Denison University Scholarships (2026–2027)

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Last Updated on September 27, 2026
What This Page Covers:
  • Tuition, housing, and average family net price
  • Automatic merit ranges and qualifier benchmarks
  • Flagship and hidden-gem awards
  • Honors and stacking strategy

📊 Admissions Snapshot

  • Acceptance Rate: ~17%
  • Middle 50% ACT: 30-33
  • Middle 50% SAT: 1340-1480
  • Average GPA: Not reported
📊 A quick word on Denison’s numbers

The snapshot above comes from Denison’s 2024-25 Common Data Set, the most recent one we could verify. Federal data puts the admit rate at about 17% (roughly 15,000 applicants for about 2,600 spots). If you see 22% on Denison’s own Fast Facts page, that’s an older figure.

Keep in mind that the test ranges only describe students who chose to send scores. That was about 29% for the SAT and 22% for the ACT. Denison has been test-optional since 2008, and it rates a student’s interest in the school as “very important.” Denison also says most admitted students completed an interview, so if Denison is high on your list, schedule one.

Comparing multiple schools? Try the Scholarship Tool to search by GPA, test scores, and state →

📌 Denison University at a Glance

Average Net Price
$40,007/year
Average paid.
Automatic Merit
$5,000 to full tuition/yr
No separate application.
Scholarships Tracked
9 opportunities
2 automatic · 1 competitive · 6 hidden gem
Merit Evaluation
Holistic Review / Varies
Merit depends on profile rigor.
Testing Policy
Test-optional
Superscores ACT/SAT.
Key Deadlines
Priority: Jan 15 • FAFSA: Jan 15
Financial Aid Forms
FAFSA & CSS Profile
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at Denison (Read This First)

  • Apply for need-based aid when you apply, or lose the chance. Denison says students who don’t request need-based aid during admission can’t apply for it later as students. If there’s any chance you’ll need help, check the financial aid box and file the FAFSA, CSS Profile, and documents on time.
  • The new Denison Commitment is big, but merit doesn’t stack on top of it. Starting with students who enter in fall 2027, families earning $100,000 or less pay $0 in tuition, and families up to $400,000 pay a capped share of income. Merit money counts toward that cap instead of lowering it further.
  • Your scholarship deadline is your admission deadline. There’s no separate merit form. Everything is due by Nov 15 (Early Decision 1) or Jan 15 (Early Decision 2 or Regular Decision), including the FAFSA, the CSS Profile, and any arts supplement.
  • Early Decision is binding. Run Denison’s net price calculator before you sign the ED agreement, not after. ED applicants hear back about a month after their deadline.
  • Denison merit has a ceiling. All Denison merit combined can’t go past full tuition, and a student can receive only one arts scholarship.

FAQ

Is this college test-optional? Yes, for admission. Denison University is test-optional for admission.

What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 30-33; SAT: 1340-1480.

Average net price? About $40,007/year after aid.

Does this school use waivers/reciprocity? No. It is a private school, so everyone pays the same rate.

💰 Cost of Attendance at Denison University: 2026–2027 Rates

Figures verified against official sources in September 2026.

📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest Denison University has published. Colleges usually release next year's costs in the spring, and we update this page when they do.

Budgeting tip: costs typically rise 2% to 5% a year. For 2027–2028, plan on roughly $1,800 to $4,600 more than the total below.

✔ Same price for every student, no matter which state you live in.

All students: billed cost per year
$92,400
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees $74,000
Housing & meals (typical) $18,400
Total billed cost $92,400

Average federal net price: $40,007 per year. This is what first-time, full-time students who received grant aid paid after grants and scholarships, based on the most recent federal data. It counts books and living costs, so it can run higher than the billed total above. Families who got no grants are not in this average, so many middle-income families pay more. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.

