Denison University Acceptance Rate
Granville, Ohio · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 14,580
- Admitted
- 2,468
- Yield
- 25.8%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Denison University's acceptance rate has fallen from 55.5% in 2014–15 to 16.9% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 4,468 to 14,580 (+226%) over that period.
Its 16.9% rate makes Denison University more selective than about 96% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 54 tracked Ohio schools, it is more selective than about 98%.
Denison University has been test-optional since 2016–17. Of admitted students, 25.8% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 4,468 | 2,481 | 55.5% | 609 |
| 2015–16 | 6,110 | 2,926 | 47.9% | 632 |
| 2016–17 | 6,881 | 3,001 | 43.6% | 640 |
| 2017–18 | 7,540 | 2,808 | 37.2% | 617 |
| 2018–19 | 8,042 | 2,727 | 33.9% | 654 |
| 2019–20 | 8,812 | 2,590 | 29.4% | 625 |
| 2020–21 | 9,079 | 2,558 | 28.2% | 605 |
| 2021–22 | 9,513 | 2,689 | 28.3% | 654 |
| 2022–23 | 12,220 | 2,684 | 22% | 683 |
| 2023–24 | 14,580 | 2,468 | 16.9% | 636 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 7,551 | 1,358 | 18% |
| Men | 7,029 | 1,110 | 15.8% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 650–710 | 26% |
| SAT Math | 650–760 | |
| ACT Composite | 29–32 | 25% |
How Denison University compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Denison University's acceptance rate?
Denison University's acceptance rate is 16.9% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (2,468 admitted of 14,580 applicants).
Is Denison University test optional?
Denison University is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Denison University?
Denison University received 14,580 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 2,468.
What SAT score do you need for Denison University?
Admitted students at Denison University typically scored 650–710 on SAT Reading/Writing and 650–760 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Denison University getting harder to get into?
Denison University has become harder to get into: its acceptance rate went from 55.5% in 2014–15 to 16.9% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: https://www.denison.edu/.