Denison University

Denison University's program mix is anchored in the social sciences, reflecting the institution's identity as a private liberal arts college. Economics is the largest program with 77 graduates, followed by Communication and Media Studies, International Business, Research Psychology, and Biology, General.

Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 670 students annually, the institution's strength concentrates in humanities and social-science fields, with Social Sciences representing 21% of graduates and Business accounting for 8%. The highest-earning programs at Denison University reflect the liberal arts emphasis on analytical and professional pathways.

Economics graduates earn median earnings of $97,394 four years after enrollment, while Communication and Media Studies graduates earn $66,730 and Education, General graduates earn $65,429. These outcomes reflect both the quality of instruction and the labor-market positioning of fields that emphasize quantitative reasoning, communication, and professional preparation.

Biology, General rounds out the top earners with graduates earning $55,654. Most of Denison University's strongest programs are direct-to-workforce pathways where graduates enter professional careers immediately after completion.

The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how the institution's dominant program families align with national labor-market demand and wage trends in the social sciences and professional fields.

Denison University's published cost of attendance is $81,900. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $16,656, families in the lower-middle income band pay around $13,086, middle-income families pay about $17,827, families in the upper-middle income band pay approximately $20,839, and higher-income families pay around $48,472.

Azimuth ranks Denison University #1373 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.

Denison University meets demonstrated financial need for admitted students through need-based aid packages combining grants, loans, and work-study. The aid structure prioritizes grants over loans where possible, reducing the debt burden relative to institutions with loan-heavier aid formulas.

Families apply using the FAFSA, and the institution's financial aid office works with families to understand how aid packages compare with other institutions' offers. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $45,521; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.

For a graduate at Denison University's median four-year earnings of $62,838, median federal debt of $26,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $294 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).

Graduates of Denison University earn median 4-year earnings of $62,838, placing the institution in the 62.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Denison University #401 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Denison University sits in the 85.7 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure not yet updated to the 4-year horizon. These outcomes reflect both the institution's social-sciences-centered curriculum and its ability to channel graduates into stable, professional career pathways.

The earnings pattern is anchored in Social Sciences, which represents the largest share of degrees awarded. Economics is the highest-enrollment program with 77 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $97,394, performing at 1.2x the national benchmark for the field.

Communication and Media Studies enrolls 64 students with median 4-year earnings of $66,730, while International Business and Research Psychology round out the largest cohorts. Among the highest-earning programs, Biology, General delivers median 4-year earnings of $55,654 at 1.0x the national benchmark.

This program-level diversity—spanning Social Sciences (21%), Business (8%), and other STEM fields (4%)—supports consistent outcomes across majors and reflects the institution's broad liberal-arts foundation.