Earlham vs. Denison

Deciding between Earlham College 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.

Earlham College
Denison University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Earlham Richmond, IN
  • Denison Granville, OH
  • Setting
  • Earlham Distant Town
  • Denison Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Earlham 753
  • Denison 2,394
  • Type
  • Earlham Private 4 Year
  • Denison Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Earlham
  • Denison #95
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Earlham Friends
  • Denison -
  • Status
  • Earlham Non-profit
  • Denison Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Earlham
  • Denison
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Earlham $53,930
  • Denison $67,000
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Earlham $53,930
  • Denison $67,000
  • Room & Board
  • Earlham $13,985
  • Denison $16,400
  • Average Net Price
  • Earlham $27,107
  • Denison $43,721
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Earlham $40,618
  • Denison $38,179
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Earlham 100%
  • Denison 94%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Earlham 2,075
  • Denison 15,012
  • Admitted
  • Earlham 1,517
  • Denison 2,611
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Earlham 73.1%
  • Denison 17.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Earlham 13.9%
  • Denison 23.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Earlham 1200
  • Denison 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • Earlham 28
  • Denison 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Earlham 3.67
  • Denison 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Earlham A-
  • Denison A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Earlham Difficult
  • Denison Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Earlham Low
  • Denison Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Earlham 24/33
  • Denison 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • Earlham 1110/1290
  • Denison 1320/1490
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Earlham Test optional
  • Denison Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Earlham Mar 1, 2027
  • Denison Jan 15, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Earlham 7:1
  • Denison 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Earlham
    • General Studies (18%)
    • Biology (17%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Physical Sciences (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Denison
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Earlham 66%
  • Denison 79%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Earlham $39,100
  • Denison $56,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Earlham 75%
  • Denison 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Earlham $26,000
  • Denison $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Earlham $268
  • Denison $268
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Earlham 47%
  • Denison 48%
  • % Women
  • Earlham 53%
  • Denison 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Earlham High
  • Denison Medium
  • HBCU
  • Earlham No
  • Denison No
  • % White
  • Earlham 51%
  • Denison 66%
  • % Asian
  • Earlham 5%
  • Denison 4%
  • % Black
  • Earlham 12%
  • Denison 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Earlham 6%
  • Denison 10%
  • % Native American
  • Earlham 1%
  • Denison 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Earlham 0%
  • Denison 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Earlham 0%
  • Denison 4%
  • % International
  • Earlham 22%
  • Denison 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Earlham 2%
  • Denison 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Earlham 39%
  • Denison 23%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Earlham 41%
  • Denison 58%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Denison University is larger than Earlham based on total student enrollment (2,394 students vs. 753 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Earlham College is located in Richmond, IN (Distant Town setting); Denison University is in Granville, OH (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Earlham College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Denison University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Earlham College 7:1; Denison University 9:1.

Earlham vs. Denison Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Earlham 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 Earlham College than Denison ($27,107 vs. $43,721).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Earlham College are 14.7% lower than at Denison University ($13,985 vs. $16,400).
  • Denison University is 24.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Earlham (about $13,070 more per year; $67,000.00 vs. $53,930.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 24.2% higher at Denison than at Earlham College (about $13,070 more per year; $67,000.00 vs. $53,930.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Earlham College than at Denison University (100% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Earlham College students is 6.4% larger than aid received by Denison University students ($40,618 vs. $38,179).

Earlham vs. Denison Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Earlham 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 Earlham.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Denison University (1410) is 210 points higher than at Earlham (1200).
  • Incoming Denison students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 28 at Earlham).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Earlham College 1110/1290; Denison University 1320/1490.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Earlham College 24/33; Denison University 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Earlham - Test optional; Denison - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Earlham Mar 1, 2027; Denison Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Denison students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at Earlham (3.67).
  • Earlham has a higher acceptance rate (73.1%) than Denison (17.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.9% at Earlham vs. 23.8% at Denison.

Earlham vs. Denison Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Earlham 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 Earlham College's (66%).
  • Graduates from Denison University earn a median of about $17,000 more per year than Earlham graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,100 vs. $39,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Denison University and Earlham graduates have the same median loan debt ($26,000 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Denison University and Earlham graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($268 vs. $268).
  • More Denison graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Earlham students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 75%)

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.