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Denison University

Former names	Granville Literary and Theological Institution (1831–1845) Granville College (1845–1853)
Type	Private liberal arts college
Established	December 13, 1831; 193 years ago (1831-12-13)
Academic affiliations	Five Colleges of Ohio Great Lakes Colleges Association Annapolis Group Oberlin Group Consortium of Liberal Arts Colleges
Endowment	$1.1 billion (2022)
President	Adam S. Weinberg
Provost	Kim Coplin
Academic staff	292
Undergraduates	2,400
Location	Granville, Ohio , United States 40°04′20″N 82°31′21″W / 40.0722°N 82.5225°W / 40.0722; -82.5225
Campus	930 acres (3.8 km²) including a 360-acre (1.5 km²) biological reserve
Colors	Red & white
Nickname	Big Red
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division III – NCAC

Denison University is a private college in Granville, Ohio, USA. It is known as a liberal arts college, which means it offers a wide range of subjects. Denison was one of the first colleges started in the area once known as the Northwest Territory.

The university was founded in 1831. It was first called the Granville Literary and Theological Institution. Later, it became Granville College. In the 1850s, it was renamed Denison University. This was to honor a generous supporter named William S. Denison.

In fall 2023, about 2,300 students attended Denison. They could choose from 65 different study programs. Denison's sports teams are called the Big Red. They compete in the NCAA Division III and are part of the North Coast Athletic Conference.

A Look at Denison's History

How Denison University Started

Denison University began on December 13, 1831. It was first named the Granville Literary and Theological Institution. John Pratt, the first president, started classes. The college was built on a 200-acre farm near Granville. It was the second Baptist college west of the Allegheny mountains.

Even though it had "Theological" in its name, the school taught many subjects. These included literature and science, just like other colleges. In the first term, 37 students joined. Almost half of them were under 15 years old. The first graduation happened in 1840. Three students earned degrees in classic studies.

Name Changes and New Locations

In 1845, the college was only for male students. Its name officially changed to Granville College. Then, in 1853, a farmer named William S. Denison gave $10,000 to the college. To thank him, the school was renamed Denison University. The leaders also decided to move the college to land available in the village of Granville.

Denison and Important Social Changes

Before the Civil War, many students and teachers at Denison supported the anti-slavery movement. Asa Drury, a professor, led a local anti-slavery group. Bancroft House, a building on campus, was even a stop on the Underground Railroad. This was a secret network that helped enslaved people find freedom.

A school for girls, Granville Female Seminary, started in 1832. This was just a year before Oberlin College became the first coeducational college. The seminary later became Shepardson College for Women in 1886. Shepardson College fully joined Denison University in 1927.

Growing the Campus

After Shepardson College joined, Denison University grew its campus. In 1916, the college hired a famous architectural firm. This firm, Frederick Law Olmsted & Sons, created a plan for the campus. This "Olmsted Plan" helped guide how the campus would expand. It included adding land and moving some buildings.

While Denison started with a religious connection, it has been a non-religious school since the 1960s. By 2005, the college had grown to about 2,250 students.

Exploring the Campus

Slayter Hall Student Union (1962)

Denison's campus is very large, about 1,100 acres. This includes a 400-acre biological reserve. Science teachers use this area for classes, especially for subjects like geology and biology. The Denison Golf Club at Granville is also nearby. It was given to the university in 2014.

Swasey Chapel was one of the first buildings built in the "Greater Denison" plan. It is in the center of campus and can seat 990 people. It hosts important events like concerts and award ceremonies.

There are 18 academic buildings on campus. The Bryant Arts Center opened in 2009. Other arts buildings include the Doane Dance Building and the Michael D. Eisner Center for the Performing Arts. This center was finished in 2019.

Doane Library holds over 500,000 books and magazines. Swasey Observatory, opened in 1910, has several telescopes for studying the stars.

Denison A-Quad after renovations in 2018.

The campus layout was designed by the Olmsted Brothers firm. They created a plan with different areas, or "quadrangles." This design helps different groups on campus feel connected.

Students at Denison

In the 2023–24 school year, 2,300 students were enrolled at Denison. About 49% were male and 51% were female. Students came from all 50 U.S. states and 79 different countries. About 78% of students were from outside Ohio.

Denison has 292 full-time professors. This means there is a small student-to-faculty ratio of 9 students for every 1 professor. This allows for more personal attention.

About 13% of students are the first in their families to go to college. Also, 37% of students are from diverse backgrounds. In 2014, The New York Times listed Denison as one of America's "Most Economically Diverse Top Colleges."

Denison's financial fund, called its endowment, was over $1 billion in 2023. This means the university has a lot of resources. Denison aims to meet all the financial needs of its admitted students.

Academics at Denison

Popular Study Programs

Denison offers many different majors. In 2021, the most popular majors for graduates included:

Economics (studying how money and resources work)
Biology (the study of living things)
Mass Communication/Media Studies (how media like TV and news work)
International Business (doing business with other countries)
Management Science (how to manage organizations)
Psychology (the study of the mind and behavior)

How to Get Admitted

Denison University states that it helps all admitted students with financial aid. This includes international students. For students from the U.S., the university does not consider their financial need when deciding to admit them.

