Unlocking a Denison Education: Scholarships and Financial Aid for International Students

Denison University, a leading liberal arts college nestled in Granville, Ohio, is renowned for its commitment to academic excellence, a close-knit community, innovative teaching methods, and a strong emphasis on leadership and global citizenship. With a diverse student body of around 2,300 individuals from across the United States and over 40 countries, Denison cultivates an inclusive and intellectually stimulating environment. Denison University redefines the liberal arts experience through its focus on creativity, leadership, and real-world impact. Experience the Denison difference - where learning meets leadership.

Denison University is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination in matters of admission, employment, and housing, and in access to and participation in its education programs, services, and activities.

Navigating the Financial Aid Process for International Students

LCI Group helps make the college admission and financial aid application processes as easy (and painless) as possible. Understanding the financial aid process is crucial for international students aspiring to join the Denison community. When applying to Denison for the Fall of 2026, it is important to submit the CSS Profile, Asset and Family Verification form, and parent 2024 wage and income statements to Denison. You can verify the statuses of these forms in your Financial Aid Checklist through your applicant portal.

It is also important to understand the deadlines for financial aid, which align with admission application deadlines:

Early Decision 1: Nov.
Early Decision 2: Jan.
Regular Decision: Jan.

Key Application Documents and Procedures

For international students, the financial aid process is a little different. International (anyone who is not a citizen or permanent resident of the United States) first-year students interested in Denison must submit an application through the Common Application or the Coalition Application. Transfer applicant? Deadlines are a little different. Regardless of when an admission decision is released, all admission decisions become final and official on April 1.

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Several key documents and procedures are essential to complete the financial aid application:

CSS Profile: The 2026-27 CSS Profile will be available Oct. Primary parents are required to upload financial documents to Denison through IDOC - a College Board service that securely collects family financial documents and distributes them to institutions on behalf of the student. For most families, commonly required items include the 2024 W-2 forms or 1099 forms. All documents should be sent individually through IDOC to prevent delays in processing or document rejection. For security purposes, earnings statements will only be accepted through IDOC. The College Scholarship Service (CSS) Profile charges a $25 fee for the first school and $16 for each additional school. If your parents are divorced/separated/never married, etc., each of your parents will complete their own CSS Profile. You and your primary parent (the parent who provided you with the most financial support) will complete your CSS Profile using your College Board account/log-in credentials.
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid): Additionally, please submit the FAFSA as soon as possible once it becomes available. The 2026-27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) will be available in Oct. Prior to completing the FAFSA form, prospective students and all of their parents/guardians and/or contributors must obtain a Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID). After you file your FAFSA, you will receive the FAFSA Submission Summary from the Department of Education that provides you with the submitted FAFSA information. The FAFSA form must be resubmitted each year that you are enrolled at Denison. Returning students must complete a renewal FAFSA online by April 1 of each academic year for aid in the following academic year.
Denison COF: The Denison COF should be uploaded to your student portal.
English Proficiency Demonstration: All international applicants must demonstrate adequate English proficiency to qualify for admission. Considerations include, but are not limited to, the following: English as the primary language of school instruction; English as the first/native language; TOEFL iBT; IELTS; Duolingo English Test (DET)+; SAT Reading; ACT English Language Arts; and an admission interview.
Other Considerations: In evaluating your application to Denison, we take a number of things into consideration about you as an individual. Interview (recommended): An interview is not required for admission consideration, but we do encourage applicants to complete one as an interview can provide a more personal element to your application. ACT/SAT Scores (optional): Denison is test-optional. Test scores can be submitted directly from a testing agency, through official high school transcripts, or test scores can be self-reported. Arts Supplement (optional): Students who have an interest in cinema, creative writing, dance, music, studio art, or theatre may submit supplementary arts materials for faculty evaluation. If submitted, students will be eligible to receive a departmental scholarship. Interview (recommended): While interviews are not required to be admitted, the majority of successful applicants complete an interview. If you are serious about Denison, we recommend sitting for an interview. Counselor Recommendation & School Report (required): Your counselor will submit these directly to us. High School Transcript (required): Your counselor must send us a copy of your official transcript. Teacher Evaluation (required): At least one teacher of a core course must submit a teacher evaluation form for you.

It is important to note that Denison does not require, or accept, the CSS Profile for international students.

Denison's Commitment to Affordability

Denison is committed to making its exceptional education affordable for all admitted students by meeting 100% of each student’s demonstrated financial need, and international students are eligible for the same institutional need-based financial aid and merit-based scholarships as domestic students. Denison meets full financial need for all of our students.

Denison will determine your financial need from both the FAFSA and CSS Profile information. You’ve read it on this page three times already, but Denison meets 100% of demonstrated financial need! We are committed to making Denison affordable for ALL of our students. The value of a Denison education is made available to students from all backgrounds.

Types of Financial Aid Available

At Denison, need-based aid is offered through a variety of grants and students have the opportunity to work while they are on campus. Several avenues exist to help fund a Denison education:

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Merit Scholarships: Students are automatically considered for merit scholarships upon submitting your complete application for admission. Merit scholarships are awarded at the time of admission and can be combined with other forms of aid, including grants, loans, and work-study to meet financial need. Scholarship amounts vary and can range from $5,000 to full tuition and do not require repayment. If awarded a scholarship, recipients are encouraged to thank our alumni donors. All of Denison’s merit scholarships and awards are given for four years (eight semesters). Merit scholarships require recipients to maintain a 2.0 GPA, unless otherwise stipulated in the donor agreement. The Offices of Financial Aid, Registrar, and Provost work together to track student eligibility and to notify students of their standing.
Need-Based Grants: Grants are need-based awards that do not require repayment. Students may qualify for federal and state government grants. Additionally, Denison provides need-based grants to students as a part of our commitment to meet 100% of a student’s demonstrated need. The Federal Pell Grant is available to undergraduate students who the federal government determines to be in low- to moderate-income households. Pell Grant eligibility is determined by the federal government and the information reported on the FAFSA. A Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is a grant for undergraduate students with exceptional financial need. The amount of this funding varies by institution. This need-based grant is available to students where the student and/or parent have lived in Ohio for at least 12 months. OCOG is awarded by the state of Ohio and award amounts are determined from information provided through the FAFSA. This need-based grant is awarded by Denison.
Loans: Students and their families often take out loans to help cover the costs of education. Federal, institutional, and private loans are all excellent sources to assist in funding a Denison education. If loans are necessary to fund your education, Denison’s financial aid team will work with you to secure the best loan and rates and help you understand your responsibilities for repayment.
- Federal Loans: Subsidized and unsubsidized loans are federal student loans for eligible students to help cover the cost of higher education at a four-year college or university, community college, or trade, career, or technical school. Subsidized loans are offered to eligible undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need. Unsubsidized loans are available for undergraduate, graduate, and professional students offering a low, fixed interest rate and flexible repayment terms. PLUS loans are federal loans that graduate or professional degree students and parents of dependent undergraduate students can use to help pay education expenses.
- Private Loans: These loans are non-federal loans, made by a lender such as a bank, credit union, state agency, or a school. Private loans can be in the student’s name and a cosigner is usually required or they can be in the parent’s name. The lender will perform a credit check and will require a school certification. Loan decisions can take up to 2-4 weeks.
- Denison Scholar Loans: Denison’s institutional loan program is made possible by generous donations to the university from alumni. Denison Scholar Loans are limited and are made at the discretion of the Office of Financial Aid. The student must have a FAFSA on file to be considered. Denison Scholar Loans are subsidized, meaning no interest accrues while the student is enrolled. These loans have an interest rate of 6%, a 10-year repayment plan, and has a 9-month grace period after a student graduates or ceases to be enrolled.
On-Campus Student Employment: Student employment opportunities are available to all students. Once enrolled, current student employment listings are available through Handshake. Many students work at Denison in offices and departments across campus. These students learn skills and knowledge that help them move into their professions after graduation.
Outside Funding: Students often bring outside funding from either being awarded scholarships external to Denison or through a parent’s employer-sponsored tuition benefit plan. These types of outside funding could impact a student’s financial aid package.
GI Bill® and Yellow Ribbon Program: Denison participates in the administration of Ch. 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill® benefits from the US Department of Veterans Affairs. Eligible students should submit a copy of their VA Certificate of Eligibility to the Office of Financial Aid prior to enrollment. Students eligible for 100% of the Ch. 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill benefit will also receive Yellow Ribbon. Denison is happy to partner with Yellow Ribbon to cover the remaining tuition charge not covered by the Ch. Ch.

Understanding the Costs

Financial barriers can stand in the way of student success. Denison University's tuition is $71,000. Compared with the national average cost of tuition of $50,159, Denison University is more expensive. These figures include both tuition and fees, also referred to as the sticker price. Fees differ by institution and may fund library services, student gym facilities, student centers, technology resources and campus health centers. As you’re comparing costs of different institutions, also consider the total cost and the net price. The total cost is the sticker price, plus the cost of food and housing, books and supplies, and transportation and personal expenses. At Denison University, the total cost is $86,900. The average need-based scholarship or grant awarded to first-year students at Denison University was $53,868. Additionally, 56% of first-year students received need-based financial aid in fall 2023. Need-based self-help aid includes federal loans and work-study. The average need-based self-help aid awarded to first-year students was $2,003. Merit-based aid, also called non-need-based aid, is awarded for a specific talent or academic achievement. The average non-need-based scholarship or grant awarded to first-year students at Denison University - excluding any athletic scholarships, if applicable - was $19,149.

Student Loan Debt

How much student loan debt you accumulate can affect your financial life long after college ends. Ideally, your total student loan debt should fall below your anticipated starting salary once you graduate. At Denison University, the median federal loan debt among borrowers who completed their undergraduate degree is $26,000. The median monthly federal loan payment (if it were repaid over 10 years at 5.05% interest) for student federal loan borrowers who graduated is $276. Additionally, 8% of graduating students at Denison University took out private loans. Students with private loans had an average of $59,200 in private loan debt at graduation.

Additional Scholarship Opportunities

Scholarships are a type of funding that you don’t need to pay back. Need-based scholarships take a student’s financial status into account. Merit-based scholarships are awarded to students for academic or athletic achievement. You might also qualify for a scholarship based on your community service involvement, unique hobbies or traits, your personal background, or a parent’s employer or military affiliation. Some students receive enough in scholarship money to cover their tuition and living expenses. Students may seek funding from scholarships that are awarded outside Denison.

Working During School

Jobs Working while in school can help lessen the burden of your student loans. Schools offer work-study programs to those who qualify and campus jobs to students looking to earn money in their free time. Some institutions match students with work-study positions, while others require them apply to the positions, like they would for any other job. Begin your job search by checking whether your college has in-person or online job boards.

The Denison Experience

Denison prides itself on offering a culturally diverse environment for its students. International students comprise 17% of our student body. Denison applicants have not been required to submit ACT or SAT scores since 2008. Proof that the phrase “Nothing good in life is free” is pure fallacy. Early decision is a great option for students who know Denison is their first choice college.

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When Tima Kaba ’19 returned from a post-graduate fellowship in Tanzania, she was unemployed and uncertain of the future.

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