📌 Regional Tuition & Waiver Options

Denison is a private university that charges a single tuition-and-fees amount for all undergraduates regardless of residency; room and board are based on standard on-campus housing and meal-plan averages, and no residency-based out-of-state waivers or regional reciprocity programs are described in official tuition or financial-aid materials.
🎯 The Denison Commitment (students entering fall 2027 and later)

In August 2026, Denison started telling families up front what tuition will cost based on family income. Here’s how it works:

Total Family Income Most You’ll Pay Toward Tuition Example
$100,000 or less$0$0 tuition
$100,001 to $200,0005% of income$150,000 income: up to $7,500
$200,001 to $300,00010% of income$250,000 income: up to $25,000
$300,001 to $400,00015% of income$350,000 income: up to $52,500

The fine print: This covers tuition only, not housing and food. It’s for U.S. citizens and permanent residents whose income is earned in the U.S., and it assumes “typical” assets for your income level (retirement accounts and your home equity don’t count). You need the FAFSA, the CSS Profile, and financial documents. Denison’s own estimate for 2027-28 is $77,000 in tuition and $19,400 for food and housing.

FAQ: Cost of Attendance at Denison University

What does Denison actually bill for 2026-27?
Tuition is $74,000 and housing and food are $18,400, for $92,400 billed. Add Denison’s $4,500 allowance for books and personal costs and the full cost of attendance is $96,900. There’s also a student health insurance charge of about $1,890 unless you waive it with proof of other coverage.

Is there an out-of-state rate or a regional tuition discount?
No. Denison is private, so everyone pays the same price whether they live in Granville or Seattle. The ways to bring the price down are merit, need-based aid, and the Denison Commitment, not residency programs.

Does the Denison Commitment cover housing and meals?
Not directly. The Commitment only caps tuition. Denison still meets 100% of demonstrated need, so need-based aid can go past tuition. Denison says students who pay $0 in tuition typically get more than half of their housing and food covered too.

If my student earns merit, does it lower the Commitment price even more?
No, and this is the part families miss. Merit counts toward the Commitment. If the merit award is bigger than your Commitment price, you pay the lower number. If it’s smaller, Denison adds grants to bring you down to the Commitment price. Either way the discounts don’t stack.

What do families really pay today?
Federal College Scorecard data shows an average net price of about $40,000 a year after grants and scholarships. That average hides a wide range: it’s much lower for most families under $110,000 and much higher above it. Those figures come from before the Commitment, so families under $400,000 who enter in fall 2027 should get a clearer and often lower tuition number.

Do we need the CSS Profile, or just the FAFSA?
Both, plus tax documents through IDOC. The CSS Profile is free for families with AGI under $100,000 (Denison’s code is 1164; the FAFSA code is 003042). You only file the CSS Profile once. After the first year, you renew the FAFSA each year by April 1.

Sources:
https://denison.edu/campus/finances/tuition-costs
https://denison.edu/campus/admission/denison-commitment
https://denison.edu/campus/admission/applying-for-financial-aid
https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/

📅 Denison Money Timeline (Simple Version)

  • Early October: The FAFSA and CSS Profile open. Start them early, since the documents take time.
  • Late October: Fall music audition day for arts scholarship hopefuls.
  • November 15: Early Decision 1. The application, FAFSA, CSS Profile, financial documents, and arts supplement are all due.
  • January 15: Early Decision 2 and Regular Decision. Same checklist.
  • Late January: Spring music audition day.
  • Mid-March: Regular Decision results. ED applicants hear about a month after their deadline.

Parent rule of thumb: at Denison, the admission deadline is the scholarship deadline. Treat the aid forms as part of the application, not something you do later.

