Is Denison test optional?

Yes. You can apply without a score. A common rule is to send it if it's at or above 1400 and hold it if it's under.

What is Denison's acceptance rate?

17% of applicants were admitted in 2024–25, according to the college's Common Data Set or, where that's missing, IPEDS, the federal college survey. In fall 2024, 2,611 of 15,012 applicants were admitted. Applications rose 146%, from 6,110 in 2015 to 15,012 in 2024, and Denison's admit rate went from 48% to 17%.

What ACT score do you need for Denison?

22% of first-year students sent an ACT, and they scored 30–33, with a median of 31. On the official ACT–SAT concordance, their SAT range of 1340–1480 works out to about 29–33.

Why might Denison's SAT range look high?

Only 29% of enrolled students sent an SAT. The range counts only those who did, and students with lower scores tend to hold theirs back.

Does applying early decision help at Denison?

18% of early decision applicants were admitted (356 of 1,941), against 17% of all applicants. Early pools often include recruited athletes and other strong applicants, so the real edge is smaller than the gap.

How many students get off the waitlist at Denison?

76 of the 464 students who stayed on the waitlist were admitted, or 16%, per the Common Data Set 2024–25.

All colleges

What SAT score do you need for Denison? (Middle 50%: 1340–1480)

First-year students at Denison who sent an SAT scored 1340–1480, with a median of 1400 (Common Data Set 2024–25). Denison admits 17% of applicants and is test optional.

Denison University · Granville, OH

Where your score lands at Denison

First-year students who sent an SAT: 1340–1480, median 1400

Your score

Middle 50% of admitted students Median Fewer than half sent a score, so the range runs high

Enter your SAT or ACT to see which tier Denison is for you and whether to send your score.

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Denison by the numbers

Admit rate: 17%
Middle 50% SAT: 1340–1480
Median SAT: 1400
About on the ACT: 29–33
Sent an SAT: 29%

Test optional · checked Nov 9, 2026 · Denison admissions · SAT range from the Common Data Set, 2024–25; admit rate from it or IPEDS

Denison admit rate over 10 years

Applications rose 146%, from 6,110 in 2015 to 15,012 in 2024, and Denison's admit rate went from 48% to 17%.

Show the numbers

Fall	Applied	Admitted	Admit rate
2024	15,012	2,611	17%
2023	14,580	2,468	17%
2022	12,220	2,684	22%
2021	9,513	2,689	28%
2020	9,079	2,558	28%
2019	8,812	2,590	29%
2018	8,042	2,727	34%
2017	7,540	2,808	37%
2016	6,881	3,001	44%
2015	6,110	2,926	48%

In fall 2024, 621 of the 2,611 admitted students enrolled. Applicants and admits from IPEDS, the federal college survey, by fall of entry.

What each SAT score means at Denison

Which tier your score puts them in, and whether it's worth sending.

Your SATTierSend it?

Under 1290Far reachHold
1290–1390ReachHold
1400 and upReachSend

11501250135014501550

Tiers here use only your SAT and their admit rate. Essays, activities and recommendations still decide most admissions at selective colleges.

Denison SAT sections, ACT and class rank

Scores of enrolled first-year students who sent one, by percentile.

Test	25th	Median	75th
SAT Math	660	710	760
SAT Reading and Writing	660	700	730
SAT total	1340	1400	1480
ACT composite	30	31	33

Of enrolled first-year students, 29% sent an SAT and 22% sent an ACT. Common Data Set 2024–25.

Top 10% of their class: 60%; of new students who reported a rank

Denison early decision and waitlist

Early decision

356 of 1,941 early decision applicants were admitted.

Early decision18%
All applicants17%

Early pools often include recruited athletes and other strong applicants, so the gap overstates how much applying early helps on its own.

Waitlist

2,213 applicants were offered a spot, 464 took it, and 76 were admitted from it.

16%of students who stayed on the waitlist got in

Common Data Set 2024–25.

Denison cost and outcomes

What students pay after grants, how many finish, and what they earn.

Average net price: $40,007; per year, after grants
Graduate in 6 years: 79%
Median earnings: $67,753; 10 years after starting
Undergraduates: 2,526

College Scorecard, 2022–23, from the US Department of Education. Net price averages federal-aid students across family incomes.

Sources

Denison Common Data Set 2024–25
SAT and ACT ranges, early decision, waitlist, GPA and class rank, as the college reported them.
College Navigator (IPEDS)
Applications, admissions and enrollment by year, from the federal college survey.
College Scorecard
Net price, graduation rate and earnings, from the US Department of Education.
Denison admissions
Test policy for 2026–27, checked Nov 9, 2026.
Denison website
Denison University

Updated Nov 9, 2026. Spot a number that's off? Email support@tryashore.com and we'll check it against the source.

Questions

Still have a question? support@tryashore.com

There's no cutoff. The middle 50% of first-year students who sent an SAT scored 1340–1480, and the median was 1400. At 1400 or higher you're above half of them. Denison admits 17% of applicants, so a top score keeps you in the running but doesn't decide it.

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SAT Math · 1 of 5

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A jacket's price is increased by 20% and then the new price is decreased by 20%. The final price is what percent of the original price?

A $96\%$
B $100\%$
C $104\%$
D $80\%$