Smith College vs. Denison

Deciding between Smith 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.

Smith College
Denison University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Smith College Northampton, MA
  • Denison Granville, OH
  • Setting
  • Smith College Large Suburban
  • Denison Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Smith College 2,857
  • Denison 2,394
  • Type
  • Smith College Private 4 Year
  • Denison Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Smith College #68
  • Denison #95
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Smith College -
  • Denison -
  • Status
  • Smith College Non-profit
  • Denison Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Smith College
  • Denison
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Smith College $65,178
  • Denison $67,000
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Smith College $65,178
  • Denison $67,000
  • Room & Board
  • Smith College $22,570
  • Denison $16,400
  • Average Net Price
  • Smith College $27,305
  • Denison $43,721
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Smith College $58,725
  • Denison $38,179
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Smith College 67%
  • Denison 94%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Smith College 8,666
  • Denison 15,012
  • Admitted
  • Smith College 1,820
  • Denison 2,611
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Smith College 21%
  • Denison 17.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Smith College 35.4%
  • Denison 23.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Smith College 1480
  • Denison 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • Smith College 33
  • Denison 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Smith College 4.0
  • Denison 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Smith College A/A+
  • Denison A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Smith College Elite
  • Denison Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Smith College Very High
  • Denison Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Smith College 32/35
  • Denison 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • Smith College 1420/1540
  • Denison 1320/1490
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Smith College Test optional
  • Denison Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Smith College Jan 15, 2027
  • Denison Jan 15, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Smith College 8:1
  • Denison 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Smith College
    • Social Sciences (22%)
    • Foreign Languages (12%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)
  • Denison
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Smith College 85%
  • Denison 79%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Smith College $48,900
  • Denison $56,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Smith College 80%
  • Denison 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Smith College $19,000
  • Denison $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Smith College $196
  • Denison $268
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Smith College 2%
  • Denison 48%
  • % Women
  • Smith College 98%
  • Denison 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Smith College High
  • Denison Medium
  • HBCU
  • Smith College No
  • Denison No
  • % White
  • Smith College 45%
  • Denison 66%
  • % Asian
  • Smith College 12%
  • Denison 4%
  • % Black
  • Smith College 5%
  • Denison 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Smith College 10%
  • Denison 10%
  • % Native American
  • Smith College 0%
  • Denison 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Smith College 0%
  • Denison 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Smith College 5%
  • Denison 4%
  • % International
  • Smith College 14%
  • Denison 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Smith College 8%
  • Denison 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Smith College 12%
  • Denison 23%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Smith College 74%
  • Denison 58%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Smith College is larger than Denison based on total student enrollment (2,857 students vs. 2,394 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Smith College is located in Northampton, MA (Large Suburban setting); Denison University is in Granville, OH (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Smith College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Denison University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Smith College 8:1; Denison University 9:1.

Smith College vs. Denison Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Smith College 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 Smith College than Denison ($27,305 vs. $43,721).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Denison University are 27.3% lower than at Smith College ($16,400 vs. $22,570).
  • Denison University is 2.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Smith College (about $1,822 more per year; $67,000.00 vs. $65,178.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.8% higher at Denison than at Smith College (about $1,822 more per year; $67,000.00 vs. $65,178.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Denison University than at Smith College (94% vs. 67%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Smith College students is 53.8% larger than aid received by Denison University students ($58,725 vs. $38,179).

Smith College vs. Denison Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Smith College 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 Smith College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Smith College (1480) is 70 points higher than at Denison (1410).
  • Incoming Smith College 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: Smith College 1420/1540; Denison University 1320/1490.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Smith College 32/35; Denison University 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Smith College - Test optional; Denison - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Smith College Jan 15, 2027; Denison Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Smith College students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Denison (3.76).
  • Smith College has a higher acceptance rate (21%) than Denison (17.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 35.4% at Smith College vs. 23.8% at Denison.

Smith College vs. Denison Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Smith College 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).

  • Smith College's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Denison University's (79%).
  • Graduates from Denison University earn a median of about $7,200 more per year than Smith College graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,100 vs. $48,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Smith College graduates have a $7,000 lower median loan debt than Denison graduates ($19,000 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, Smith College graduates have an estimated $72 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Denison graduates ($196 vs. $268).
  • More Denison graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Smith College students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 80%)

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.