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#3 Best Colleges in Ohio

Denison Admission Requirements

Granville, Ohio

 3 Reviews

Your chances of getting into Denison University

Admission Rate & Difficulty

Percent Admitted 

22%
Admission Difficulty for Denison University
Measure Difficulty
Admission Standards Very High 
Applicant Competition Very High 

Acceptance Rate

The acceptance rate at Denison is 22%.  Its admission rate is the lowest in Ohio and the 80th lowest the nation.

Admission Selectivity

How hard is it to get into Denison and can you get accepted?

Denison is a very highly competitive school to get into. You have a low chance of acceptance even if you meet the admission criteria. It's important that you meet their GPA requirements to get through the first round of consideration. Last year, only 2,684 out of the 12,220 who applied were admitted.

Denison University typically accepts and attracts "A-" average high school students with an average GPA around 3.76. Most incoming freshmen graduate in the top ten percent of their high school class or better. 25% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school.

Can you get into Denison?

22% are accepted, can you get in? Use the admission calculator to see if you have the grades and test scores needed to get in. See your admission chances based on your extracurriculars, intended major, background, and more.

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Admission Requirements in Brief

To have the best chance of getting into to Denison University you should:

  • Have a high school GPA of 3.76 or better
  • Earn A- grades in high school
  • Score 1370 on the SAT
  • Score 30 on the ACT
  • Graduate in the top 10% of your high school class

Denison GPA

GPA Requirements & Average GPA

Avg. High School GPA 

3.76*

Typical High School Grades 

A-

What GPA do you need to get into Denison University?

GPA Requirements

The GPA requirements for getting into Denison are to have around a 3.76 high school GPA. You are required to have exceptionally good grades and you should be graduating near the top of your class.

Meeting these GPA requirements alone is not enough for you to gain admission as Denison is a very selective school.

Average GPA

The average unweighted GPA at Denison is 3.76 on the 4.0 scale. To achieve the average GPA for admission, you need to earn A- letter grades and regularly score around 90-92 percent on tests and assignments in high school.  The school ranks #8 in Ohio for highest average GPA.

Importance of GPA

Since Denison is a test optional college, extra focus will be placed on your GPA when the school considers your application. As a result, it is very important that you meet the GPA requirements.

See additional colleges accepting applicants in the 3.8 GPA range.

*This school has not published high school GPA data for its incoming freshman class. In these cases, CollegeSimply uses an algorithm to predict GPA based on this school's test scores and a large sample of college GPA data. 3.76 is a prediction of the school's average incoming freshman GPA.

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Denison SAT Scores

Testing Requirements

Submission of SAT or ACT scores is not required for admission to Denison University. If you optionally submit test scores, they will be considered with your application, but they are not mandatory. 28% of students submitted SAT scores and 26% submitted ACT scores for admission for the most recent academic year..

SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score

SAT Range 

1270-1460

Applicants Submitting SAT 

28%
SAT Scores for Denison University
SAT Test 25th Percentile Score
Reading 25th Percentile 630
Math 25th Percentile 640
Composite 25th Percentile 1270
SAT Scores for Denison University
SAT Test 75th Percentile Score
Reading 75th Percentile 710
Math 75th Percentile 750
Composite 75th Percentile 1460
Average SAT Score 1370

SAT Scores you need to get in

What are the SAT requirements for you to be admitted to Denison University?

Average Score & Range

The average SAT score at Denison is 1370 out of 1600 and the range for the middle 50% of accepted students is 1270-1460. Students who get into Denison University score in the top 15 percent of all SAT test takers..  Denison ranks #5 in the state of Ohio and #123 in the nation for highest average SAT composite score.

Score for Acceptance

You should target scoring 1370 or above to be most competitive with other applicants. Denison regularly admits students with SAT scores down to 1270 on a 1600 scale. However, three quarter of admitted students score higher. If you score below a 1270, admission should be considered a reach. Some students may be accepted with minimum SAT's as low as 1170, but scores this low are outside the normal range.

Score Submission Requirements

Denison University is a test optional school meaning do not have to submit SAT scores with your application. The position on SAT scores from the college is "not required for admission, but considered if submitted (test optional)".

View other colleges which accept students in the 1370 SAT score range.

Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2022 starting class

Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score

The table below outlines your predicted admission chances based on SAT score alone. If you are an average applicant with a score of 1365, you have around a 22% chance of being admitted. A 1460 places you well ahead of most other applicants and gives you about a 35% chance of getting in.

Denison University admission chances by SAT score
SAT Score (1600 scale) Competitiveness  Admission Chances 
1460 and Above Good >35%
1365 to 1460 Avg + 22%-35%
1270 to 1365 Avg - 13%-22%
1175 to 1270 Reach 7%-13%
Less than 1175 Low <7%
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Denison ACT Scores

ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score

ACT Range 

29-32 

Applicants Submitting ACT 

26%
ACT Scores for Denison University
ACT Test 25th Percentile Score
Reading 25th Percentile 29
Math 25th Percentile 26
Composite 25th Percentile 29
ACT Scores for Denison University
ACT Test 75th Percentile Score
Reading 75th Percentile 34
Math 75th Percentile 31
Composite 75th Percentile 32
Average ACT Score 30

ACT Scores needed to get accepted

What are the ACT requirements for students to get into Denison?

Score Range

The average ACT score for admitted students to Denison is 30, while the middle 50% of students (25th to 75th percentile) score between a 29 and 32.  The school ranks #4 in Ohio and #140 in the U.S. for highest average ACT composite score.

Score for Acceptance

For the best chance of admission, you should have an ACT of 30. This will place you in solid competition against other applicants. At a minimum, you should aim for a 29 and score in the score in the top 9 percent nationally. The lowest ACT score likely to be admitted is a 28.

26 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to Denison University.

Score Submission Requirements

You do not have to to submit ACT scores with your application as Denison University is test optional. The policy from the school on ACT scores is "not required for admission, but considered if submitted (test optional)".

Find other colleges with similar ACT score requirements

Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2022 starting class

Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score

Here are your predicted chances of getting into Denison for different ACT score ranges. A typical applicant with a 30 score has around 22% chance of getting in. Your odds increase to about 40% with a 32 ACT score.

Denison University admission chances by ACT score
ACT Score Competitiveness  Admission Chances 
32 and Above Good >40%
30 to 32 Avg + 22%-40%
29 to 30 Avg - 16%-22%
28 to 29 Reach 11%-16%
Less than 28 Low <11%
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High School Class Rank

71% of Denison University freshman are in the top ten percent of their high school graduating class. For your application to be competitive, you need to graduate at the top of your class.

High School Class Rank for admitted Denison University students
High School Class Rank Freshmen Within Range
Top 10% of class 71%
Top 25% of class 88%
Top 50% of class 100%
Data Source, Peterson's Data

Applying

Admission Statistics

Admission and enrollment rates by gender are detailed the the table below.

Denison University admission statistics
Women Men Total
Applied 6,686 5,534 12,220
Accepted 1,462 1,222 2,684
Acceptance Rate 22% 22% 22%
Enrolled 356 327 683
Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) 24% 27% 25%
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2022 starting class

Fall 2024 Application Deadline

Applications Due

Jan 15, 2025

Days left to Apply

55

Applicants have 55 days left until the Fall 2024 term applications are due on Jan 15, 2025.

Application Fee

The cost for prospective students to apply to Denison University is $0. The school is free to apply to.

Application Requirements

What are the requirements for admission to Denison University and what student information is used for admission decisions?

Denison University Application Requirements
Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
High School GPA Required to be considered for admission
High School Class Rank Not required for admission, but considered if submitted
Completion of College Preparatory Program Required to be considered for admission
Recommendations Required to be considered for admission
Demonstration of Competencies Not required for admission, but considered if submitted

Credits Accepted

High School Credits Accepted at Denison University
AP Credit Yes
Dual Credit Yes
Credit for Life Experiences No

Admission Requirements Summary

Because Denison is very highly competitive, you have a low likelihood of acceptance. It is important that you earn at least a 3.76 GPA to have a good shot at getting in. Additionally, you need to score a 1370 on the SAT and optimally 1460 to place yourself in a strong position. For ACT scores, you need a 30 to have a competitive chance of getting in.

Other Colleges to Apply To 

Students applying to Denison University often consider these colleges

Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=202523 IPEDS survey data for Denison University.

Last updated February 24, 2024