Automatic Merit Scholarships at Denison University

Every applicant is considered for merit automatically. There’s no separate form, no scholarship essay, and no application fee. Awards range from $5,000 a year up to full tuition. Denison doesn’t publish a GPA or test-score chart, so it’s a judgment call based on the whole application, not a lookup table.
Find your student's tier
Enter the numbers you have. We'll highlight the automatic award your student would actually get and tuck the rest out of the way. Leave it blank to browse everything.
Residency
Based on published cutoffs for entering freshmen. Always verify with the college before finalizing plans.
Start with your state. The awards in this first group come from the state, not the college. They are decided by residency and the FAFSA, and they stack on top of whatever automatic merit award the college gives below. If you live out of state, use the toggle above and these will step aside.
State AidApp Requiredstate residencyservice
Ohio War Orphans and Severely Disabled Veterans' Children Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Application by May 15 for the following year
✓ Renews (5 yrs)
$6,397/yr
✔ Stackable
Child of an Ohio veteran who died in service or has a service-connected disability rating of 60% or more; apply between ages 16 and 24; eligible private Ohio colleges
✚
Stacking & Combining
For 2026-27 the board set the private-college award at $6,397 a year. Stacks with Pell and college aid; cannot be combined with Choose Ohio First or the Second Chance Grant.
💡
Strategic Detail
State program, not a Denison University award. Rules and amounts are set by the state and can change with each budget. Full details on the CollegeReadyParent OH page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Children of veterans with a 60%-plus VA rating who apply during the May-to-May window before the age cutoff. The age limit is the trap: it is an application-age limit, not an enrollment-age limit, so a 24-year-old who waits loses it.
State AidAutomaticstate residencyneed based
Ohio College Opportunity Grant
📅 Deadline: FAFSA by the college's priority date; state cutoff Oct 1
✓ Renews (5 yrs)
$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Ohio resident; FAFSA Student Aid Index of 3,750 or less AND household income of $96,000 or less; private nonprofit Ohio college; tuition and general fees only
✚
Stacking & Combining
$5,000 a year at a private nonprofit Ohio college for low-income families, a thousand more than at a public. Pays tuition and general fees only. Stacks with Pell and with the college's aid, but tuition-specific aid that already covers the whole bill cancels it. Ten-semester lifetime cap.
💡
Strategic Detail
State program, not a Denison University award. Rules and amounts are set by the state and can change with each budget. Full details on the CollegeReadyParent OH page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Families under $96,000 with a low Student Aid Index. The one that surprises people is the tuition-only rule: a student with a full-tuition merit award from the college loses OCOG entirely, because there is no tuition left for it to pay.
State AidApp Requiredstate residency
Ohio Governor's Merit Scholarship
📅 Deadline: School nomination by Oct 1; student must accept by May 15
✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Top 5% of the graduating class at an Ohio public or chartered nonpublic high school, ranked by GPA at the end of junior year; nominated by the school by Oct 1; must accept in the state portal by May 15 or it is rescinded; Ohio colleges only
✚
Stacking & Combining
Up to $5,000 a year for four years, and it can be applied to any cost up to the college's cost of attendance, not just tuition. Stacks with every college award. Renews automatically at a 3.0 GPA with 20 credits a year. Enrolling out of state forfeits it for good.
💡
Strategic Detail
State program, not a Denison University award. Rules and amounts are set by the state and can change with each budget. Full details on the CollegeReadyParent OH page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Top-5% seniors whose school submitted the nomination and who then logged into the portal and clicked accept by May 15. The May 15 step is where awards die: it is a separate action from the college deposit, and students who are still deciding between schools sometimes let it lapse.
One award, not a pile. Colleges apply your student's single best automatic award. Automatic scholarships almost never stack with each other, though some stack with housing, departmental, or outside money. The stacking notes on each card tell you which.
Automatic
Denison Merit Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Nov 15 (ED1) or Jan 15 (ED2/RD), with the admission application
✓ Renews (2 GPA, 4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠  Amounts range from $5,000 per year up to full tuition. Denison's 2024-25 Common Data Set reports an average first-year merit award of $19,149.
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Merit combines with need-based grants, loans, and work-study. All Denison merit combined is capped at full tuition. For students entering fall 2027 or later who qualify for the Denison Commitment, merit counts toward the Commitment price instead of stacking on top of it.
💡
Strategic Detail
Every student who submits a complete admission application by their round's deadline is automatically considered. There is no separate form and no extra essay. Denison lists these as Alumni Awards and other merit scholarships based on superior academic achievement. Awards are set at admission, run for four years (eight semesters), and require a cumulative 2.0 GPA to keep. Merit amounts stay the same for all four years even if family income changes.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with rigorous coursework and strong grades. Denison publishes no GPA or test-score floor and is test-optional. In 2024-25, 249 first-year students without financial need received merit, averaging $19,149.
Automatic
Austin E. Knowlton Foundation Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Nov 15 (ED1) or Jan 15 (ED2/RD), with the admission application
✓ Renews (2 GPA, 4 yrs)
$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Ohio residents interested in majoring in mathematics or the sciences.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Added on top of other Denison academic merit. The combined total of Knowlton and all other Denison merit cannot exceed full tuition.
💡
Strategic Detail
Ohio residents interested in majoring in math or science are automatically considered when they are admitted. There is no separate application. The award is up to $5,000, given regardless of financial need, and renewable each year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Admitted Ohio residents with a real interest in math or the sciences. No GPA or test minimum is published, so make the STEM interest obvious in the application.
Data last verified Jun 13, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.

