Denison University

Consult with Denison University's admissions department for more information on applying.

Students who apply to Big Red for fall should receive an admissions decision no later than April 1.

Big Red Admissions Stats at a Glance

The following is an overiew of some of Big Red's admissions stats.

Big Red 2022	Admissions Statistics
Admitted Students in Top 10% of Graduating Class	71%
Mean SAT Score	1304
Admissions Test Policy	Test Optional
Applicants Who Submit SATs	28%
Applicants Who Submit ACTs	23%
Waitlist	Yes

Denison University Application Deadlines

These are the application deadlines for Denison University.

Application Type	Offered	Application Deadline	Notification Deadline
Early Decision I	Info Not Available	––	––
Early Decision II	Yes	January 15	February 15
Early Action	No	––	––
Regular Decision	Yes	January 15	April 1

---

Want to Apply Early to Big Red?

---

Denison University may or may not offer early admission, however the school has not provided any application information. Check with Big Red directly for more information about early applications.

🗓️ Early Decision II applications are due January 15. ED II Applicants will recieve their decision before February 15.

The early decision acceptance rate at Big Red is 43%, compared to an overall acceptance rate of 26%. In 2022, Big Red admitted 304 of the 710 students who applied early decision.

➡️ Find a list of some top colleges that accept significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.

---

More on Denison University Admissions

---

Transferring to Denison University

It is moderately difficult to be admitted as a transfer student.

For Students Waitlisted to Big Red

In 2022, Big Red waitlisted 1,568 students and 285 accepted a place on the waitlist. Of those, 16 eventually were offered a spot.

What's Most Important for Getting Into Big Red?

Colleges consider a range of factors when choosing who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college has a different way of determining which factors are given the most weight when choose which applicants to admit, and which to deny. When creating your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and apply to colleges that put the most emphasis on the areas where you're strong.

Admissions Factors at Big Red

Wondering what factors are considered by Big Red during the admissions process? Take a look at the list below to see which factors are most important during the admissions process.

Admissions Factor	Level
Academic GPA	Very Important
Application Essay	Very Important
Recommendation(s)	Very Important
Rigor of Secondary School Record	Very Important
Extracurricular Activities	Important
Interview	Important
Talent/Ability	Important
Alumni/ae Relations	Considered
Character/Personal Qualities	Considered
Geographical Residence	Considered
Class Rank	Considered
Work Experience	Considered
Level of Applicant's Interest	Considered
First Generation	Considered
Racial/Ethnic Status	Considered
State Residency	Considered
Standardized Test Scores	Considered
Volunteer Work	Considered

Make sure to check with Big Red for more information on admission factors.

Big Red 2022-2023 Application Requirements

To apply to Big Red, all applicants must submit the following items. Double check with Big Red's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.

Area	Required	Recommended	Required for Some	Details (If Any)
Interview		√
Transcript(S) of College Record
Standardized Test Scores
Statement of Good Standing From Prior Institution(S)
Letter(s) of Recommendation	2
Written Essay or Personal Statement	√
Transcript of High School Record	√

---

GPA and Testing

---

What GPA Do I Need To Get Into Big Red?

Big Red has not provided an information about GPAs of accepted students. Any questions regarding applicant expectations should be addressed directly with the school.

Out of all students that were admitted, 35% submitted a class rank. At Big Red 71% of students ranked in the top 10% of their graduating class in high school, 88% were in the top 25% and 100% were in the top 50%.

GPAs of Admitted Students

At Denison University, student GPAs fall in the following ranges.

GPA	Percent of Students
4.0 GPA	––
3.75 and 3.99	––
3.50 and 3.74	––
3.25 and 3.49	––
3.00 and 3.24	––
2.50 and 2.9	––
2.00 and 2.49	––

This chart depicts the percentage of all enrolled, degree-seeking, first-time, first year (freshmen) students who had high school grade point average within the given ranges.

Note: Some schools choose not release this information. If you have any questions regarding missing numbers, be sure to reach out to Big Red directly.

About GPAs

Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that reflects your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.

An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.

Standardized Test Scores

Big Red looks at standardized tests scores during the admissions process.

Big Red is a test optional school. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.

In 2022, 28% of Big Red's first-year students submitted their SAT scores with their application. 23% of admitted applicants sent ACT scores.

What is a Good SAT Score for Big Red?

To be competitive with other Big Red applicants, you should aim to score between 1250 and 1410 (or higher!) on the SAT. At Big Red 25% of admitted students scored higher than 1410 and 25% of scored lower than 1250, but the majority of students scored somewhere in between these two numbers.The mean composite SAT score for a Big Red student is 1304.

On the SAT Math Section, 25% of Big Red students scored 740 or higher and 75% of students scored 610 or higher. On the SAT Critical Reading section (formerly called the Verbal section), 25% of Big Red students scored 690 or higher, and 75% scored a 610 or higher.

What is a Good ACT Score for Big Red?

To be most competitive at Big Red, you should strive to earn between 28 and 32 on the ACT.

An ACT score of 32 means you fall in the 75th percentile for Big Red's admitted students. One out of every four students scored above a 32, and three out of four students scored lower than 32 on the ACT.

A 28 on the ACT is the 25th percentile for Big Red students. Only one out of every four students scored below 28.

Want To Bring Up Your ACT Score? Access ACT practice tests and study tips and see upcoming ACT test dates.

More Information on Transferring to Denison University

For transfer students, it is moderately difficult to get admitted to Big Red.

For transfer students wishing to start in the fall, the deadline to apply is April 15. Applicants should hear back by May 15.

Transfer students can enroll in Big Red during the following terms:

• Fall Term

• Spring Term

---

Big Red Admissions FAQs

---

Can I defer my acceptance to Big Red?

✅ Yes, admitted students can defer their admission to Big Red.

Does Big Red accept transfer credits?

✅ Big Red accepts eligible transfer credits from accredited institutions.

Does Big Red accept Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits?

❌ Big Red does not accept International Baccalaureate credits but does accept Advanced Placement (AP) credits.

Do I have to submit test scores to Big Red?

❌ No, Big Red is test optional, so it's up to you if you want to submit test scores or not. If you have higher than average scores, you probably want to include them. If you scored lower than a school's average, you it might make sense to leave them out of your application.

What is Big Red's acceptance rate?

✅ Big Red's acceptance rate is 26%.

What is the early decision acceptance rate at Big Red?

✅ Big Red's early decision acceptance rate was 43% in 2021.

Want To Learn More About Big Red?

Click below to find out more about the admissions requirements and deadlines, student life, academics, majors and more.

Overview

Student Life

Academics

Tuition & Aid

Visit the College Confidential forums to join the conversation about Big Red

Explore other colleges in Ohio or use the college admissions predictor to calculate your chances of getting into some of the top colleges and universities in the U.S.