Transfer Applicants

• Common App for Transfer (required): Once you submit your application, you will be emailed a confirmation that includes login information for your online portal. This portal is where you can keep track of your other application materials.
• Interview (recommended): An interview is not required for admission consideration, but we do encourage applicants to complete one as an interview can provide a more personal element to your application. Interviews happen in a number of ways. Please contact Chris Taylor at taylorcj@denison.edu to schedule an informal transfer interview or learn More »
• Arts Supplement (optional): Students who have an interest in cinema, creative writing, dance, music, studio art, or theatre may submit supplementary arts materials for faculty evaluation. If submitted, students will be eligible to receive a departmental scholarship. This is done through the Denison Applicant Portal, which is available once the Common or Coalition Application has been submitted.

• Student Conduct Report (required): A completed student conduct report must come from all colleges or universities attended. Your Student Conduct Report will appear in your applicant portal once your Common Application for Transfer has been submitted.
• Official College Transcript (required): We will use this to recalculate your GPA and evaluate your academic performance and course selection.
• Official High School Transcript (required): We will use this to contextualize your most recent academic performance in college.

We are able to receive transcripts directly from a high school or college as well as through the Common Application, SCOIR or Parchment.

Am I eligible for aid as a transfer student?

Yes, both international and domestic transfer students at Denison are eligible for aid. There is no additional application for students to be considered for merit aid, simply submit the Denison Transfer Application and you will be eligible. Domestic applicants wishing to be considered for need-based aid will need to opt-into that by submitting a FAFSA and CSS Profile by the application deadline (Nov. 15 or April 15). All International applicants are required to submit a Denison Certificate of Finances. Students will be notified of their aid packages at the time of admission.

Who should I reach out to with questions?

For admission-related questions, please contact Chris Taylor, Assistant Director of Admission, at taylorcj@denison.edu or 740-587-6622. For questions related to transfer credit, course registration and/or onboarding, please contact Mark Moller, Dean of Transfer Students, at moller@denison.edu or 740-587-5042.

I previously applied to Denison and now want to apply as a transfer student - what do I need to do?

All previous first-year applicants to Denison are welcome to apply as transfer students via the Common Application for transfer. If you submitted a final high school transcript and/or SAT/ACT scores with your first-year application we will roll them into your transfer record. Otherwise, we ask that you provide the necessary transfer application materials to our office.

If you are a previous Denison student seeking to re-enroll at the College you may need to re-apply for admission. To determine the best next step for you please complete the Denison Re-Enrollment form and a member of our team will contact you.

I’m interested in a Denison transfer. What can I do to learn more?

Denison provides a personalized world-class education to our students and to that end, we like to get to know hopeful Denison students as soon as possible. A great place for a first conversation is an admission interview. Interviews are about 30 minutes long and are conducted virtually via zoom as well as on campus. Please contact Chris Taylor at taylorcj@denison.edu for more information or to schedule a conversation.

Can transfer students interview?

Yes! An interview is not required but is a welcomed supplement to your application. Interviews are about 30 minutes long and are conducted virtually via zoom as well as on campus. Please contact Chris Taylor at taylorcj@denison.edu for more information or to schedule a conversation.

What does Denison look for in a transfer application?

Successful transfer applicants to Denison, in many cases, are earning As or Bs in their current courses, whether that be in a liberal arts or other environment. Denison does not emphasize standardized testing for transfer applicants, although applicants are welcome to submit unofficial ACT/SAT scores. In absence of any complete college courses, the admission team will look to a final high school transcript to gauge students’ academic abilities. Letters of recommendation are optional; admission interviews are recommended and most successful applicants sit for an interview.

Who qualifies as a transfer student?

Any student who has earned college credits after graduating from high school should apply to Denison as a transfer student. Applicants who completed college credits while in high school, but who have not yet attended a post-secondary institution as a degree-seeking student should submit a first-year application. Denison does not admit transfer applicants who have previously earned a Bachelor’s degree.

If I am an international student, will my credits transfer?

Denison provides all admitted transfer students a complete credit evaluation at the time of admission. International students frequently have some, if not most, of their credits transfer to Denison, relative to what types of courses they have taken. For questions about credit transfer please contact Mark Moller, Dean of Transfer Students.

Can I still apply even though the deadline has passed?

We know that the transfer process is ever-evolving for many applicants. If your intended deadline has already passed (Nov. 15 for Spring semester, April 15 for Fall semester), please reach out to Chris Taylor at taylorcj@denison.edu to inquire if your intended transfer round is still open.

How many courses must I complete at Denison in order to receive a degree from Denison University?

