Denison vs. Ohio State

Deciding between Denison University and Ohio State University Main Campus? 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
Ohio State University Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Denison Granville, OH
  • Ohio State Columbus, OH
  • Setting
  • Denison Rural Fringe
  • Ohio State Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Denison 2,394
  • Ohio State 61,443
  • Type
  • Denison Private 4 Year
  • Ohio State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Denison #95
  • Ohio State #135
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Denison -
  • Ohio State -
  • Status
  • Denison Non-profit
  • Ohio State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Denison
  • Ohio State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Denison $67,000
  • Ohio State $13,244
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Denison $67,000
  • Ohio State $40,022
  • Room & Board
  • Denison $16,400
  • Ohio State $14,738
  • Average Net Price
  • Denison $43,721
  • Ohio State $19,783
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Denison $38,179
  • Ohio State $13,151
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Denison 94%
  • Ohio State 70%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Denison 15,012
  • Ohio State 72,829
  • Admitted
  • Denison 2,611
  • Ohio State 44,116
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Denison 17.4%
  • Ohio State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Denison 23.8%
  • Ohio State 21.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Denison 1410
  • Ohio State 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • Denison 31
  • Ohio State 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Denison 3.76
  • Ohio State 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Denison A-
  • Ohio State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Denison Exceptional
  • Ohio State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Denison Very High
  • Ohio State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Denison 30/33
  • Ohio State 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • Denison 1320/1490
  • Ohio State 1310/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Denison Test optional
  • Ohio State Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Denison Jan 15, 2027
  • Ohio State Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Denison 9:1
  • Ohio State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Denison
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • Ohio State
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Denison 79%
  • Ohio State 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Denison $56,100
  • Ohio State $50,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Denison 83%
  • Ohio State 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Denison $26,000
  • Ohio State $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Denison $268
  • Ohio State $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Denison 48%
  • Ohio State 48%
  • % Women
  • Denison 52%
  • Ohio State 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Denison Medium
  • Ohio State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Denison No
  • Ohio State No
  • % White
  • Denison 66%
  • Ohio State 71%
  • % Asian
  • Denison 4%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Black
  • Denison 7%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Denison 10%
  • Ohio State 4%
  • % Native American
  • Denison 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Denison 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Denison 4%
  • Ohio State 3%
  • % International
  • Denison 8%
  • Ohio State 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Denison 2%
  • Ohio State 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Denison 23%
  • Ohio State 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Denison 58%
  • Ohio State 28%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Denison University in Granville, OH with Ohio State University Main Campus in Columbus, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Ohio State University Main Campus is larger than Denison based on total student enrollment (61,443 students vs. 2,394 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Denison University is located in Granville, OH (Rural Fringe setting); Ohio State University Main Campus is in Columbus, OH (Large City setting).
  • Denison University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Ohio State University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Denison University 9:1; Ohio State University Main Campus 16:1.

Denison vs. Ohio State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Denison or Ohio State? 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 Ohio State University Main Campus than Denison ($19,783 vs. $43,721).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohio State University Main Campus are 10.1% lower than at Denison University ($14,738 vs. $16,400).
  • Denison University is 405.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ohio State (about $53,756 more per year; $67,000.00 vs. $13,244.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 67.4% higher at Denison than at Ohio State University Main Campus (about $26,978 more per year; $67,000.00 vs. $40,022.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Denison University than at Ohio State University Main Campus (94% vs. 70%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Denison University students is 190.3% larger than aid received by Ohio State University Main Campus students ($38,179 vs. $13,151).

Denison vs. Ohio State Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Denison University (1410) is 10 points higher than at Ohio State (1400).
  • Incoming Denison students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at Ohio State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Denison University 1320/1490; Ohio State University Main Campus 1310/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Denison University 30/33; Ohio State University Main Campus 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Denison - Test optional; Ohio State - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Denison Jan 15, 2027; Ohio State Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Denison students have the same average high school GPA (3.76) as students at Ohio State (3.76).
  • Ohio State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than Denison (17.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.8% at Denison vs. 21.8% at Ohio State.

Denison vs. Ohio State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Denison and Ohio State? 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).

  • Ohio State University Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (80%) is higher than Denison University's (79%).
  • Graduates from Denison University earn a median of about $5,500 more per year than Ohio State graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,100 vs. $50,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Ohio State University Main Campus graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than Denison graduates ($21,500 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, Ohio State graduates have an estimated $46 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Denison graduates ($222 vs. $268).
  • More Denison graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ohio State students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 63%)

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.