University News

Money Magazine Ranks Denison No. 3 in the Nation

July 13, 2016

At a time when many families are struggling to close the gap between college tuition and financial aid, Money magazine has recognized Denison University as No. 3 in the nation for merit aid. Ranking well ahead of most colleges and universities, Denison is committed to helping its students achieve an exceptional liberal arts education through need-based and merit-based aid that makes it both affordable and accessible.

“With a record-breaking applicant pool and highly selective admissions, Denison is thriving,” said Denison University President Adam Weinberg. “Our students are taking advantage of close mentorship by faculty, a versatile and challenging liberal arts curriculum, and a spectrum of innovative and effective career-launch programs that engage our students with our network of successful alumni across a wide range of professions.”

With its need-blind admission policy, Denison is dedicated to providing generous need-based aid to qualifying students. Indeed, almost one-fifth of students receive Pell Grants, and only about half of Denison students take on federal student loans. Of those who do take on federal debt, the average amount after four years totals only $21,500 — less debt than many students at public universities.

“We are proud that a high percentage of our merit aid goes to middle-income families,” said Weinberg. “Hence, we have been able to keep college affordable for middle-income families who often do not qualify for need-based aid, but who cannot afford college without financial assistance.”

“Most importantly, we are proud that our alumni are thriving. In a recent survey of alumni five years after graduation, 99 percent are employed or in graduate school and 93 percent are in their desired field or on a clear path to it. The overwhelming majority say that Denison prepared them well for their professional success after college,” he added. The college provides the public metrics of its alumni surveys on its website at denison.edu/career/denison-advantage.

Other rankings have remarked on Denison’s excellence as well.

The 2017 Fiske Guide to Colleges noted that at Denison “classes are small and individual attention is the norm.” They added that the college “aims to graduate independent thinkers who become active members of a democratic society.” Describing the college as a whole, Fiske writes, “Denison does a great job of crossing over and piecing together academic interests, and they have tons of connections in the world to help you succeed after college.”

In addition, Denison was just recognized by Forbes with positions on its “America’s Top Colleges,” and “Top Midwest Colleges” lists. The college also received an A+ financial rating, measuring its financial fitness. The college’s endowment of some $800 million provides the flexibility to foster a community of diverse individuals: students, faculty, and staff from varying backgrounds, religions, ethnicities, abilities and world views who all recognize the importance of sharing their unique insights and ideas.

During the last year, Denison has introduced a number of new strategic initiatives, including groundbreaking academic programs in global commerce, data analytics, financial economics and narrative nonfiction. The college also launched the Austin E. Knowlton Center for Career Exploration with a focus on leveraging the college’s significant alumni network, paid internships and the establishment of several new career-preparation programs. Denison has expanded global learning programs and partnerships with colleges and universities around the world and has forged mutually beneficial relationships in nearby Columbus, which is trending for college students and graduates, and recently was named by Forbes as the top “opportunity city” in the nation.

To read more about Denison’s ranking as the top private college in Ohio as well as its place as No. 41 on the national list of best liberal arts colleges: http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2016/07/ohio_state_tops_in_state_in_moneys_list_of_best-performing_colleges.html

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