Houghton University vs. Denison

Deciding between Houghton 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.

Houghton University
Denison University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Houghton University Houghton, NY
  • Denison Granville, OH
  • Setting
  • Houghton University Remote Rural
  • Denison Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Houghton University 1,200
  • Denison 2,394
  • Type
  • Houghton University Private 4 Year
  • Denison Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Houghton University #432
  • Denison #95
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Houghton University Wesleyan
  • Denison -
  • Status
  • Houghton University Non-profit
  • Denison Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Houghton University
  • Denison
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Houghton University $18,430
  • Denison $67,000
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Houghton University $18,430
  • Denison $67,000
  • Room & Board
  • Houghton University $11,360
  • Denison $16,400
  • Average Net Price
  • Houghton University $21,274
  • Denison $43,721
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Houghton University $9,902
  • Denison $38,179
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Houghton University 100%
  • Denison 94%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Houghton University 1,041
  • Denison 15,012
  • Admitted
  • Houghton University 923
  • Denison 2,611
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Houghton University 88.7%
  • Denison 17.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Houghton University 23.2%
  • Denison 23.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Houghton University 1270
  • Denison 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • Houghton University 28
  • Denison 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Houghton University 3.25
  • Denison 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Houghton University B+
  • Denison A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Houghton University Difficult
  • Denison Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Houghton University
  • Denison Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Houghton University 26/31
  • Denison 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • Houghton University 1170/1375
  • Denison 1320/1490
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Houghton University Test optional
  • Denison Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Houghton University
  • Denison Jan 15, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Houghton University 12:1
  • Denison 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Houghton University
    • Business (23%)
    • Education (15%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Denison
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Houghton University 68%
  • Denison 79%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Houghton University $44,300
  • Denison $56,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Houghton University 77%
  • Denison 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Houghton University $25,500
  • Denison $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Houghton University $263
  • Denison $268
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Houghton University 41%
  • Denison 48%
  • % Women
  • Houghton University 59%
  • Denison 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Houghton University Low
  • Denison Medium
  • HBCU
  • Houghton University No
  • Denison No
  • % White
  • Houghton University 78%
  • Denison 66%
  • % Asian
  • Houghton University 2%
  • Denison 4%
  • % Black
  • Houghton University 3%
  • Denison 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Houghton University 2%
  • Denison 10%
  • % Native American
  • Houghton University 0%
  • Denison 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Houghton University 0%
  • Denison 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Houghton University 4%
  • Denison 4%
  • % International
  • Houghton University 11%
  • Denison 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Houghton University 1%
  • Denison 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Houghton University 59%
  • Denison 23%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Houghton University 33%
  • Denison 58%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Denison University is larger than Houghton University based on total student enrollment (2,394 students vs. 1,200 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Houghton University is located in Houghton, NY (Remote Rural setting); Denison University is in Granville, OH (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Houghton University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Denison University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Houghton University 12:1; Denison University 9:1.

Houghton University vs. Denison Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Houghton University 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 Houghton University than Denison ($21,274 vs. $43,721).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Houghton University are 30.7% lower than at Denison University ($11,360 vs. $16,400).
  • Denison University is 263.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Houghton University (about $48,570 more per year; $67,000.00 vs. $18,430.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 263.5% higher at Denison than at Houghton University (about $48,570 more per year; $67,000.00 vs. $18,430.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Houghton University than at Denison University (100% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Denison University students is 285.6% larger than aid received by Houghton University students ($38,179 vs. $9,902).

Houghton University vs. Denison Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Houghton University 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 Houghton University.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Denison University (1410) is 140 points higher than at Houghton University (1270).
  • Incoming Denison students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 28 at Houghton University).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Houghton University 1170/1375; Denison University 1320/1490.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Houghton University 26/31; Denison University 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Houghton University - Test optional; Denison - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Denison Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Denison students have a 0.51 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at Houghton University (3.25).
  • Houghton University has a higher acceptance rate (88.7%) than Denison (17.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.2% at Houghton University vs. 23.8% at Denison.

Houghton University vs. Denison Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Houghton University 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 Houghton University's (68%).
  • Graduates from Denison University earn a median of about $11,800 more per year than Houghton University graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,100 vs. $44,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Houghton University graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than Denison graduates ($25,500 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, Houghton University graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Denison graduates ($263 vs. $268).
  • More Denison graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Houghton University 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.