Fordham vs. Denison

Deciding between Fordham 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.

Fordham University
Denison University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Fordham Bronx, NY
  • Denison Granville, OH
  • Setting
  • Fordham Large City
  • Denison Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Fordham 16,150
  • Denison 2,394
  • Type
  • Fordham Private 4 Year
  • Denison Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Fordham #133
  • Denison #95
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Fordham Roman Catholic
  • Denison -
  • Status
  • Fordham Non-profit
  • Denison Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Fordham
  • Denison
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Fordham $64,915
  • Denison $67,000
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Fordham $64,915
  • Denison $67,000
  • Room & Board
  • Fordham $24,090
  • Denison $16,400
  • Average Net Price
  • Fordham $48,190
  • Denison $43,721
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Fordham $35,988
  • Denison $38,179
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Fordham 95%
  • Denison 94%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Fordham 43,364
  • Denison 15,012
  • Admitted
  • Fordham 25,719
  • Denison 2,611
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Fordham 59.3%
  • Denison 17.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Fordham 9.7%
  • Denison 23.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Fordham 1400
  • Denison 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • Fordham 31
  • Denison 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Fordham 3.67
  • Denison 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Fordham A-
  • Denison A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Fordham Exceptional
  • Denison Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Fordham Low
  • Denison Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Fordham 30/33
  • Denison 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • Fordham 1320/1480
  • Denison 1320/1490
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Fordham Test optional
  • Denison Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Fordham Jan 1, 2027
  • Denison Jan 15, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Fordham 14:1
  • Denison 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Fordham
    • Business (26%)
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Communication (13%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
  • Denison
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Fordham 78%
  • Denison 79%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Fordham $64,200
  • Denison $56,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Fordham 77%
  • Denison 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Fordham $26,000
  • Denison $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Fordham $268
  • Denison $268
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Fordham 39%
  • Denison 48%
  • % Women
  • Fordham 61%
  • Denison 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Fordham High
  • Denison Medium
  • HBCU
  • Fordham No
  • Denison No
  • % White
  • Fordham 59%
  • Denison 66%
  • % Asian
  • Fordham 10%
  • Denison 4%
  • % Black
  • Fordham 4%
  • Denison 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Fordham 14%
  • Denison 10%
  • % Native American
  • Fordham 0%
  • Denison 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Fordham 0%
  • Denison 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Fordham 3%
  • Denison 4%
  • % International
  • Fordham 7%
  • Denison 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Fordham 2%
  • Denison 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Fordham 38%
  • Denison 23%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Fordham 51%
  • Denison 58%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Fordham University in Bronx, NY with Denison University in Granville, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Fordham University is larger than Denison based on total student enrollment (16,150 students vs. 2,394 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Fordham University is located in Bronx, NY (Large City setting); Denison University is in Granville, OH (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Fordham University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Denison University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Fordham University 14:1; Denison University 9:1.

Fordham vs. Denison Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fordham 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 Denison University than Fordham ($43,721 vs. $48,190).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Denison University are 31.9% lower than at Fordham University ($16,400 vs. $24,090).
  • Denison University is 3.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Fordham (about $2,085 more per year; $67,000.00 vs. $64,915.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.2% higher at Denison than at Fordham University (about $2,085 more per year; $67,000.00 vs. $64,915.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fordham University than at Denison University (95% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Denison University students is 6.1% larger than aid received by Fordham University students ($38,179 vs. $35,988).

Fordham vs. Denison Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Fordham 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 Fordham.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Denison University (1410) is 10 points higher than at Fordham (1400).
  • Incoming Fordham students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 31) as students at Denison (31).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Fordham University 1320/1480; Denison University 1320/1490.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Fordham University 30/33; Denison University 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Fordham - Test optional; Denison - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Fordham Jan 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 Fordham (3.67).
  • Fordham has a higher acceptance rate (59.3%) than Denison (17.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.7% at Fordham vs. 23.8% at Denison.

Fordham vs. Denison Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Fordham 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 Fordham University's (78%).
  • Graduates from Fordham University earn a median of about $8,100 more per year than Denison graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,200 vs. $56,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Denison University and Fordham graduates have the same median loan debt ($26,000 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Denison University and Fordham 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 Fordham students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 77%)

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.