UNC Chapel Hill vs. Denison

Comparable Facts

Compare University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill, NC with Denison University in Granville, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is larger than Denison based on total student enrollment (32,438 students vs. 2,394 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is located in Chapel Hill, NC (Small City setting); Denison University is in Granville, OH (Rural Fringe setting).
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Denison University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 15:1; Denison University 9:1.

UNC Chapel Hill vs. Denison Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UNC Chapel Hill 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 North Carolina at Chapel Hill than Denison ($10,154 vs. $43,721).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are 15.8% lower than at Denison University ($13,804 vs. $16,400).
• Denison University is 644.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than UNC Chapel Hill (about $58,006 more per year; $67,000.00 vs. $8,994.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 62.6% higher at Denison than at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (about $25,797 more per year; $67,000.00 vs. $41,203.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Denison University than at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (94% vs. 38%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Denison University students is 114.3% larger than aid received by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students ($38,179 vs. $17,814).

UNC Chapel Hill vs. Denison Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UNC Chapel Hill 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 UNC Chapel Hill.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1460) is 50 points higher than at Denison (1410).
• Incoming UNC Chapel Hill 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: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 1390/1530; Denison University 1320/1490.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 28/34; Denison University 30/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UNC Chapel Hill - Test optional; Denison - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UNC Chapel Hill Jan 15, 2027; Denison Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UNC Chapel Hill students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at Denison (3.76).
• Denison has a higher acceptance rate (17.4%) than UNC Chapel Hill (15.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 45.5% at UNC Chapel Hill vs. 23.8% at Denison.

UNC Chapel Hill vs. Denison Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UNC Chapel Hill 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 North Carolina at Chapel Hill's six-year graduation rate (89%) is higher than Denison University's (79%).
• Graduates from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill earn a median of about $10,000 more per year than Denison graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,100 vs. $56,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduates have a $9,521 lower median loan debt than Denison graduates ($16,479 vs. $26,000).
• Among borrowers, UNC Chapel Hill graduates have an estimated $98 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Denison graduates ($170 vs. $268).
• More Denison graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNC Chapel Hill students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 82%)

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.