Hope College vs. Denison

Deciding between Hope College and Denison University? 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.

Hope College
Denison University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Hope College Holland, MI
  • Denison Granville, OH
  • Setting
  • Hope College Small City
  • Denison Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Hope College 3,395
  • Denison 2,394
  • Type
  • Hope College Private 4 Year
  • Denison Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Hope College #252
  • Denison #95
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Hope College Reformed Church in America
  • Denison -
  • Status
  • Hope College Non-profit
  • Denison Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Hope College
  • Denison
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Hope College $41,970
  • Denison $67,000
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Hope College $41,970
  • Denison $67,000
  • Room & Board
  • Hope College $12,950
  • Denison $16,400
  • Average Net Price
  • Hope College $30,700
  • Denison $43,721
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Hope College $24,945
  • Denison $38,179
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Hope College 97%
  • Denison 94%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Hope College 5,150
  • Denison 15,012
  • Admitted
  • Hope College 4,081
  • Denison 2,611
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Hope College 79.2%
  • Denison 17.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Hope College 20.1%
  • Denison 23.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Hope College 1220
  • Denison 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • Hope College 28
  • Denison 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Hope College 3.83
  • Denison 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Hope College A-
  • Denison A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Hope College Difficult
  • Denison Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Hope College
  • Denison Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Hope College 25/31
  • Denison 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • Hope College 1100/1340
  • Denison 1320/1490
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Hope College Test optional
  • Denison Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Hope College
  • Denison Jan 15, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Hope College 9:1
  • Denison 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Hope College
    • Education (16%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Physical Sciences (6%)
  • Denison
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Hope College 79%
  • Denison 79%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Hope College $47,500
  • Denison $56,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Hope College 82%
  • Denison 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Hope College $27,000
  • Denison $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Hope College $279
  • Denison $268
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Hope College 40%
  • Denison 48%
  • % Women
  • Hope College 60%
  • Denison 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Hope College Very Low
  • Denison Medium
  • HBCU
  • Hope College No
  • Denison No
  • % White
  • Hope College 84%
  • Denison 66%
  • % Asian
  • Hope College 2%
  • Denison 4%
  • % Black
  • Hope College 3%
  • Denison 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Hope College 8%
  • Denison 10%
  • % Native American
  • Hope College 0%
  • Denison 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Hope College 0%
  • Denison 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Hope College 2%
  • Denison 4%
  • % International
  • Hope College 1%
  • Denison 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Hope College 0%
  • Denison 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Hope College 58%
  • Denison 23%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Hope College 30%
  • Denison 58%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Hope College in Holland, MI with Denison University in Granville, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Hope College is larger than Denison based on total student enrollment (3,395 students vs. 2,394 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Hope College is located in Holland, MI (Small City setting); Denison University is in Granville, OH (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Hope College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Denison University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Hope College 9:1; Denison University 9:1.

Hope College vs. Denison Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hope College or Denison? 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 Hope College than Denison ($30,700 vs. $43,721).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Hope College are 21% lower than at Denison University ($12,950 vs. $16,400).
  • Denison University is 59.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Hope College (about $25,030 more per year; $67,000.00 vs. $41,970.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 59.6% higher at Denison than at Hope College (about $25,030 more per year; $67,000.00 vs. $41,970.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hope College than at Denison University (97% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Denison University students is 53.1% larger than aid received by Hope College students ($38,179 vs. $24,945).

Hope College vs. Denison Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Hope College or Denison? 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 Denison and Hope College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Denison University (1410) is 190 points higher than at Hope College (1220).
  • Incoming Denison students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 28 at Hope College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Hope College 1100/1340; Denison University 1320/1490.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Hope College 25/31; Denison University 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Hope College - Test optional; Denison - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Denison Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Hope College students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at Denison (3.76).
  • Hope College has a higher acceptance rate (79.2%) than Denison (17.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.1% at Hope College vs. 23.8% at Denison.

Hope College vs. Denison Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Hope College and Denison? 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).

  • The graduation rate at Hope College is the same as at Denison University (79% vs. 79%).
  • Graduates from Denison University earn a median of about $8,600 more per year than Hope College graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,100 vs. $47,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Denison University graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Hope College graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Denison graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Hope College graduates ($268 vs. $279).
  • More Denison graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hope College students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 82%)

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.