Denison University: Location, Campus, and Academic Life
Denison University, a private liberal arts college, stands in Granville, Ohio, United States. As one of the earliest colleges established in the former Northwest Territory, Denison University was founded in 1831. The institution has evolved from its origins as the Granville Literary and Theological Institution (1831-1845) and Granville College (1845-1853) to become the distinguished Denison University, named in honor of William S. Denison, a major early benefactor.
A Brief History
Denison University's journey began on December 13, 1831. In 1845, the institution, which at this point was male-only, officially changed its name to Granville College. In 1853, William S. Denison, a Muskingum County farmer, pledged $10,000 toward the college's endowment. Honoring an earlier commitment, the trustees accordingly changed the name of the institution to Denison University. In the years leading up to the Civil War, many students and faculty members at Denison University became deeply involved in the anti-slavery movement. Asa Drury, the chair of Greek and Latin studies, became the leader of a local anti-slavery society. In the wake of Shepardson College's incorporation, Denison University enlarged its campus.
The Picturesque Campus
The campus size is about 850 acres. This includes a 400-acre (160 ha) biological reserve just east of campus, where professors of sciences, such as geology and biology, can hold class. In 1916, the college hired the Frederick Law Olmsted & Sons architectural firm. The resulting "Olmsted Plan" laid a foundation for expansion that has remained the guiding aesthetic for subsequent growth. The campus landscape was designed by the Olmsted Brothers firm. "Greater Denison" was designed based on a layout of quadrangles throughout upper campus, designed to mirror the building functions.
Key Buildings and Features
The first building in the "Greater Denison" plan, Swasey Chapel, was built at the center of the campus. There are 18 academic buildings on campus. Doane Administration Building, one of the oldest buildings on campus, and Burton Morgan are also on academic quad (spill-over academic building), but they serve administrative purposes. The Bryant Arts Center opened in August 2009. Also on the fine arts quad is Doane Dance Building, Burton Music, Cinema MIX Lab, Burke Performance and Recital Hall, and the Michael D. Eisner Center for the Performing Arts, named for former CEO of The Walt Disney Company, Michael Eisner, who graduated from Denison in 1964. Construction began in 2017 on the Michael D. Eisner Center for the Performing Arts.
Academics and Student Life
Denison University provides a vibrant and engaging academic environment. The student-faculty ratio at Denison University is 9:1, and it utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Denison University accepts the Common Application and has a test-optional admissions policy.
Read also: Internship Programs at Denison
Admissions and Enrollment
In the admission season for fall 2023 entry, there were more than 14,500 applicants, with an admission rate of 17%. Recent trends show an expanding interest from international student populations, with application submissions increasing from 2,447 in 2019 to 3,255 in 2021. Enrollment among international students has also increased during this period, from 97 newly enrolled international students to 131 over the three-year span. Among freshman students who committed to enrolling in Fall 2021, composite SAT scores for the middle 50% ranged from 1330 to 1550, while composite ACT scores for the middle 50% ranged from 30 to 35. In Fall 2021, 76% of enrolled freshmen were in the top 10% of their high school classes. Roughly 15 percent of the incoming class are admitted through athlete recruits. Denison University implements the holistic review admissions process. In addition to the standard results, extracurricular activities, awards, honors, character, community contributions, enthusiasm, specialties, etc. are considered.
Student Body
The college enrolled 2,300 students in fall 2023. Thirteen percent of students are first-generation college students, and 37% are multicultural students. Denison was cited by The New York Times in 2014 as one of America's "Most Economically Diverse Top Colleges."
Campus Life and Activities
Denison is a strictly residential campus that features a mixture of historic and contemporary buildings. The Bullsheet is a student-run publication for news, humor and community dialog that is printed daily and delivered to campus buildings. There are 19 nationally recognized fraternal organization on campus, governed by four councils. Kirtley Mather, Class of 1909, named the tallest peak in Alaska's Aleutian Peninsula "Mt. Mather." Students can major or minor in theatre, music, visual art, studio art, art history, dance, or cinema. The campus radio station, WDUB a.k.a. The Doobie, features 24-hour programming and broadcasts both online at www.doobieradio.com. The station was featured in American Eagle stores across the country through the summer of 2009.
Financial Aspects
The school's tuition and fees are $71,000. Fifty-eight percent of first-year students receive need-based financial aid, and the average net price for federal loan recipients is $34,134. The four-year graduation rate is 73%. Six years after graduation, the median salary for graduates is $51,352. The college's endowment is $1.1 billion (2025).
Athletics
The college's intercollegiate athletic teams compete in the North Coast Athletic Conference, fielding 26 varsity teams in the NCAA Division III. Denison is a member of the NCAA Division III and the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) since the conference's formation in 1984. As a part of the 10-member conference Denison boasts a league-record 11 Dennis M. Collins Awards which is given to the NCAC school that performs best across the conference's 23 sponsored sports: 11 for men and 12 for women. In 2001, the Denison Women's Swimming and Diving team captured the school's first NCAA Division III national championship by breaking Kenyon College’s streak of 17-consecutive national championships. Following this, the Denison Men's Swimming and Diving team defeated Kenyon to capture the 2011 NCAA National Title by 1 point ending the Lords' 31-year streak of championships. In both men's and women's swimming and diving, Denison has posted 47 consecutive top-10 finishes at the NCAA Division III championships. Denison alumnus Woody Hayes (Class of ’35) spent three seasons as the head football coach at Denison (1946-48). In 1954, Keith Piper took over as the head football coach, a position he would remain in for 39 seasons. Piper won a school record, 200 games and in 1985 he guided the program to their first 10-0 season with his antique single-wing offense. Denison qualified for the NCAA Division III playoffs that season before falling to Mt. Women's basketball at Denison has emerged as a national contender under head coach Sara Lee. The Denison men's and women's lacrosse programs have had their share of conference and national success.
