Recognizing the excellence of Denison University’s liberal arts and sciences education, Princeton Review once again places Denison on its lists of “Best Colleges,” “Colleges That Pay You Back,” “Best Midwestern,” and “Green Colleges.” The rankings in the 2017 edition are based on surveys of 143,000 students.
“Our students receive a type and caliber of education that is powerful and transformative. In particular, our faculty are world class educators who provide strong and consistent mentorship to our students,” said Denison University President Adam Weinberg. “The breadth of opportunities our students have through both the curriculum and co-curriculum is impressive and rare. I am proud that our students have recognized this through the Princeton Review surveys.”
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 journalism. 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 innovative 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.
The Princeton Review student surveys note that “The crown jewels of the school’s academic life seem to be the professors who are ‘tough, but usually fair.’ Students get a chance to form close bonds with their professors thanks to the small student-to-faculty ratio, as well as the high accessibility of professors outside the classroom. Students keep it all in perspective and recognize that ‘although academics are certainly important here, Denison teaches you how to shape what you know so you become a more curious, passionate and interesting individual.’”
High school students have recognized the advantages of a Denison education as well. The past two years have seen a total growth of applicants of close to 45 percent, with almost 7,000 applicants for approximately 600 positions. Even with this marked increase in applicants, the university’s student profile is continuing to rise. The average SAT score for the first-year students is 1279 and the average ACT score is 30. And Denison maintains its commitment to diversity with 32 percent of the entering class hailing from multicultural backgrounds. This puts Denison in the company of the most diverse liberal arts and science colleges in the country.
Denison’s position on the “Colleges That Pay You Back” list is corroborated by alumni surveys which substantiate their success. In a recent survey of alumni who graduated five years ago, 99 percent reported that they are employed or in graduate school and 93 percent are working in their desired field or are on their way to achieving their professional goals.
The university is committed to sustainability, as evidenced by its position on the “Green Colleges” list, both in operations and in the education of its students. Among other initiatives, Denison has created the Green Hill Revolving Loan Fund, a pledge to set aside three million dollars to pay for energy efficient projects and has earned recognition from the Sustainable Endowments Institute, the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability and others. Denison holds a Sustainability Fellows program, hosts many student organizations that center around sustainability, offers a major in environmental studies and is home to a 360-acre biological reserve.
In addition to recognition by the Princeton Review, Denison has been recognized by Forbes on its “America’s Top Colleges,” The New York Times, U.S. News, and “Colleges that Change Lives,” among others.