What this means
For students entering in the fall of 2027, The Denison Commitment guarantees your family will not pay more than a fixed percentage of your family’s total income toward tuition. Families with a total income less than $100,000 will pay $0 for tuition.
Family income-based pricing
Family Income |
Tuition Commitment |
|---|---|
$100,000 or less |
0% of income toward tuition |
$100,001 to $200,000 |
5% of income toward tuition maximum |
$200,001 to $300,000 |
10% of income toward tuition maximum |
$300,001 to $400,000 |
15% of income toward tuition maximum |
The Denison Commitment applies to all domestic students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents applying for financial aid and eligible to complete the FAFSA. Additionally, this commitment is based on total domestic family earnings and typical assets. Check our frequently asked questions or our international applicants page for more information.
We meet 100% of all demonstrated need
Due to the generosity of alumni, Denison awards millions of dollars through financial aid and scholarships each year.
What does this look like for you?
Financial Aid
All students who submit an application for admission are considered for merit-based scholarships, and we will determine your financial need based on FAFSA and CSS Profile information.
Plan With Confidence
We’ve partnered with Meadow to provide you with a simple, fast, and more accurate solution for estimating your financial aid at Denison.
Personalized Advising
Our financial aid team is ready to provide clarity and support that’s tailored to your unique circumstances. If you have any questions, please email us.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Denison Commitment applies to U.S. citizens and eligible permanent residents based on U.S. income and typical assets who apply for financial aid and demonstrate financial need.
Eligibility is determined using:
- FAFSA
- CSS Profile
- Supporting financial documentation
Aid is reviewed annually to reflect changes in family financial circumstances and enrollment status. When a family’s financial situation remains relatively stable from one year to the next, the financial aid package is likely to remain the same. If a family’s circumstances change more dramatically from one year to the next, Denison will work with families to address special circumstance appeals and re-evaluations of need.
We strive for consistency and clear communication year to year.
The Denison Commitment is available for U.S. Citizens and permanent residents. However, Denison meets 100% of demonstrated need for all students — including international students.
Additional information about applying for financial aid as an international student is available.
Yes. Applicants seeking need-based financial aid must submit the FAFSA and CSS Profile to determine eligibility. Denison continues to meet 100% of demonstrated financial need.
Therefore, families who fall within the Denison Commitment may still be eligible for more financial aid through Denison’s determination of demonstrated need. While many families that fall outside the Denison Commitment may still qualify for merit awards that reduce the tuition cost.
Total income includes the combined student and parent wages, tips, business income, rental income, interest income, dividends, capital gains, royalties, retirement distributions, tax-deferred annuities, untaxed income, and similar sources.
Typical assets are the combined student and parent assets that most families within an income group fall within. Assets include bank account values, investments, business net worth, and secondary home equity.
The value of retirement accounts and the equity from the family’s primary home are excluded.
Financial aid eligibility is reevaluated annually based on a review of submitted application materials. Denison will continue to meet 100% of demonstrated need.
Families may submit a special circumstances appeal if there is a significant change in their circumstances.
After a student’s first year on campus, the completion of the FAFSA each year is the only requirement to reestablish need-based financial aid eligibility.
The Denison Commitment is specific to tuition. However, Denison continues to meet 100% of demonstrated need. Therefore, students’ specific financial circumstances may make them eligible for additional aid beyond the cost of tuition.
On average, students who pay $0 toward tuition will have more than half of the housing and meal costs covered with financial aid.
To qualify for the Denison Commitment, all family income must be earned in U.S. dollar currency. If your family has earned income outside the U.S., you will not be eligible to be packaged for financial aid under the Denison Commitment, but Denison will still meet 100% of your demonstrated need.
The Denison Commitment specifically ensures you receive scholarship and grant funding that reduces your tuition cost, without loans, based on the percentage of your family’s total income. Any federal loans you qualify for are included in your financial aid offer and can be used to pay food and housing costs. Additionally, all students at Denison will have work-study eligibility equal to additional out-of-pocket expenses such as books, supplies, transportation and miscellaneous costs. Participation in work-study is optional.
All applicants are automatically considered for merit scholarships, regardless of financial aid eligibility. These awards are used to help fulfill the Denison Commitment — but they don’t stack on top.
Here’s how it works:
- If the cumulative amount of your merit award exceeds what you would be expected to pay for tuition under the Denison Commitment, you’ll pay the lower amount.
- If the cumulative amount of your merit is less than the Denison Commitment, we’ll add need-based grants to bring your total financial aid packaged amount to meet the Denison Commitment.
The amounts of any merit scholarships are guaranteed for four years at Denison, regardless of future changes in your family’s total income.
The Denison Commitment is specific to the family’s total income. However, when one or more siblings will attend college at the same time, it increases the family’s demonstrated need, which may result in additional financial aid eligibility.
The Denison Commitment will apply only to new students entering in the fall of 2027 and beyond.
While we are unable to apply the commitment to students who entered prior to fall of 2027, Denison’s fundraising efforts continue to focus on better supporting financial aid, helping make Denison more affordable year after year. The Denison Commitment is an example of how we turn donor support into new opportunities for our students.
We will continue to meet 100% of demonstrated need for all students.
Start building your best years at Denison
Denison seeks students who have demonstrated a seriousness toward their academic lives and would bring a variety of interests, characteristics, and personal qualities to our dynamic campus community.