Denison vs. Kenyon

Deciding between Denison University and Kenyon College? 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.

Denison University
Kenyon College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Denison Granville, OH
  • Kenyon Gambier, OH
  • Setting
  • Denison Rural Fringe
  • Kenyon Distant Rural
  • Total enrollment
  • Denison 2,394
  • Kenyon 2,249
  • Type
  • Denison Private 4 Year
  • Kenyon Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Denison #95
  • Kenyon #62
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Denison -
  • Kenyon -
  • Status
  • Denison Non-profit
  • Kenyon Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Denison
  • Kenyon

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Denison $67,000
  • Kenyon $71,520
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Denison $67,000
  • Kenyon $71,520
  • Room & Board
  • Denison $16,400
  • Kenyon $15,640
  • Average Net Price
  • Denison $43,721
  • Kenyon $46,859
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Denison $38,179
  • Kenyon $40,731
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Denison 94%
  • Kenyon 82%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Denison 15,012
  • Kenyon 7,726
  • Admitted
  • Denison 2,611
  • Kenyon 2,397
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Denison 17.4%
  • Kenyon 31%
  • Enrolled
  • Denison 23.8%
  • Kenyon 18.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Denison 1410
  • Kenyon 1430
  • Typical ACT score
  • Denison 31
  • Kenyon 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Denison 3.76
  • Kenyon 3.84
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Denison A-
  • Kenyon A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Denison Exceptional
  • Kenyon Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Denison Very High
  • Kenyon High
  • ACT Range
  • Denison 30/33
  • Kenyon 31/33
  • SAT Range
  • Denison 1320/1490
  • Kenyon 1358/1503
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Denison Test optional
  • Kenyon Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Denison Jan 15, 2027
  • Kenyon Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Denison 9:1
  • Kenyon 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Denison
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • Kenyon
    • Social Sciences (22%)
    • English and Literature (17%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Denison 79%
  • Kenyon 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Denison $56,100
  • Kenyon $52,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Denison 83%
  • Kenyon 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Denison $26,000
  • Kenyon $19,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Denison $268
  • Kenyon $196

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Denison 48%
  • Kenyon 44%
  • % Women
  • Denison 52%
  • Kenyon 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Denison Medium
  • Kenyon Low
  • HBCU
  • Denison No
  • Kenyon No
  • % White
  • Denison 66%
  • Kenyon 73%
  • % Asian
  • Denison 4%
  • Kenyon 4%
  • % Black
  • Denison 7%
  • Kenyon 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Denison 10%
  • Kenyon 7%
  • % Native American
  • Denison 0%
  • Kenyon 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Denison 0%
  • Kenyon 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Denison 4%
  • Kenyon 4%
  • % International
  • Denison 8%
  • Kenyon 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Denison 2%
  • Kenyon 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Denison 23%
  • Kenyon 12%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Denison 58%
  • Kenyon 78%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Denison University in Granville, OH with Kenyon College in Gambier, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Denison University is larger than Kenyon based on total student enrollment (2,394 students vs. 2,249 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Denison University is located in Granville, OH (Rural Fringe setting); Kenyon College is in Gambier, OH (Distant Rural setting).
  • Denison University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Kenyon College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Denison University 9:1; Kenyon College 9:1.

Denison vs. Kenyon Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Denison or Kenyon? 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 Denison University than Kenyon ($43,721 vs. $46,859).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kenyon College are 4.6% lower than at Denison University ($15,640 vs. $16,400).
  • Kenyon College is 6.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Denison (about $4,520 more per year; $71,520.00 vs. $67,000.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.7% higher at Kenyon than at Denison University (about $4,520 more per year; $71,520.00 vs. $67,000.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Denison University than at Kenyon College (94% vs. 82%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Kenyon College students is 6.7% larger than aid received by Denison University students ($40,731 vs. $38,179).

Denison vs. Kenyon Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Denison or Kenyon? 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 Kenyon and Denison.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Kenyon College (1430) is 20 points higher than at Denison (1410).
  • Incoming Kenyon students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 31 at Denison).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Denison University 1320/1490; Kenyon College 1358/1503.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Denison University 30/33; Kenyon College 31/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Denison - Test optional; Kenyon - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Denison Jan 15, 2027; Kenyon Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Kenyon students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at Denison (3.76).
  • Kenyon has a higher acceptance rate (31%) than Denison (17.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.8% at Denison vs. 18.3% at Kenyon.

Denison vs. Kenyon Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Denison and Kenyon? 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).

  • Kenyon College's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Denison University's (79%).
  • Graduates from Denison University earn a median of about $3,200 more per year than Kenyon graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,100 vs. $52,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Kenyon College graduates have a $7,000 lower median loan debt than Denison graduates ($19,000 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, Kenyon graduates have an estimated $72 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Denison graduates ($196 vs. $268).
  • More Kenyon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Denison students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 83%)

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.