AU vs. Denison

Deciding between American University and Denison University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

American University
Denison University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • AU Washington, DC
  • Denison Granville, OH
  • Setting
  • AU Large City
  • Denison Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • AU 12,321
  • Denison 2,394
  • Type
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • Denison Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AU #94
  • Denison #95
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AU United Methodist
  • Denison -
  • Status
  • AU Non-profit
  • Denison Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AU
  • Denison

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AU $58,771
  • Denison $67,000
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AU $58,771
  • Denison $67,000
  • Room & Board
  • AU $17,982
  • Denison $16,400
  • Average Net Price
  • AU $39,676
  • Denison $43,721
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AU $36,349
  • Denison $38,179
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AU 67%
  • Denison 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AU 17,173
  • Denison 15,012
  • Admitted
  • AU 10,640
  • Denison 2,611
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AU 62%
  • Denison 17.4%
  • Enrolled
  • AU 15.6%
  • Denison 23.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AU 1370
  • Denison 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • AU 30
  • Denison 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • AU 3.7
  • Denison 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AU A-
  • Denison A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • AU Very High
  • Denison Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • AU Low
  • Denison Very High
  • ACT Range
  • AU 29/32
  • Denison 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • AU 1280/1460
  • Denison 1320/1490
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AU Test optional
  • Denison Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • AU Jan 15, 2027
  • Denison Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AU 10:1
  • Denison 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AU
    • Social Sciences (43%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Psychology (3%)
  • Denison
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Communication (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AU 77%
  • Denison 79%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AU $64,800
  • Denison $56,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AU 80%
  • Denison 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AU $24,250
  • Denison $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AU $250
  • Denison $268

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AU 37%
  • Denison 48%
  • % Women
  • AU 63%
  • Denison 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AU High
  • Denison Medium
  • HBCU
  • AU No
  • Denison No
  • % White
  • AU 58%
  • Denison 66%
  • % Asian
  • AU 7%
  • Denison 4%
  • % Black
  • AU 7%
  • Denison 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • AU 12%
  • Denison 10%
  • % Native American
  • AU 0%
  • Denison 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AU 0%
  • Denison 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AU 5%
  • Denison 4%
  • % International
  • AU 7%
  • Denison 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AU 4%
  • Denison 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AU 3%
  • Denison 23%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AU 94%
  • Denison 58%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • AU Yes
  • Denison Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • AU No
  • Denison No
  • Meal Plan
  • AU Yes
  • Denison Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • AU Yes
  • Denison No
  • Daycare Facility
  • AU Yes
  • Denison No

Comparable Facts

Compare American University in Washington, DC with Denison University in Granville, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

American University is larger than Denison based on total student enrollment (12,321 students vs. 2,394 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • American University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); Denison University is in Granville, OH (Rural Fringe setting).
  • American University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Denison University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: American University 10:1; Denison University 9:1.

AU vs. Denison Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or Denison? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at American University than Denison ($39,676 vs. $43,721).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Denison University are 8.8% lower than at American University ($16,400 vs. $17,982).
  • Denison University is 14% more expensive for in-state tuition than AU (about $8,229 more per year; $67,000.00 vs. $58,771.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 14% higher at Denison than at American University (about $8,229 more per year; $67,000.00 vs. $58,771.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Denison University than at American University (94% vs. 67%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Denison University students is 5% larger than aid received by American University students ($38,179 vs. $36,349).

AU vs. Denison Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or Denison? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Denison and AU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Denison University (1410) is 40 points higher than at AU (1370).
  • Incoming Denison students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at AU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 1280/1460; Denison University 1320/1490.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 29/32; Denison University 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AU - Test optional; Denison - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: AU Jan 15, 2027; Denison Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Denison students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at AU (3.7).
  • AU has a higher acceptance rate (62%) than Denison (17.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.6% at AU vs. 23.8% at Denison.

AU vs. Denison Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AU and Denison? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Denison University's six-year graduation rate (79%) is higher than American University's (77%).
  • Graduates from American University earn a median of about $8,700 more per year than Denison graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,800 vs. $56,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, American University graduates have a $1,750 lower median loan debt than Denison graduates ($24,250 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, AU graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Denison graduates ($250 vs. $268).
  • More Denison graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 80%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.