In order to graduate from Denison, a student needs to earn 64 credit hours at Denison. This equates to about 4 semesters of coursework wherein a student takes a standard 4 classes (16 credits) each semester. Most core academic courses are four credit hours each. Thus, at minimum, transfer students are usually at Denison for two years before graduation.

How will my credits transfer to Denison? Will they count toward my major?

Denison accepts up to 62 hours of transfer credit. If admitted, you will receive a Transfer Credit Evaluation with your admission decision that outlines how your previous credits transferred into Denison and map toward degree completion and general education requirements. Generally, transfer credits from similar courses as those offered at Denison will transfer into their respective departments or toward your major, although individual academic departments ultimately need to approve transfer requests for major or minor credit.

Can transfer students study abroad?

Yes, transfer students can study abroad during the academic year or summer break. Studying abroad during the academic year could prove to be difficult for students who transfer in after the start of Junior year. No more than 62 transfer credits can be applied towards graduation from Denison — this includes study abroad credits and any credits transferred in from previous institutions. Summer study abroad opportunities, as well as Denison seminars, are great opportunities for all transfer students to spend time away from campus.

Does Denison have any articulation agreements?

Yes, Denison has an articulated English transfer pathway with 11 community colleges in Ohio. Students in this pathway will complete an Associate’s degree in English at one of the participating community colleges and then transfer to Denison for their junior year. Introductory English major courses and most general education courses will already be complete at the point of transfer. While at Denison, students complete their bachelor’s degree in English in as little as four semesters, choosing between two degree options: literature emphasis and creative writing emphasis.

What can I expect as a new transfer student at Denison?

In the weeks after you pay your deposit, you will be receiving information on transitioning to the Denison community. Mark Moller, Dean of Transfer Students, will reach out to you to register you for courses and you will begin to work on your enrollment checklist. After completing your checklist, incoming transfer students will be assigned a residence hall and room, and attend a transfer-specific orientation before classes start (either in August or January).

During your first semester at Denison, you will have the opportunity to gather with other new transfer students on a monthly basis. Dean of Transfer Students, Mark Moller, and current upper class transfer students lead this informal time for those in the transfer community to share a meal and catch up with one another as they adjust to life at Denison.

How many transfer students are at Denison?

Generally, Denison welcomes about 15 transfer students every Spring (January) and about 30-40 every Fall (August).

How do new students join student organizations and clubs?

At the start of each semester there is an involvement fair where students can sign up for our 160+ student orgs. Spring transfer students can expect to attend the winter involvement fair in January and Fall transfer students will check out the Fall activities fair on A-Quad during the first week of classes. Students can also join and engage with campus organizations at any time after that. Transfer students coming in with twelve or more credit hours are welcome to join organizations in Fraternity and Sorority life too. In general, Denison students are really engaged in co-curricular involvement and transfer students can expect an equal opportunity to jump into campus organizations.

What kind of academic advising do transfer students receive?

All transfer students will receive initial advising from Mark Moller, Dean of Transfer Students to go over registration and transcript evaluation at the beginning of your Denison career. Interested prospective students are welcome to sign up for a Transfer Credit Evaluation with Dean Moller to discuss how their credits might transfer to Denison in advance of submitting their application.

Can I transfer mid-year?

Yes. About 15 students join Denison for the start of the Spring semester (January) every year. Dean of Transfer Students, Mark Moller, and other transfer student leaders will lead spring transfers through a similar orientation program as those who start in the Fall, typically the weekend before classes begin.

What often surprises transfer students at Denison?

You might be surprised at how lively Denison is. Denison is truly a unique place — a small school with lots of school spirit, in a quaint college town with lots of connections to a big city, and a liberal arts college that feels much more like a research university. Transfers from larger cities or colleges are often shocked at how many things there are to do on campus, in the town of Granville, and in the city of Columbus. Additionally, students are very friendly — it can be surprising if you’re not from the Midwest!

I am transferring from a big school/city, what is it like to live at Denison?

Denison’s residential, tight-knit campus makes it easier to feel welcomed into our community. You’ll likely know your professors and peers much more closely and establish relationships with people in all parts of campus. Though coming from a large city or school to Granville, Ohio might seem like a stark change, our vibrant student body and eclectic town will often pleasantly surprise students coming from other environments.

Can I transfer as a junior?

Absolutely. Though coming in later during your college career is more challenging, if you are willing to hit the ground running with your academics and involvement, Denison is the place for you. Many students who have only two years at Denison have engaging and fulfilling experiences.

Where do transfer students live on campus?

Transfer students live where every other student lives: on campus. As a transfer you will live in any of the buildings designated for returning students. When possible, we try to assign transfer students together and with their entering class year. Once you make your deposit and enroll for courses, more information will be provided on room and potential roommate selection preferences.