Note: All Denison merit combined is capped at full tuition. For students entering in fall 2027 or later, merit also counts toward the Denison Commitment price instead of stacking on top of it.

Automatic Merit FAQs (Denison University)

How does my student get considered for merit?
Submit a complete application by the deadline for the round you choose: Nov 15 for Early Decision 1, or Jan 15 for Early Decision 2 or Regular Decision. Merit is decided along with admission.

How much merit does a typical student get?
The published range is $5,000 to full tuition. In Denison’s 2024-25 Common Data Set, 249 first-year students who didn’t have financial need received merit, and the average award was $19,149. Full tuition is the exception, not the norm.

Are there GPA or test-score cutoffs?
None are published. Denison is test-optional and superscores any scores you send. Scores from enrolled students who submitted them fell mostly in the 30 to 33 ACT range and 1340 to 1480 SAT range.

What’s the Knowlton Scholarship, and who gets it?
It’s up to $5,000 for Ohio residents interested in majoring in math or science. It’s considered automatically at admission, it doesn’t depend on need, and it’s added on top of other Denison merit, up to the full-tuition cap.

How does my student keep the scholarship?
Merit runs for four years (eight semesters) with a cumulative 2.0 GPA, unless a specific donor sets a different rule. Denison also says merit amounts stay the same for all four years even if your family’s income changes.

Does applying Early Decision mean more merit?
Denison doesn’t publish any merit advantage for ED. It does admit a higher share of ED applicants. Only apply ED if Denison is the clear first choice and the net price calculator result works for your budget.

Sources:
https://denison.edu/campus/finances/types-of-scholarships-aid
https://denison.edu/campus/admission/the-austin-e-knowlton-foundation-scholarship
https://denison.edu/campus/admission/apply-for-admission
https://denison.edu/forms/common-data-set

🏆 Flagship Scholarships (Competitive Scholarships)

Denison doesn’t run a big full-ride competition with finalist weekends and interviews. Most of its money is given automatically at admission or through need-based aid. The one true competition is the Arts Scholarship, which is judged on your student’s actual creative work.

✅ Can You Stack Scholarships at Denison?

Aid Type Stacks? Denison Parent Translation
General Merit Base award Everyone is considered. All Denison merit together tops out at full tuition.
Knowlton (Ohio STEM) Yes, up to the cap Added on top of other merit, as long as the total stays at or under full tuition.
Arts Scholarship Yes, one only Combines with other Denison aid, but a student can hold only one arts award.
Denison Commitment No Merit counts toward the Commitment price. You pay whichever number is lower, not both discounts.
Need-based grants Usually Denison meets 100% of demonstrated need, and grants fill in after merit.
Outside scholarships Sometimes You must report them. Denison trims work-study or loans first, but Denison aid can be reduced if your need is already met.

If your student has been chasing essay-and-interview full rides, Denison works differently. The biggest savings usually come from filing the aid forms on time and letting the Commitment and merit do their work. The arts award is the one place where a portfolio or audition can add real dollars.

