More selective than 100% of Ohio colleges we cover. U.S. median 77%.
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class
26% of enrolled first-years sent SAT scores, 25% sent ACT scores.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Called “yield.” A high yield means many admitted students choose DU over other offers.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Applicants, admits and enrollment
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class (first-time, degree-seeking undergraduates). Newer counts arrive with the next IPEDS release.
Early decision, early action and the waitlist
Items C2, C21-C22. Common Data Set 2025-26 (fall 2025 first-year students), published by the college.
DU SAT and ACT scores
Scores of enrolled first-year students who submitted them, Fall 2024. A quarter scored below the 25th percentile and a quarter above the 75th. If your score is above the 75th, DU is likely within reach on scores alone; below the 25th, it is a reach.
| Test | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 660 | 730 |
| SAT math | 660 | 760 |
| ACT composite | 30 | 33 |
| SAT total (approx.) | 1320 | 1490 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class (reported to IPEDS). SAT total adds the two section scores, an approximation.
DU admissions year over year
| Entering class | Acceptance | SAT reading | SAT math | ACT | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2024 | 17% | 660–730 | 660–760 | 30–33 | College Scorecard |
| Fall 2023 | 17% | 650–710 | 650–760 | 29–32 | IPEDS |
Score ranges are the 25th–75th percentiles. Each year is kept as published; we add a year with every federal release.
How selective is DU compared with other Ohio colleges?
DU has the lowest acceptance rate of 62 Ohio colleges we cover. Schools around it:
| Rank | College | Acceptance | Graduation | Avg. net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denison University | 17% | 79% | $40,007 |
| 2 | Kenyon College | 31% | 82% | $38,512 |
| 3 | Oberlin College | 34% | 81% | $38,645 |
| 4 | Art Academy of Cincinnati | 34% | 41% | $34,253 |
| 5 | Case Western Reserve University | 37% | 87% | $41,190 |
| 6 | Ohio Christian University | 38% | 34% | $20,607 |
| 7 | Wilberforce University | 41% | 12% | $5,567 |
| 8 | Good Samaritan College of Nursing and Health Science | 46% | 73% | $19,622 |
| 9 | Aultman College of Nursing and Health Sciences | 46% | 53% | $24,204 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class. All Ohio colleges →
Who enrolls at DU
College Scorecard; IPEDS
DU admissions questions
What is the DU acceptance rate?
Denison University accepts 17% of applicants, about 1 in 6. For the Fall 2023 entering class, 2,468 of 14,580 applicants were admitted.
Does DU require the SAT or ACT?
Denison University considers SAT or ACT scores but does not require them (test-optional), according to its federal admissions report for Fall 2023. 26% of enrolled first-year students submitted SAT scores and 25% submitted ACT scores.
What SAT score do you need for DU?
The middle 50% of Denison University enrolled first-year students scored 1320–1490 on the SAT and 30–33 on the ACT. A score above the upper number puts you in the top quarter of enrolled students; below the lower number puts you in the bottom quarter.
How many admitted students enroll at DU?
26% of admitted students enrolled in Fall 2023 (636 of 2,468).
Is DU getting harder to get into?
Denison University accepted 17% of applicants for Fall 2024, compared with 17% for Fall 2023.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS Admissions; DU's Common Data Set 2025-26; years shown with each figure. “Colleges we cover” means colleges awarding bachelor's degrees to at least 100 undergraduates. Back to Denison University overview