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Midwest Initiative Overview

We support students from Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, and West Virginia by guaranteeing you a $100,000 scholarship ($25,000 each of your four years at Denison).

Denison is supporting students from the neighboring states of Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, and West Virginia by offering the Midwest Scholarship. This scholarship awards admitted students $25,000 per year for four years at Denison. Incoming first-year students from these states simply need to submit their application for admission by December 1. There is no separate scholarship application, no application fee, and no supplemental essay. However, we strongly encourage students to visit campus and interview.

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*Students participating in other programs that support tuition (e.g., tuition remission, ROTC, QuestBridge, and recipients of other full-tuition scholarships) are not eligible for the Midwest Scholarship. Students who qualify for other Denison-funded scholarships will be awarded the scholarship with the highest value. As with all admitted students, Denison is committed to meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need. If a student’s demonstrated financial need hasn’t been met after accounting for the Midwest Scholarship, additional financial aid will be awarded to meet the student’s full need.

5 Reasons to Stay in the Midwest

We know there are many considerations that weigh into a student’s decision to apply to Denison. One thing we regularly hear from students in Ohio and our neighboring states is that they aren’t sure they want to “stay so close to home.” We are here to tell you it is worth considering. Don’t believe us? Here are our top-five reasons to come to Ohio.

  1. A worldly perspective. Nope, that’s not an error — ~80% of our student body comes from areas outside of Ohio and over 40% come from outside of the Midwest. Explore our Fast Facts page for more on where our students call home when not on The Hill.
  2. Did somebody say, “Ope — let me squeeze right past ya?” We know that nothing beats good, old-fashioned Midwestern kindness, and you’ll find plenty of that in Ohio. Couple that with a good bowl of chili and your favorite flannel, and you’ll feel right at home.
  3. An education worth seeking out. This is a simple one — Denison provides incredible opportunities for students. Our next-level career exploration program, a top-tier liberal arts education, global access — shall we continue?
  4. Your folks are nearby — but not too nearby. How does the saying go? Keep your friends close and your… Hmm. Well, we know you might want privacy and we don’t blame you, a state line makes for a great buffer, but it’s also nice that you don’t need to take a plane ride every break.
  5. We’re investing in you. Consider this scholarship — $100,000 over four years — a gateway to pursuing your passions. It’s a green light for future you to travel, explore, inspire, engage, and create throughout the Midwest (and everywhere else).

And a BONUS Reason: Who wouldn’t want to call Ohio home? Sometimes it’s hard to see the forest for the trees—of which we have many in Ohio. Denison is just 25 minutes from Columbus — one of the nation’s largest capital cities. Ohio has world-renowned medical facilities, research centers, and Fortune 500 company headquarters. Plus, seven US presidents, Paul Newman, John Legend, Neil Armstrong, Toni Morrison, the Wright Brothers, and of course Lebron James all came from this great state. There is more to Ohio than meets the I-O.

Frequently Asked Questions