App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Arts Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Arts supplement due Nov 15 (ED1) or Jan 15 (ED2/RD)
✓ Renews (2 GPA, 4 yrs)
$5,000–$15,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
One arts scholarship per student. It combines with other Denison aid, and total Denison merit is capped at full tuition.
📄
How to Apply
Submit an application for admission via Common App or Coalition App, then access the Denison applicant portal to upload your arts supplement. Supplements must be submitted by the same deadline as your admission application (ED1: November 15, ED2/RD: January 15). Transfer deadlines are November 15 (January start) or April 15 (August start). Disciplines: cinema, creative writing, dance, music, music theatre, visual arts, or theatre. Musicians are strongly encouraged to audition in person on campus.
Selection criteria: Evaluated on demonstrated talent and commitment to the chosen art form; academic achievement is also considered. Portfolio or audition materials reviewed by relevant department faculty.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Covers cinema, creative writing, dance, music, music theatre, visual arts, and theatre. Awards run $5,000 to $15,000 per year for four years. After filing the Common App or Coalition App, students upload an arts supplement through the Denison applicant portal. Musicians can audition on campus during Denison's fall or winter audition days, or submit a video audition of up to 15 minutes. Students may submit in more than one discipline but can receive only one arts scholarship.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who have put serious time into an art form and submit strong work. Majoring or minoring in the arts is not required, and switching majors does not cost the award. Denison describes these as competitive with a limited number of awards.
Data last verified Jun 13, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.

❓ Arts Scholarship FAQs

Which arts count, and how much is the award?
Cinema, creative writing, dance, music, music theatre, visual arts, and theatre. Awards run $5,000 to $15,000 a year and renew for all four years.

When is the arts supplement due?
By your admission deadline: Nov 15 for Early Decision 1, or Jan 15 for Early Decision 2 or Regular Decision. It’s uploaded through the Denison applicant portal, which you get access to after filing the Common App or Coalition App.

Does my student have to major in the arts?
No. Denison says the award doesn’t depend on major or minor and renews even if your student switches majors. Denison does expect recipients to stay seriously involved in the arts.

How do music scholarships work?
Denison strongly encourages an on-campus audition. For this cycle, the fall audition day is October 26, 2026 and the spring audition day is January 23, 2027 (registration opens December 1). Students who can’t travel can submit a video audition of up to 15 minutes. Auditioning takes the place of a separate supplement.

Can my student apply in more than one art form?
Yes, and music theatre students are encouraged to submit in both music and theatre. Still, only one arts scholarship is awarded per student.

What are the chances?
Denison calls these competitive with a limited number of awards. The supplement also helps the admission office get to know your student, so it’s worth submitting even if the scholarship doesn’t come through.

Sources:
https://denison.edu/campus/admission/arts-scholarship-applicants
https://denison.edu/academics/music/auditions
https://denison.edu/campus/admission/denison-commitment
https://denison.edu/campus/finances/faq-for-financial-aid

🧠 Parent Strategy: Denison’s “Quiet Money”

Denison has a handful of named scholarships that nobody applies for. They’re handed out during the admission and aid review. You can’t apply for them, but you can make sure your student is in the running:

  1. File the FAFSA, CSS Profile, and documents by the admission deadline. Four of these awards depend on financial need, and Denison won’t let you request need-based aid later.
  2. Make STEM interest obvious in the application if it’s real. Two awards are tied to STEM for Ohio and central Ohio students, and a third is tied to STEM plus financial need.
  3. Submit the arts supplement if your student is both a strong student and a serious artist.
  4. Read the award letter line by line and call financial aid if something doesn’t make sense.

Parent translation: the no-loan awards are the prize here. Reese and Silverstein swap out student loans for scholarship money, which can mean graduating with a lot less debt.

💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships

These are listed on Denison’s scholarship page but rarely explained anywhere else. Denison doesn’t publish dollar amounts for most of them, and they’re decided at admission.

