DePaul vs. Denison

Deciding between DePaul 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.

DePaul University
Denison University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • DePaul Chicago, IL
  • Denison Granville, OH
  • Setting
  • DePaul Large City
  • Denison Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • DePaul 21,210
  • Denison 2,394
  • Type
  • DePaul Private 4 Year
  • Denison Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • DePaul #253
  • Denison #95
  • Religious Affiliation
  • DePaul Roman Catholic
  • Denison -
  • Status
  • DePaul Non-profit
  • Denison Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • DePaul
  • Denison
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • DePaul $45,999
  • Denison $67,000
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • DePaul $45,999
  • Denison $67,000
  • Room & Board
  • DePaul $19,095
  • Denison $16,400
  • Average Net Price
  • DePaul $34,135
  • Denison $43,721
  • Average Grant Aid
  • DePaul $29,285
  • Denison $38,179
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • DePaul 100%
  • Denison 94%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • DePaul 31,266
  • Denison 15,012
  • Admitted
  • DePaul 23,729
  • Denison 2,611
  • Acceptance Rate
  • DePaul 75.9%
  • Denison 17.4%
  • Enrolled
  • DePaul 10.8%
  • Denison 23.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • DePaul 1240
  • Denison 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • DePaul 28
  • Denison 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • DePaul 3.8
  • Denison 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • DePaul A-
  • Denison A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • DePaul Difficult
  • Denison Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • DePaul
  • Denison Very High
  • ACT Range
  • DePaul 25/31
  • Denison 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • DePaul 1140/1330
  • Denison 1320/1490
  • Submit Test Scores
  • DePaul Test optional
  • Denison Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • DePaul Feb 1, 2027
  • Denison Jan 15, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • DePaul 17:1
  • Denison 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • DePaul
    • Business (33%)
    • Communication (12%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Denison
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • DePaul 66%
  • Denison 79%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • DePaul $56,900
  • Denison $56,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • DePaul 62%
  • Denison 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • DePaul $23,332
  • Denison $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • DePaul $241
  • Denison $268
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • DePaul 45%
  • Denison 48%
  • % Women
  • DePaul 55%
  • Denison 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • DePaul High
  • Denison Medium
  • HBCU
  • DePaul No
  • Denison No
  • % White
  • DePaul 55%
  • Denison 66%
  • % Asian
  • DePaul 8%
  • Denison 4%
  • % Black
  • DePaul 8%
  • Denison 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • DePaul 18%
  • Denison 10%
  • % Native American
  • DePaul 0%
  • Denison 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • DePaul 0%
  • Denison 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • DePaul 4%
  • Denison 4%
  • % International
  • DePaul 3%
  • Denison 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • DePaul 4%
  • Denison 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • DePaul 64%
  • Denison 23%
  • % Out-of-State
  • DePaul 32%
  • Denison 58%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare DePaul University in Chicago, IL with Denison University in Granville, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

DePaul University is larger than Denison based on total student enrollment (21,210 students vs. 2,394 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • DePaul University is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Denison University is in Granville, OH (Rural Fringe setting).
  • DePaul University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Denison University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: DePaul University 17:1; Denison University 9:1.

DePaul vs. Denison Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DePaul 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 DePaul University than Denison ($34,135 vs. $43,721).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Denison University are 14.1% lower than at DePaul University ($16,400 vs. $19,095).
  • Denison University is 45.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than DePaul (about $21,001 more per year; $67,000.00 vs. $45,999.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 45.7% higher at Denison than at DePaul University (about $21,001 more per year; $67,000.00 vs. $45,999.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at DePaul University than at Denison University (100% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Denison University students is 30.4% larger than aid received by DePaul University students ($38,179 vs. $29,285).

DePaul vs. Denison Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, DePaul 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 DePaul.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Denison University (1410) is 170 points higher than at DePaul (1240).
  • Incoming Denison students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 28 at DePaul).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: DePaul University 1140/1330; Denison University 1320/1490.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: DePaul University 25/31; Denison University 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: DePaul - Test optional; Denison - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: DePaul Feb 1, 2027; Denison Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman DePaul students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at Denison (3.76).
  • DePaul has a higher acceptance rate (75.9%) than Denison (17.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.8% at DePaul vs. 23.8% at Denison.

DePaul vs. Denison Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for DePaul 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 DePaul University's (66%).
  • Graduates from DePaul University earn a median of about $800 more per year than Denison graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,900 vs. $56,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, DePaul University graduates have a $2,668 lower median loan debt than Denison graduates ($23,332 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, DePaul graduates have an estimated $27 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Denison graduates ($241 vs. $268).
  • More Denison graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former DePaul students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 62%)

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.