Michigan vs. Denison

Deciding between University of Michigan Ann Arbor 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.

University of Michigan Ann Arbor
Denison University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Michigan Ann Arbor, MI
  • Denison Granville, OH
  • Setting
  • Michigan Midsize City
  • Denison Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Michigan 52,855
  • Denison 2,394
  • Type
  • Michigan Public 4 Year
  • Denison Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Michigan #48
  • Denison #95
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Michigan -
  • Denison -
  • Status
  • Michigan Non-profit
  • Denison Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Michigan
  • Denison

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Michigan $17,736
  • Denison $67,000
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Michigan $60,946
  • Denison $67,000
  • Room & Board
  • Michigan $15,328
  • Denison $16,400
  • Average Net Price
  • Michigan $17,574
  • Denison $43,721
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Michigan $25,099
  • Denison $38,179
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Michigan 59%
  • Denison 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Michigan 98,310
  • Denison 15,012
  • Admitted
  • Michigan 15,373
  • Denison 2,611
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Michigan 15.6%
  • Denison 17.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Michigan 47.3%
  • Denison 23.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Michigan 1450
  • Denison 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • Michigan 32
  • Denison 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Michigan 3.88
  • Denison 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Michigan A
  • Denison A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Michigan Exceptional
  • Denison Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Michigan Very High
  • Denison Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Michigan 31/34
  • Denison 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • Michigan 1360/1530
  • Denison 1320/1490
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Michigan Test optional
  • Denison Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Michigan Feb 1, 2027
  • Denison Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Michigan 11:1
  • Denison 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Michigan
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Denison
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Communication (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Michigan 90%
  • Denison 79%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Michigan $74,400
  • Denison $56,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Michigan 78%
  • Denison 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Michigan $20,103
  • Denison $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Michigan $207
  • Denison $268

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Michigan 47%
  • Denison 48%
  • % Women
  • Michigan 53%
  • Denison 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Michigan Medium
  • Denison Medium
  • HBCU
  • Michigan No
  • Denison No
  • % White
  • Michigan 62%
  • Denison 66%
  • % Asian
  • Michigan 13%
  • Denison 4%
  • % Black
  • Michigan 4%
  • Denison 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Michigan 5%
  • Denison 10%
  • % Native American
  • Michigan 0%
  • Denison 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Michigan 0%
  • Denison 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Michigan 3%
  • Denison 4%
  • % International
  • Michigan 7%
  • Denison 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Michigan 6%
  • Denison 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Michigan 52%
  • Denison 23%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Michigan 43%
  • Denison 58%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Michigan Ann Arbor in Ann Arbor, MI with Denison University in Granville, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Michigan Ann Arbor is larger than Denison based on total student enrollment (52,855 students vs. 2,394 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is located in Ann Arbor, MI (Midsize City setting); Denison University is in Granville, OH (Rural Fringe setting).
  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Denison University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 11:1; Denison University 9:1.

Michigan vs. Denison Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan 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 University of Michigan Ann Arbor than Denison ($17,574 vs. $43,721).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Michigan Ann Arbor are 6.5% lower than at Denison University ($15,328 vs. $16,400).
  • Denison University is 277.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Michigan (about $49,264 more per year; $67,000.00 vs. $17,736.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 9.9% higher at Denison than at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (about $6,054 more per year; $67,000.00 vs. $60,946.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Denison University than at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (94% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Denison University students is 52.1% larger than aid received by University of Michigan Ann Arbor students ($38,179 vs. $25,099).

Michigan vs. Denison Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Michigan 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 Michigan.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (1450) is 40 points higher than at Denison (1410).
  • Incoming Michigan students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 31 at Denison).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 1360/1530; Denison University 1320/1490.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 31/34; Denison University 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Michigan - Test optional; Denison - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Michigan Feb 1, 2027; Denison Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Michigan students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at Denison (3.76).
  • Denison has a higher acceptance rate (17.4%) than Michigan (15.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.3% at Michigan vs. 23.8% at Denison.

Michigan vs. Denison Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Michigan 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).

  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than Denison University's (79%).
  • Graduates from University of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of about $18,300 more per year than Denison graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,400 vs. $56,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates have a $5,897 lower median loan debt than Denison graduates ($20,103 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, Michigan graduates have an estimated $61 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Denison graduates ($207 vs. $268).
  • More Denison graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 78%)

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.