Illinois vs. Denison

Deciding between University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 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.

University of Illinois Urbana Champaign
Denison University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Illinois Champaign, IL
  • Denison Granville, OH
  • Setting
  • Illinois Small City
  • Denison Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Illinois 59,238
  • Denison 2,394
  • Type
  • Illinois Public 4 Year
  • Denison Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Illinois #117
  • Denison #95
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Illinois -
  • Denison -
  • Status
  • Illinois Non-profit
  • Denison Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Illinois
  • Denison

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Illinois $16,004
  • Denison $67,000
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Illinois $35,124
  • Denison $67,000
  • Room & Board
  • Illinois $14,522
  • Denison $16,400
  • Average Net Price
  • Illinois $13,973
  • Denison $43,721
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Illinois $19,299
  • Denison $38,179
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Illinois 52%
  • Denison 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Illinois 73,742
  • Denison 15,012
  • Admitted
  • Illinois 31,247
  • Denison 2,611
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Illinois 42.4%
  • Denison 17.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Illinois 28.8%
  • Denison 23.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Illinois 1420
  • Denison 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • Illinois 32
  • Denison 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Illinois 3.79
  • Denison 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Illinois A-
  • Denison A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Illinois Exceptional
  • Denison Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Illinois Low
  • Denison Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Illinois 30/34
  • Denison 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • Illinois 1310/1520
  • Denison 1320/1490
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Illinois Test optional
  • Denison Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Illinois Jan 5, 2027
  • Denison Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Illinois 20:1
  • Denison 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Illinois
    • Engineering (16%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Denison
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Communication (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Illinois 82%
  • Denison 79%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Illinois $66,500
  • Denison $56,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Illinois 78%
  • Denison 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Illinois $20,500
  • Denison $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Illinois $211
  • Denison $268

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Illinois 54%
  • Denison 48%
  • % Women
  • Illinois 46%
  • Denison 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Illinois High
  • Denison Medium
  • HBCU
  • Illinois No
  • Denison No
  • % White
  • Illinois 48%
  • Denison 66%
  • % Asian
  • Illinois 17%
  • Denison 4%
  • % Black
  • Illinois 6%
  • Denison 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Illinois 10%
  • Denison 10%
  • % Native American
  • Illinois 0%
  • Denison 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Illinois 0%
  • Denison 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Illinois 3%
  • Denison 4%
  • % International
  • Illinois 16%
  • Denison 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Illinois 1%
  • Denison 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Illinois 71%
  • Denison 23%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Illinois 14%
  • Denison 58%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Illinois Urbana Champaign in Champaign, IL with Denison University in Granville, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is larger than Denison based on total student enrollment (59,238 students vs. 2,394 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is located in Champaign, IL (Small City setting); Denison University is in Granville, OH (Rural Fringe setting).
  • University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Denison University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 20:1; Denison University 9:1.

Illinois vs. Denison Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Illinois 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 University of Illinois Urbana Champaign than Denison ($13,973 vs. $43,721).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign are 11.5% lower than at Denison University ($14,522 vs. $16,400).
  • Denison University is 318.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Illinois (about $50,996 more per year; $67,000.00 vs. $16,004.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 90.8% higher at Denison than at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (about $31,876 more per year; $67,000.00 vs. $35,124.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Denison University than at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (94% vs. 52%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Denison University students is 97.8% larger than aid received by University of Illinois Urbana Champaign students ($38,179 vs. $19,299).

Illinois vs. Denison Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Illinois 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 Illinois.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (1420) is 10 points higher than at Denison (1410).
  • Incoming Illinois students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 31 at Denison).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 1310/1520; Denison University 1320/1490.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 30/34; Denison University 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Illinois - Test optional; Denison - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Illinois Jan 5, 2027; Denison Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Illinois students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Denison (3.76).
  • Illinois has a higher acceptance rate (42.4%) than Denison (17.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.8% at Illinois vs. 23.8% at Denison.

Illinois vs. Denison Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Illinois 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).

  • University of Illinois Urbana Champaign's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than Denison University's (79%).
  • Graduates from University of Illinois Urbana Champaign earn a median of about $10,400 more per year than Denison graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,500 vs. $56,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign graduates have a $5,500 lower median loan debt than Denison graduates ($20,500 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, Illinois graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Denison graduates ($211 vs. $268).
  • More Denison graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Illinois students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 78%)

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.