Wheaton College vs. Denison

Deciding between Wheaton 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.

Wheaton College
Denison University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Wheaton College Wheaton, IL
  • Denison Granville, OH
  • Setting
  • Wheaton College Large Suburban
  • Denison Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Wheaton College 2,874
  • Denison 2,394
  • Type
  • Wheaton College Private 4 Year
  • Denison Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Wheaton College #146
  • Denison #95
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Wheaton College Undenominational
  • Denison -
  • Status
  • Wheaton College Non-profit
  • Denison Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Wheaton College
  • Denison
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Wheaton College $45,546
  • Denison $67,000
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Wheaton College $45,546
  • Denison $67,000
  • Room & Board
  • Wheaton College $13,010
  • Denison $16,400
  • Average Net Price
  • Wheaton College $31,356
  • Denison $43,721
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Wheaton College $27,987
  • Denison $38,179
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Wheaton College 98%
  • Denison 94%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Wheaton College 2,040
  • Denison 15,012
  • Admitted
  • Wheaton College 1,783
  • Denison 2,611
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Wheaton College 87.4%
  • Denison 17.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Wheaton College 29.9%
  • Denison 23.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Wheaton College 1370
  • Denison 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • Wheaton College 30
  • Denison 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Wheaton College 3.75
  • Denison 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Wheaton College A-
  • Denison A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Wheaton College Very High
  • Denison Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Wheaton College
  • Denison Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Wheaton College 28/32
  • Denison 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • Wheaton College 1260/1470
  • Denison 1320/1490
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Wheaton College Test optional
  • Denison Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Wheaton College Aug 1, 2027
  • Denison Jan 15, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Wheaton College 10:1
  • Denison 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Wheaton College
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (9%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Business (8%)
  • Denison
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Wheaton College 87%
  • Denison 79%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Wheaton College $54,300
  • Denison $56,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Wheaton College 90%
  • Denison 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Wheaton College $22,500
  • Denison $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Wheaton College $232
  • Denison $268
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Wheaton College 46%
  • Denison 48%
  • % Women
  • Wheaton College 54%
  • Denison 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Wheaton College Low
  • Denison Medium
  • HBCU
  • Wheaton College No
  • Denison No
  • % White
  • Wheaton College 76%
  • Denison 66%
  • % Asian
  • Wheaton College 9%
  • Denison 4%
  • % Black
  • Wheaton College 3%
  • Denison 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Wheaton College 6%
  • Denison 10%
  • % Native American
  • Wheaton College 0%
  • Denison 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Wheaton College 0%
  • Denison 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Wheaton College 5%
  • Denison 4%
  • % International
  • Wheaton College 3%
  • Denison 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Wheaton College 0%
  • Denison 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Wheaton College 25%
  • Denison 23%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Wheaton College 68%
  • Denison 58%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Wheaton College is larger than Denison based on total student enrollment (2,874 students vs. 2,394 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Wheaton College is located in Wheaton, IL (Large Suburban setting); Denison University is in Granville, OH (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Wheaton College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Denison University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Wheaton College 10:1; Denison University 9:1.

Wheaton College vs. Denison Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wheaton 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 Wheaton College than Denison ($31,356 vs. $43,721).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wheaton College are 20.7% lower than at Denison University ($13,010 vs. $16,400).
  • Denison University is 47.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wheaton College (about $21,454 more per year; $67,000.00 vs. $45,546.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 47.1% higher at Denison than at Wheaton College (about $21,454 more per year; $67,000.00 vs. $45,546.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wheaton College than at Denison University (98% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Denison University students is 36.4% larger than aid received by Wheaton College students ($38,179 vs. $27,987).

Wheaton College vs. Denison Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Denison University (1410) is 40 points higher than at Wheaton College (1370).
  • Incoming Denison students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at Wheaton College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wheaton College 1260/1470; Denison University 1320/1490.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wheaton College 28/32; Denison University 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wheaton College - Test optional; Denison - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Wheaton College Aug 1, 2027; Denison Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Denison students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at Wheaton College (3.75).
  • Wheaton College has a higher acceptance rate (87.4%) than Denison (17.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 29.9% at Wheaton College vs. 23.8% at Denison.

Wheaton College vs. Denison Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wheaton 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).

  • Wheaton College's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Denison University's (79%).
  • Graduates from Denison University earn a median of about $1,800 more per year than Wheaton College graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,100 vs. $54,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Wheaton College graduates have a $3,500 lower median loan debt than Denison graduates ($22,500 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, Wheaton College graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Denison graduates ($232 vs. $268).
  • More Wheaton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Denison students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 83%)

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.