The Wall Street Journal places Denison University in the top five liberal arts colleges in the Midwest. The ranking specifically measures teaching and faculty resources, student engagement, outcomes and a strong learning environment. Denison received especially high marks for its 9 to 1 student-faculty ratio and the resources the college puts toward making its liberal arts and sciences education affordable to middle and working-class families.
“Denison’s commitment to rigorous academics, meaningful mentorship and the gold standard in career exploration results in fantastic outcomes for our alumni,” said Greg Sneed, vice president for enrollment management. “This Wall Street Journal ranking recognizes the excellence of a Denison education, which challenges and supports each of our students through their four years here — and beyond.”
Academics are the bedrock of the Denison education, powered by exceptional faculty mentorship in the arts, sciences and athletics that focuses on individual student learning goals of academic competencies, autonomous thinking, active engagement and personal transformation. The result is a culture of doers who have the vision, skills and persistence to achieve their goals.
The university is unique in being able to quantify the outcomes for students via the Denison Difference, a statistical analysis of the overall education experience and the impressive post-graduation outcomes of our alumni. Within six months of graduation, almost 90 percent of alumni are employed, in graduate school or working with a service organization, such as Teach for America. At five years post-graduation, 96 percent of alumni report that they are working in their desired field or position or are on their way to achieving what they hope to accomplish professionally. And 92 percent of respondents indicate that Denison contributed to their ability to lead a rich and fulfilling life.
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. 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.