Types of Scholarships & Aid

The value of a Denison education is made available to students from all economic backgrounds. Our generous financial aid packages can include merit scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study opportunities that help make paying for college as affordable as possible

International students complete the Denison Certification of Finances one time when applying to Denison for admission.

Learn more about applying for financial aid

Scholarships

Scholarships are funded through loyal Denison alumni and friends as a means of recognizing the special part that the university, professors, and friends have played in their lives and success.

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.

Students may seek funding from scholarships that are awarded outside Denison. Learn more about obtaining and reporting outside scholarships.

Merit Scholarships

Students who wish to be considered for merit-based scholarships must submit a completed application for admission by the deadline for their chosen admission round, unless otherwise noted.

Merit Scholarships
Scholarship	Qualifications
Alumni Awards	Based on superior academic achievement.
American Home Foundation Scholarship	Based on superior academic achievement in central Ohio and exceptional promise in the STEM fields.
Arts Scholarships	Based on exceptional talent in the performing or fine arts and academic achievement. There are additional elements required to be considered for an arts scholarship. Read more about how to apply for an arts scholarship.
Austin E. Knowlton Scholarship	Based on superior academic achievement in Ohio and exceptional promise in the STEM fields.
Carl Jakust Memorial Scholarship	Based on demonstrated financial need and superior academic and extracurricular achievement at Cass Technical High School (Detroit).
Michele Myers Fellowship in the Arts	Based on superior academic achievement and demonstrated talent in visual art, performing art, or creative writing.
Reese Scholars	Based on superior academic achievement and financial need, to eliminate the student loan expectation in selected students’ financial aid packages.
Silverstein Scholars	Based on superior academic achievement and financial need, to eliminate the student loan expectation in selected students’ financial aid packages.
S-STEM Scholarship	Based on exceptional academic achievement in STEM fields and on financial need. Read more about S-STEM.

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. Learn more about applying for financial aid.

Federal Pell Grant

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. Learn more about Pell Grants.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)

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. Learn more about the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant.

Ohio College Opportunity Grant (OCOG)

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. Learn more about the Ohio College Opportunity Grant (OCOG).

Denison Grant

This need-based grant is awarded by Denison. Amounts are determined annually by information reported on the FAFSA.

Loans

Students and their families often take out loans to help cover the costs of education. Loans are available through the federal government at a low cost. Loans also are available through private lenders, and from a special fund provided by Denison alumni. 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. Learn more about loans.

Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized 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. Learn more about Federal Loans.

Subsidized loans are offered to eligible undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need. Borrowers are not generally responsible for paying the interest while in an in-school, grace, or deferment period.

Unsubsidized loans are available for undergraduate, graduate, and professional students offering a low, fixed interest rate and flexible repayment terms. Interest is usually charged on Direct Unsubsidized Loans during all periods, but the government pays your interest on Direct Unsubsidized Loans during certain periods of repayment under the Revised Pay As You Earn Repayment Plan (REPAYE), and during periods of deferment for cancer treatment.

Federal Parent PLUS Loan

PLUS loans are federal loans that graduate or professional degree students and parents of dependent undergraduate students can use to help pay education expenses. Learn more about Direct PLUS Loans.

Private/Alternative 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. Students have many choices of lenders and may apply for these loans via their lending institution’s website or loan application. The lender will perform a credit check and will require a school certification. Loan decisions can take up to 2-4 weeks. Loan amounts are limited to the total school’s yearly Cost of Attendance minus any other aid the student receives for the academic year.

Students should always apply for all scholarships, grants, work-study and federal loan programs offered by Denison before borrowing from an alternative loan program and should only be used when all options are exhausted.

For more information:

Denison Scholar Loan

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. Additionally, students who are eligible for Federal Direct Student Loans must accept all federal loans before a Denison Scholar Loan will be awarded.

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. Loans may be prepaid without penalty.

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. Students are responsible for managing their student employment experience, from researching opportunities, applying, and interviewing.

Federal Work-Study

Need-based work awards are funded by the U.S. Department of Education. Students eligible for Federal Work-Study can earn up to $4,500 per academic year. For more information, visit the Department of Education’s website on Federal Work-Study.

Outside Scholarships & 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. Learn more about outside funding.

Veterans Education Benefits

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. To obtain the certificate please visit the US Department of Veterans Affairs website.

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. 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill.

Ch. 35 eligible students may also request enrollment certification for each term of enrollment by submitting a copy of their VA benefit eligibility status to the Office of Financial Aid.

Questions? Please contact one of Denison’s VA School Certifying Officials:

Elizabeth Taylor

Associate Director of Financial Aid

taylore@denison.edu

740-587-6628

Janeen Stone

Senior Assistant Director of Financial Aid

stonej@denison.edu

740-587-6719

Additional Grants & Funding Sources

Through the generous contributions of alumni, Denison is able to offer financial support for students, including grants, for a variety of both on- and off-campus experiences and needs.