Denison vs. Tennessee

Deciding between Denison University and The University of Tennessee Knoxville? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Denison University
The University of Tennessee Knoxville

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Denison Granville, OH
  • Tennessee Knoxville, TN
  • Setting
  • Denison Rural Fringe
  • Tennessee Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Denison 2,394
  • Tennessee 38,728
  • Type
  • Denison Private 4 Year
  • Tennessee Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Denison #95
  • Tennessee #226
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Denison -
  • Tennessee -
  • Status
  • Denison Non-profit
  • Tennessee Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Denison
  • Tennessee

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Denison $67,000
  • Tennessee $13,812
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Denison $67,000
  • Tennessee $33,256
  • Room & Board
  • Denison $16,400
  • Tennessee $13,356
  • Average Net Price
  • Denison $43,721
  • Tennessee $21,648
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Denison $38,179
  • Tennessee $11,434
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Denison 94%
  • Tennessee 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Denison 15,012
  • Tennessee 59,764
  • Admitted
  • Denison 2,611
  • Tennessee 24,863
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Denison 17.4%
  • Tennessee 41.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Denison 23.8%
  • Tennessee 27.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Denison 1410
  • Tennessee 1290
  • Typical ACT score
  • Denison 31
  • Tennessee 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • Denison 3.76
  • Tennessee 3.66
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Denison A-
  • Tennessee B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Denison Exceptional
  • Tennessee Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Denison Very High
  • Tennessee Low
  • ACT Range
  • Denison 30/33
  • Tennessee 25/31
  • SAT Range
  • Denison 1320/1490
  • Tennessee 1200/1370
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Denison Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Tennessee Required to be considered for admission
  • Application Deadline
  • Denison Jan 15, 2027
  • Tennessee

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Denison 9:1
  • Tennessee 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Denison
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • Tennessee
    • Business (20%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Engineering (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Denison 79%
  • Tennessee 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Denison $56,100
  • Tennessee $56,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Denison 83%
  • Tennessee 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Denison $26,000
  • Tennessee $20,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Denison $268
  • Tennessee $206

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Denison 29%
  • Tennessee 44%
  • % Women
  • Denison 71%
  • Tennessee 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Denison Medium
  • Tennessee Low
  • HBCU
  • Denison No
  • Tennessee No
  • % White
  • Denison 66%
  • Tennessee 79%
  • % Asian
  • Denison 4%
  • Tennessee 3%
  • % Black
  • Denison 7%
  • Tennessee 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Denison 10%
  • Tennessee 3%
  • % Native American
  • Denison 0%
  • Tennessee 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Denison 0%
  • Tennessee 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Denison 4%
  • Tennessee 3%
  • % International
  • Denison 8%
  • Tennessee 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Denison 2%
  • Tennessee 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Denison 23%
  • Tennessee 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Denison 58%
  • Tennessee 35%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Denison Yes
  • Tennessee Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Denison No
  • Tennessee No
  • Meal Plan
  • Denison Yes
  • Tennessee Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Denison No
  • Tennessee No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Denison No
  • Tennessee No

Comparable Facts

Compare Denison University in Granville, OH with The University of Tennessee Knoxville in Knoxville, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

The University of Tennessee Knoxville is larger than Denison based on total student enrollment (38,728 students vs. 2,394 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Denison University is located in Granville, OH (Rural Fringe setting); The University of Tennessee Knoxville is in Knoxville, TN (Midsize City setting).
  • Denison University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. The University of Tennessee Knoxville is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Denison University 9:1; The University of Tennessee Knoxville 18:1.

Denison vs. Tennessee Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Denison or Tennessee? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of Tennessee Knoxville than Denison ($21,648 vs. $43,721).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Tennessee Knoxville are 18.6% lower than at Denison University ($13,356 vs. $16,400).
  • Denison University is 385.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Tennessee (about $53,188 more per year; $67,000.00 vs. $13,812.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 101.5% higher at Denison than at The University of Tennessee Knoxville (about $33,744 more per year; $67,000.00 vs. $33,256.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Denison University as at The University of Tennessee Knoxville (94% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Denison University students is 233.9% larger than aid received by The University of Tennessee Knoxville students ($38,179 vs. $11,434).

Denison vs. Tennessee Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Denison or Tennessee? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Tennessee and Denison.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Denison University (1410) is 120 points higher than at Tennessee (1290).
  • Incoming Denison students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 28 at Tennessee).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Denison University 1320/1490; The University of Tennessee Knoxville 1200/1370.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Denison University 30/33; The University of Tennessee Knoxville 25/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Denison - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Tennessee - Required to be considered for admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Denison Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Denison students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at Tennessee (3.66).
  • Tennessee has a higher acceptance rate (41.6%) than Denison (17.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.8% at Denison vs. 27.4% at Tennessee.

Denison vs. Tennessee Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Denison and Tennessee? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Denison University's six-year graduation rate (79%) is higher than The University of Tennessee Knoxville's (63%).
  • Graduates from The University of Tennessee Knoxville earn a median of about $200 more per year than Denison graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,300 vs. $56,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, The University of Tennessee Knoxville graduates have a $6,000 lower median loan debt than Denison graduates ($20,000 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, Tennessee graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Denison graduates ($206 vs. $268).
  • More Denison graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Tennessee students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 69%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.