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Kenyon Wooster Oberlin Bucknell Lafayette College Skidmore College SPU DePauw Miami Miami Union College Rhodes College| Denison University | Pacific Lutheran University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Denison | PLU | ||
| Location | Granville, OH | Tacoma, WA | ||
| Setting | Rural Fringe | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 2,416 | 2,633 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #98 | #311 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Evangelical Lutheran Church | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | denison.edu | plu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Denison | PLU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $60,000 | $49,472 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $60,000 | $49,472 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,400 | $11,826 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $38,267 | $24,825 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $36,497 | $36,435 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 97% | 99% |
Admission |
Denison | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 12,220 | 3,334 | ||
| Admitted | 2,684 | 2,964 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 22% | 88.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 25.4% | 17.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.76 | 3.71 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Very High | |||
| ACT Range | 29/32 | 27/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1270/1460 | 1253/1423 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 15, 2025 | Aug 15, 2025 |
Academics |
Denison | PLU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 9:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Denison | PLU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 79% | 66% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $56,100 | $52,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 83% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,000 | $25,800 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $268 | $266 |
Diversity |
Denison | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 48% | 36% | ||
| % Women | 52% | 64% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 66% | 68% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 10% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 7% | ||
| % International | 8% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
Denison | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 21% | 74% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 65% | 22% | ||
Campus |
Denison | PLU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Pacific Lutheran University is larger than than Denison based on total student enrollment (2,633 students vs. 2,416 students)
Denison vs. PLU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Denison or PLU?
- Denison University is 21.3% more expensive to attend than PLU for in-state tuition ($60,000.00 vs. $49,472.00)
- Out of state tuition is 21.3% higher at Denison than Pacific Lutheran University ($60,000.00 vs. $49,472.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pacific Lutheran University than Denison ($24,825 vs. $38,267)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Lutheran University are 21.8% lower than costs at Denison University ($11,826 vs. $14,400)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Pacific Lutheran University than Denison University (99% vs. 97%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Denison University students is 0.2% larger than aid received Pacific Lutheran University ($36,497 vs. $36,435)
Denison vs. PLU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Denison or PLU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between PLU or Denison .
- Accepted freshman Denison students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at PLU (3.71)
- PLU has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than Denison (22%)
Denison vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Denison or PLU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between PLU and Denison.
- The graduation rate at Denison is higher than Pacific Lutheran University (79% vs. 66%)
- Graduates from Denison University earn on average $3,800 more per year than PLU graduates after ten years. ($56,100 vs. $52,300)
- Pacific Lutheran University students graduate with a $200 lower median federal student loan debt than Denison graduates. ($25,800 vs. $26,000)
- PLU graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than Denison graduates. ($266 vs. $268)
- More Denison graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PLU students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 74%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/