For fall 2023, over 14,500 students applied to Denison. About 17% of applicants were accepted. More international students have been applying and enrolling recently. Denison also offers "test-optional" admissions. This means students can choose whether or not to send their SAT or ACT scores.

U.S. News & World Report calls Denison "most selective." This means it is hard to get into. Denison uses a "holistic review" process. This means they look at more than just grades. They also consider activities, awards, character, and community involvement.

In 2021, Denison University became a QuestBridge partner college. This program helps bright students from low-income backgrounds attend top colleges.

University Rankings

Denison is often ranked among the top liberal arts colleges in the U.S.

In 2025, U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Ranking placed Denison tied for 36th among liberal arts colleges. It was also ranked 4th for "Most Innovative Schools."
Niche gave Denison an "A" grade overall. They also ranked it as the 2nd best liberal arts college in Ohio.
In 2024, Washington Monthly ranked Denison 53rd among liberal arts colleges. This ranking looks at how colleges help the public good.

Student Life

SwaseyObservatoryChapelDenisonUniversity

Swasey Observatory (foreground) and Swasey Chapel (background)

Denison is a residential campus. This means most students live on campus in dorms. The buildings are a mix of old and new styles. The Homestead at Denison University is a special housing option focused on living in an environmentally friendly way.

Student Groups and Activities

Denison University has over 160 student organizations. More than 600 students hold leadership roles in these groups.

The Denison Campus Governance Association (DCGA) is the student government. It represents all students. The DCGA Student Senate works on many student projects.

The Denison Community Association (DCA) is a student-led group for community service. In 2015, 86% of students volunteered in the community.

The Denisonian is the student newspaper. It started in 1857 and is the oldest student group on campus. The Bullsheet is another student publication. It shares news, humor, and ideas daily.

Fraternities and Sororities

There are 19 national fraternity and sorority groups on campus. About 35% of students joined one of these groups in 2023.

Traditions and Fun Facts

D-Day is a special celebration for the whole college. It happens once a year.

A former student, Kirtley Mather, named a tall peak in Alaska "Mt. Denison." Groups of students, professors, and alumni have climbed this mountain.

Denison also has one of the few college cemeteries.

Arts at Denison

Students at Denison can major or minor in many arts subjects. These include theatre, music, visual art, dance, and cinema. The university also hosts several annual festivals and series.

The Vail Series brings famous artists to campus. These artists perform and also interact with students. Tickets are free for students. Past performers include Yo-Yo Ma and Itzhak Perlman.

The Beck Series is part of the creative writing program. It brings authors to campus to read their work and meet students. Famous authors like Alice Walker have visited.

The Tutti Festival happens twice a year. It shows original works of music, art, dance, and theater by students, professors, and visiting artists.

The college also hosts a free annual Bluegrass Festival. This weekend event has concerts, workshops, and jam sessions.

WDUB, also known as The Doobie, is the campus radio station. It broadcasts 24 hours a day online. The Princeton Review has ranked The Doobie as one of the best college radio stations.

Michael D. Eisner Center for the Performing Arts

The Michael D. Eisner Center for the Performing Arts opened in 2019. It is named after Michael Eisner, a former CEO of The Walt Disney Company who graduated from Denison. This building houses the music, dance, and theater departments.

Sports at Denison

Deeds Field-Piper Stadium

Denison is part of the NCAA Division III. It has been a member of the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) since 1984. Denison has won the Dennis M. Collins Award 11 times. This award goes to the NCAC school with the best overall performance in sports. Denison also has 45 club and intramural sports.

Swimming and Diving Success

Denison's swimming and diving teams are very strong. In 2001, the women's team won the school's first NCAA Division III national championship. They ended a long winning streak by another college. The men's team also won national titles in 2011, 2016, and 2018. Both teams have placed in the top 10 at national championships for 47 years in a row.

Famous Coaches and Teams

Woody Hayes, a famous football coach, coached at Denison from 1946 to 1948. His teams had undefeated seasons in 1947 and 1948.

Keith Piper coached Denison's football team for 39 seasons. He won 200 games and led the team to a perfect 10–0 season in 1985.

The women's basketball team has also been very successful. In 2010–11, they had a perfect 28–0 regular season. They have often made it to the NCAA Division III Tournament.

Denison's lacrosse teams have also done well. They have made it to the NCAA Division III tournament many times.

In 2008, the women's tennis team reached the NCAA semifinals. They finished third overall, which was their best national finish.

The women's soccer team has also qualified for the NCAA Tournament 14 times.

In 2019, Denison was one of the first NCAA universities to join the LGBTQ OneTeam Program. This program supports LGBTQ athletes.

Denison has many student-athletes who also excel in academics. They have had 49 NCAA postgraduate scholars and 87 Academic All-Americans.

Career Support

Denison University has a special center to help students with their careers. It is called The Austin E. Knowlton Center for Career Exploration. This center helps students from their first year. It offers help with finding jobs and graduate schools. It also provides mentoring from alumni and help with internships.

The Knowlton Center also gives money to students for internships. This helps cover costs during their internships. Denison is also part of the CLIMB internship program in Denver. This program partners with other top universities like Harvard and Stanford.