Automatic
Reese Scholars
📅 Deadline: Nov 15 (ED1) or Jan 15 (ED2/RD), with the admission application and financial aid forms
✓ Renews (2 GPA, 4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Replaces the loan portion of the aid package with scholarship money and combines with other grants and scholarships.
💡
Strategic Detail
Named merit award for students with superior academic achievement and financial need. Its purpose is to remove the student loan expectation from selected students' aid packages. There is nothing extra to apply for, but the FAFSA, CSS Profile, and financial documents must be in by the admission deadline. Denison does not publish an amount.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: High-achieving admits with demonstrated financial need whom Denison selects during the aid review.
Automatic
Silverstein Scholars
📅 Deadline: Nov 15 (ED1) or Jan 15 (ED2/RD), with the admission application and financial aid forms
✓ Renews (2 GPA, 4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Replaces the loan portion of the aid package with scholarship money and combines with other grants and scholarships.
💡
Strategic Detail
Same purpose as Reese Scholars: removing the student loan expectation for selected high-achieving students with financial need. The endowed fund was created in 2021 and expanded in 2026 through an $8 million gift that Denison says will increase the number of Silverstein Scholars. No separate application. The FAFSA, CSS Profile, and financial documents must be in by the admission deadline. Denison does not publish an amount.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Academically strong students with financial need whom Denison selects during the aid review. Families usually learn about it from the award letter.
Automatic
S-STEM Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Nov 15 (ED1) or Jan 15 (ED2/RD), with the admission application and financial aid forms
✓ Renews (2 GPA, 4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~8 per entering class (under the original grant) winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Combines with other Denison aid. Total Denison merit is capped at full tuition.
💡
Strategic Detail
Funded by a National Science Foundation grant for academically strong, low-income students in STEM. Under the grant, which began with students entering in fall 2022, eight students per year received $5,000 toward tuition, plus a paid summer research experience after the first year and structured mentoring. The grant was written for four annual groups, so confirm with the financial aid office that it is being offered for your student's entering year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Low-income students with strong academics who plan to major in a STEM field. Financial need is measured through the FAFSA and CSS Profile.
Automatic
American Home Foundation Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Nov 15 (ED1) or Jan 15 (ED2/RD), with the admission application
✓ Renews (2 GPA, 4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Combines with other Denison aid. Total Denison merit is capped at full tuition.
💡
Strategic Detail
Named merit award for students from central Ohio with superior academic achievement and exceptional promise in STEM. Considered at admission with no separate application. Denison does not publish an amount.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Strong students from the central Ohio area who make their STEM interest clear in the application.
Automatic
Michele Myers Fellowship in the Arts
📅 Deadline: Nov 15 (ED1) or Jan 15 (ED2/RD), with the admission application
✓ Renews (2 GPA, 4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Combines with other Denison aid. Total Denison merit is capped at full tuition.
💡
Strategic Detail
Named merit fellowship for students who combine superior academics with demonstrated talent in visual art, performing art, or creative writing. Denison does not publish an amount or a separate process. The arts supplement is the main way Denison sees a student's creative work, so artistically strong students should submit one.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with top academics who also bring serious work in art, performance, or creative writing.
Automatic
Carl Jakust Memorial Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Nov 15 (ED1) or Jan 15 (ED2/RD), with the admission application and financial aid forms
✓ Renews (2 GPA, 4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Combines with other Denison aid. Total Denison merit is capped at full tuition.
💡
Strategic Detail
Named award for students from Cass Technical High School in Detroit who show financial need along with superior academic and extracurricular achievement. No separate application. Denison does not publish an amount.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Cass Tech graduates with strong grades, real involvement outside the classroom, and demonstrated financial need.
Data last verified Jun 13, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.

❓ Hidden Gems FAQ

What are Reese Scholars and Silverstein Scholars?
Both go to high-achieving students with financial need, and both exist to take the student loan out of the aid package. Silverstein is growing: the donors added to the fund in 2026 with an $8 million gift that Denison says will create more Silverstein Scholars.

Is the S-STEM Scholarship still available?
Check before you count on it. It’s funded by a National Science Foundation grant that started with students entering in fall 2022, with eight students a year getting $5,000 toward tuition plus paid summer research. The grant was set up for four groups of students, so ask the financial aid office whether it’s being offered for your student’s year.

Who gets the American Home Foundation Scholarship?
Strong students from central Ohio who show exceptional promise in STEM. It’s considered at admission with no separate application.

What is the Michele Myers Fellowship in the Arts?
A named award for students who combine top academics with real talent in visual art, performing art, or creative writing. Denison doesn’t publish a separate process, so the arts supplement is the best way to put your student’s work in front of the people deciding.

Who is the Carl Jakust Memorial Scholarship for?
Only graduates of Cass Technical High School in Detroit who have financial need and strong academic and extracurricular records. If that’s your student, mention it to the admission counselor.

How will we know if my student received one?
It shows up on the financial aid award letter, which comes with the admission packet and in the applicant portal.

