MHC vs. Denison

Deciding between Mount Holyoke 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.

Mount Holyoke College
Denison University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • MHC South Hadley, MA
  • Denison Granville, OH
  • Setting
  • MHC Large Suburban
  • Denison Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • MHC 2,275
  • Denison 2,394
  • Type
  • MHC Private 4 Year
  • Denison Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MHC #81
  • Denison #95
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MHC -
  • Denison -
  • Status
  • MHC Non-profit
  • Denison Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MHC
  • Denison

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MHC $67,018
  • Denison $67,000
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MHC $67,018
  • Denison $67,000
  • Room & Board
  • MHC $19,684
  • Denison $16,400
  • Average Net Price
  • MHC $32,526
  • Denison $43,721
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MHC $52,418
  • Denison $38,179
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MHC 77%
  • Denison 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MHC 5,226
  • Denison 15,012
  • Admitted
  • MHC 1,883
  • Denison 2,611
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MHC 36%
  • Denison 17.4%
  • Enrolled
  • MHC 27.2%
  • Denison 23.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MHC 1460
  • Denison 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • MHC 33
  • Denison 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • MHC 3.87
  • Denison 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MHC A
  • Denison A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • MHC Elite
  • Denison Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • MHC High
  • Denison Very High
  • ACT Range
  • MHC 32/35
  • Denison 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • MHC 1380/1530
  • Denison 1320/1490
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MHC Test optional
  • Denison Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • MHC Jan 15, 2027
  • Denison Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MHC 9:1
  • Denison 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MHC
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Denison
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Communication (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MHC 85%
  • Denison 79%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MHC $50,000
  • Denison $56,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MHC 77%
  • Denison 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MHC $21,206
  • Denison $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MHC $219
  • Denison $268

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MHC 1%
  • Denison 48%
  • % Women
  • MHC 99%
  • Denison 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MHC Very High
  • Denison Medium
  • HBCU
  • MHC No
  • Denison No
  • % White
  • MHC 45%
  • Denison 66%
  • % Asian
  • MHC 10%
  • Denison 4%
  • % Black
  • MHC 6%
  • Denison 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • MHC 8%
  • Denison 10%
  • % Native American
  • MHC 0%
  • Denison 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MHC 0%
  • Denison 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MHC 4%
  • Denison 4%
  • % International
  • MHC 26%
  • Denison 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MHC 1%
  • Denison 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MHC 19%
  • Denison 23%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MHC 63%
  • Denison 58%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA with Denison University in Granville, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Denison University is larger than MHC based on total student enrollment (2,394 students vs. 2,275 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Mount Holyoke College is located in South Hadley, MA (Large Suburban setting); Denison University is in Granville, OH (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Mount Holyoke College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Denison University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Mount Holyoke College 9:1; Denison University 9:1.

MHC vs. Denison Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MHC 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 Mount Holyoke College than Denison ($32,526 vs. $43,721).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Denison University are 16.7% lower than at Mount Holyoke College ($16,400 vs. $19,684).
  • Mount Holyoke College is 0% more expensive for in-state tuition than Denison (about $18 more per year; $67,018.00 vs. $67,000.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0% higher at MHC than at Denison University (about $18 more per year; $67,018.00 vs. $67,000.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Denison University than at Mount Holyoke College (94% vs. 77%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mount Holyoke College students is 37.3% larger than aid received by Denison University students ($52,418 vs. $38,179).

MHC vs. Denison Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MHC 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 MHC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Mount Holyoke College (1460) is 50 points higher than at Denison (1410).
  • Incoming MHC students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 31 at Denison).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mount Holyoke College 1380/1530; Denison University 1320/1490.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mount Holyoke College 32/35; Denison University 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MHC - Test optional; Denison - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: MHC Jan 15, 2027; Denison Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman MHC students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.87) than students at Denison (3.76).
  • MHC has a higher acceptance rate (36%) than Denison (17.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.2% at MHC vs. 23.8% at Denison.

MHC vs. Denison Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MHC 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).

  • Mount Holyoke College's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Denison University's (79%).
  • Graduates from Denison University earn a median of about $6,100 more per year than MHC graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,100 vs. $50,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Mount Holyoke College graduates have a $4,794 lower median loan debt than Denison graduates ($21,206 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, MHC graduates have an estimated $49 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Denison graduates ($219 vs. $268).
  • More Denison graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MHC 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.