, Psychology, Queer Studies, Sociology and Anthropology, Sustainability and Environmental Studies, and Visual Arts.

In addition to these majors, Denison also offers individually-designed majors, allowing students to customise their academic experience. The university's commitment to liberal arts and its strong pre-professional advising have made it well-known by professional schools in medicine, business, law, and engineering.

The percentage of international students

Denison University is a private liberal arts college in Granville, Ohio, with a student body of 2,300 as of the 2023-24 school year. The college's student population is diverse, with students from all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and 79 countries. Denison's student body is made up of 49% male students and 51% female students, and 13% of students are first-generation college students.

International students make up a significant portion of the student population at Denison University, with an estimated 17% of the student body holding international status. This percentage translates to approximately 366-400 international students out of a total student population of 2,258-2,406, depending on the year. The number of international students at Denison has been increasing, with a growth rate of 12% over the last several years.

The top countries represented by international students at Denison include China, India, and Vietnam. In recent years, the number of international students from India, South Korea, and Vietnam has been growing. Denison has also seen an increase in international students from countries like Pakistan, which previously contributed a smaller number of students. Interestingly, the number of Chinese international students has been gradually decreasing.

Denison University offers a range of support services for international students, including career coaching, graduate school advice, and immigration support. The university also provides an international student portal with resources on topics such as F-1 status, employment, and travel. With a strong academic reputation, Denison attracts talented international students and provides them with a high-quality teaching environment and a diverse and inclusive community.

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