A new college ranking, compiled by the Washington Post, places Denison University at No. 28 in the nation for liberal arts colleges. The ranking combines five well-respected college rankings, including U.S. News and World Report, Washington Monthly, Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education, Forbes and Money. Denison is the second-highest ranked college in Ohio.
“While college rankings never fully capture the experience students have in college, this new project by The Washington Post is a compelling snapshot of a wide range of rankings. It does a better job of expressing the value of a Denison education,” said Greg Sneed, vice president for enrollment management. “At Denison, we excel in many areas; academics, mentoring and career preparation among them. Our alumni regularly share with us that they are well-prepared for their professions and their civic lives. Students learn inside and outside the classroom, they are both challenged and supported — and they really thrive.”
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 narrative nonfiction. 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.
A small student to faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that Denison students connect with their faculty and find mentors in the classroom and among their peers. The college 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.
Denison is one of a select few colleges that survey their graduates about their success at six months and five years after graduation. The findings show that, five years after graduation, 93 percent of Denison alumni are in their desired field or position, or they are on a clear path to achieving what they hope to accomplish professionally. In addition, 93 percent of alumni are satisfied with how well Denison prepared them for professional success after college.
With a healthy endowment helping to fund significant financial aid, less than half of Denison students incur debt, with a total average amount of about $28,000 over four years, which is below the national average. The national student loan default rate is 11.8 percent, but the default rate for Denison alumni is 1.3 percent, an indication that Denison alumni are financially healthy.
Denison University’s place at the forefront of higher education is recognized by “Colleges That Change Lives,” U.S. News, and Forbes, among others. Denison is a leading national college of liberal arts and sciences where students from around the world come to pursue academic inquiry and research, to analyze and solve problems, and to forge the skills needed to succeed. On a beautiful, fully residential campus, located minutes from Forbes-rated #1 Opportunity City, Columbus, Ohio, students build enduring relationships and pathways to the professions, supported by faculty mentorship in classrooms, laboratories and studios; through a wealth of career-launch programs and internships; and in partnership with a thriving, far-reaching alumni network.