Sources:
https://denison.edu/campus/finances/types-of-scholarships-aid
https://denison.edu/news-events/featured/143742
https://denison.edu/campaign/feature/161505
https://denison.edu/campus/admission/applying-for-financial-aid

Honors and High-Achiever Programs at Denison

Denison doesn’t have an honors college, and there are no honors scholarships to apply for. At a school with about 2,400 students and a 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio, small classes and close faculty relationships are simply part of the regular experience.

This institution does not offer designated Honors College scholarships at this time.

Where high achievers actually plug in
  • Scholar-Leader Program: A first-year advising group (with a pre-orientation trip) for students interested in leadership and competitive fellowships, followed by a sophomore sequence and optional project work in the junior and senior years. It’s run by the Lisska Center for Intellectual Engagement. Denison doesn’t publish how students are chosen or attach money to it.
  • Paid summer research: Lisska Summer Scholars (arts, humanities, social sciences) get a stipend and free campus housing. Science students have the Anderson Summer Science Program.
  • Fellowship coaching: The Lisska Center helps students apply for national awards. Eight members of the Class of 2026 were offered Fulbright grants.

Honors FAQs (Denison University)

Is there an honors college or honors program to apply to?
No. Denison doesn’t run a separate honors college or honors admission.

So where does the big merit money come from?
From the automatic merit review at admission, which ranges from $5,000 to full tuition, plus the Arts Scholarship and need-based aid. There’s no separate honors pool.

Does the Scholar-Leader Program come with a scholarship?
Denison doesn’t list any money attached to it. It’s about mentoring, leadership, and preparing for fellowships.

How do students get recognized for top academics?
Through Dean’s List, Latin honors, senior research and creative projects, and Phi Beta Kappa, which has had a chapter at Denison since 1910.

Sources:
https://denison.edu/academics/lisska/scholar-leader-program
https://denison.edu/academics/lisska
https://denison.edu/campus/awards
https://denison.edu/academics/curriculum/special-academic-honors

⭐ College Specialty

Denison is a residential liberal arts college of about 2,400 students in Granville, Ohio, roughly 25 minutes from Columbus. Everyone lives on campus, classes are small, and the school puts unusual effort into turning a liberal arts degree into a first job. That career focus is what sets it apart from a lot of similar colleges.

Nationally Known Program:
Career Exploration: The Princeton Review ranks Denison’s career services #3 in the country. Students get career coaching from the first year on, a big alumni network, and access to internships in nearby Columbus. Denison reports that 99% of graduates are working or in graduate school.
  • Economics: Denison’s largest major and a common path into finance, consulting, and law.
  • Data Analytics: One of the fastest-growing majors, paired with a field like economics, biology, or political science. It’s backed by the King Center for Data & Innovation.
  • Communication, Global Commerce, and Business & Finance: Strong options for students who want business or media careers without leaving the liberal arts. Hands-on client work runs through the Red Frame Lab.
  • Biology, Neuroscience, and Psychology: A solid pre-health and research track with paid summer research and a 350-acre biological reserve.
  • The Arts: One in four students takes music lessons or plays in an ensemble, and the Eisner Center hosts theatre, dance, and music, including a well-regarded American Roots and bluegrass program.
  • Study Away: About 75% of students study or intern off campus or abroad.

✅ Wrapping It Up

Big picture? Denison used to be one of those schools where you didn’t know the real price until the award letter came. That changed in 2026. For families entering in fall 2027, the tuition math is simple: under $100,000 in income, tuition is free. A family making $150,000 pays no more than $7,500 toward tuition, plus housing and food, which need-based aid may partly cover.

The catches are few but real. File the FAFSA and CSS Profile with the application, not after, because Denison won’t let you ask for need-based aid later. Don’t expect merit to lower the Commitment price further, since the two don’t stack. Families above $400,000 still get a shot at merit worth $5,000 to full tuition, and artists get their own path through the Arts Scholarship.

Add a career office that ranks among the best in the country, a data analytics program that’s growing fast, and a campus 25 minutes from Columbus, and Denison is worth a hard look for middle-income families who assumed a $90,000-a-year private college was off the table.

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Leo Dimilo

Leo Dimilo

Leo is the founder of CollegeReadyParent. He built it after working through college costs with his own daughter, to give middle-income and first-generation families plain-English answers with no paywall and no sales pitch.

More about Leo →

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