Read also: Explore Denison's Campus Life
Special Programs and Initiatives
In the spring of 2016, Denison University announced that the Austin E. Knowlton Foundation pledged $9.3 million towards the Center for Career Exploration, now known as The Austin E. Knowlton Center for Career Exploration. The Beck Series is associated with the creative writing program at Denison, and it brings a variety of authors to campus to read their work and interact with students. Former visitors include Pulitzer Prize winner Eudora Welty, National Book Award winner Alice Walker, Playwright and Oscar-winning screenwriter Tom Stoppard, Orange is the New Black author, Piper Kerman, and W. S. Merwin.
Rankings and Recognition
Denison University is ranked No. #34 in National Liberal Arts Colleges. It's also ranked No. #4 in Most Innovative Schools. News & World Report categorizes Denison as "most selective."
Getting to Denison
John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) is 25 miles (a 30-minute drive) from campus. During the academic year (September-May), Denison University provides a Student Shuttle service between the campus and the airport; call the admissions office 2 weeks before your visit to arrange for this shuttle. When coming from the east, west and south, the best approach is from Interstate 70. Granville is 10 miles north of I-70 (Exit 126) on Ohio Route 37 West. When Route 37 turns off on the divided highway outside of Granville, continue straight ahead on Ohio Route 661 into Granville. Route 661 takes you to the center of Granville. If coming from the north, you should exit Interstate 71 at Bellville and take Ohio Route 13 south into Mt. Vernon.
Accommodation
If you have a morning visit scheduled at Denison, it's worth making the effort to spend the preceding night in Granville. The first of 2 delightful inns in this picture-postcard town (a 5-minute drive from the admissions office) is the Buxton Inn (313 E. Broadway; 740-587-0001). Founded in 1812, it is still operating in its original building in the middle of the village. Another gem is the Granville Inn (314 E. Broadway; 740-587-3333). It's also moderately priced and provides a continental breakfast. This is an English Tudor manor house with carved oak paneling and lots of character. It includes a pleasant restaurant.
Student Experience
At Denison University, students are encouraged to explore their interests "in and out of the classroom." This is encouraged and enabled by a faculty full of "the most caring, supportive, and knowledgeable human beings" and students having "voting powers on many administrative councils, committees, and task forces," which allows them to help shape the school's decision-making. Denison students are "both ambitious and also open minded…curious, innovative thinkers that are motivated by making a wise impact." While you can still see "the remnants" of a "predominantly white" and "wealthy East-coaster" background, the overall consensus is that you can now meet "all types of students on campus." One undergrad elaborates further, "As an Ohioan, it is really special to go to an in-state school where I can have roommates, friends, and classmates from Britain, India, and China." Driven and diverse, students agree that it's "great to see people support each other in athletic events, theater performances, and even Bluegrass ensembles," all of which makes the school feel like a real community. Life at Denison can be hectic. Thankfully, students maintain "a good balance of academics, extracurriculars, and fun." The university itself sponsors plenty of activities including "food trucks, movie nights, [and] trivia nights" along with "guest speakers and performances." You can also find numerous student-run clubs for a variety of interests. Groups range from "the Burpees Improv group, which does lots of great shows with high campus engagement," to Quidditch, ski club, and Habitat for Humanity.
Read also: Denison University Lacrosse
Career Support and Outcomes
Undergrads at Denison receive a tremendous amount of “career support…[from] the college.” And they are quick to sing the praises of the Knowlton Center for Career Exploration, which “offers a variety of help with career decisions.” Here, students “practice interviews, [get] career coaching, résumé building, and more.” The center also runs more than one hundred innovative career programs, such as First Looks, which helps students at the start of their professional journey to gain a better understanding of certain jobs and industries via job shadowing, networking opportunities, and company tours. Through these events, undergrads connect with industry insiders to ask questions about company culture, daily responsibilities, and individual career paths. Other programs through the center include three-day Career-Ready Bootcamps during winter break, Career Communities, and Sophomore Month, in which second-year students attend a month of career exploration events and learn about the help available to them across all departments via the Sophomore Resource Fair. These programs and resources pay off: 96 percent of Denison graduates are working in their desired field, and Payscale.com reports a starting median salary of $63,100 with 50 percent stating that their jobs give them a high level of meaning.
Notable Alumni
Denison alumni include scholars (such as the former president of Princeton University William G. Bowen), actors Steve Carell, Hal Holbrook, and Jennifer Garner; SNL comedian Alex Moffat; entertainer John Davidson; Hall of Fame college football coach Woody Hayes; ESPN president George Bodenheimer; Turner Broadcasting System Senior Vice President James Anderson; drag queen and LGBT activist Nina West, former member of Turkish Parliament and current consultant to The Coca-Cola Company Mehmet Cem Kozluformer; United States Senator Richard Lugar; Indy car racer Bobby Rahal; playwright Jeffrey Hatcher; artist Ned Bittinger; author Pam Houston, James Frey; former Disney Chairman and CEO Michael Eisner; American criminologist and father of "evidence-based policing" Lawrence Sherman; former Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro; folklorist, oral historian, author, and podcast host Douglas A. Boyd; professor of religion at Goucher College and theologian at the Washington National Cathedral Kelly Brown Douglas; Randolph Marshall Hollerith, Dean of the Washington National Cathedral; and George Stibitz, one of the fathers of modern digital computing.
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