Denison University

What Denison University does

Denison University is a private, nonprofit, residential liberal arts college founded in 1831 and located in Granville, Ohio (approximately 25 minutes from Columbus). The institution enrolls approximately 2,400 undergraduate students across 65+ academic programs with a 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio and a four-year residential model. It meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted students and operates test-optional admission (since 2008) with no application fee through the Common Application and Coalition Application channels. The student body draws from nearly all U.S. states and more than 70 countries, with 17% international students, and the university runs 26 varsity teams plus 45+ club and intramural sports programs. Alumni outcomes include a 97% employment-in-desired-field rate, supported by career services ranked #2 nationally by the Princeton Review.

The university's revenue model is dominated by recurring tuition and fee revenue from undergraduate programs, supplemented by auxiliary services (housing, dining, athletics), endowment income, and philanthropic giving. Pricing is structured around need-based aid plus two named $100,000 regional scholarship programs: the Ohio Scholarship for in-state residents and the Midwest Initiative for residents of Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, and West Virginia. The go-to-market is direct-to-consumer enrollment via national application platforms and regional recruitment events, with marketing amplified by earned media from an unusually successful 2026 athletic season (NCAA Division III championships in baseball, women's basketball, and men's tennis, plus a 44-game win streak tying the Division III record).

Operationally, Denison is investing in modernization on two fronts: a multi-year partnership with Spry (announced March 2026) to centralize athletics operations via SpryAdmission integrated with Slate CRM across 28 varsity programs, and the fall 2026 opening of the renovated Knobel Hall and King Center for Data and Innovation, a $1 million technology investment in data analytics and computer science facilities. The institution is led by President Adam Weinberg and governed as a standalone nonprofit by an independent board of trustees, with no parent company, subsidiaries, or PE/VC ownership structure.

Name

Denison University

Legal name

Denison University

Website

https://denison.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1831

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Denison University is a private, nonprofit liberal arts college in Granville, Ohio, serving approximately 2,400 undergraduates with a 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio across 65+ programs. It generates revenue primarily through tuition and fees while meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education (Liberal Arts and Sciences)

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAH)

Keywords

• Liberal arts education
• Undergraduate residential college
• NCAA Division III athletics
• Higher education academics
• Career preparation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Granville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Denison generates revenue primarily through tuition and fees from its undergraduate liberal arts programs. The university meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted students.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Denison University is a private, residential liberal arts and sciences college offering four-year undergraduate education to approximately 2,400 students through 65+ academic programs, a 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio, NCAA Division III athletics with 26 varsity teams, and integrated career preparation. The institution also provides graduate-level preparation, study abroad, and co-curricular programs including 165+ student organizations.

Product overview

Denison University operates as a liberal arts college offering educational programs and services. The institution utilizes a partnership with Spry for athletics management, implementing SpryAdmission which integrates with Slate to modernize operations across its 28 varsity programs. Additionally, the university has invested in advanced technology infrastructure through the Knobel Hall and King Center for Data and Innovation, a $1 million facility focused on data analytics and computer science education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Big Red: Athletics nickname for Denison University teams

Products and services

• Liberal Arts Undergraduate Education A four-year residential undergraduate education program covering 65+ academic programs in the liberal arts and sciences, designed for students ages 17-22 seeking personalized education with a 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio.
• NCAA Division III Varsity Athletics Program A 26 varsity team NCAA Division III athletics program, including men's and women's sports, supported by 45+ club and intramural sports programs, with centralized management through SpryAdmission and Slate CRM integration.
• Career Preparation and Professional Development Services Career coaching, entrepreneurship and consulting programs, fellowships and research opportunities, and professional development certificates through the Knowlton Center, serving undergraduate students pursuing career readiness.
• Knobel Hall and King Center for Data and Innovation A renovated academic facility featuring advanced data analytics and computer science technology infrastructure for undergraduate students and faculty.
• Study Abroad and Global Programs Global study abroad and international programs through the Center for Global Programs, supporting undergraduate students' international educational experiences.
• Transfer Student Pathway Program A structured transfer admission pathway with spring and fall entry options through the Transfer Common Application, including personalized advising, credit mapping, and career coaching for students transferring from other colleges.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% of alumni employed in their desired field
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• SprycoreTechnology or Integration · 4 March 2026Denison University Athletics announced a multi-year partnership with Spry, a collegiate athletics management platform provider. The partnership centralizes and modernizes operations across Denison's 28 varsity programs using SpryAdmission, which integrates with Slate to align athletics and admissions workflows, eliminating silos and reducing administrative burden for coaches and staff.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Middlebury College: Highly selective private liberal arts college in Vermont known for languages and international programs. Comparable to Denison in residential liberal arts model, NCAA Division III athletics, and global study emphasis, with an international student base that overlaps with Denison's recruitment markets.
• Pomona College: Elite private liberal arts college in Claremont, California and a founding member of the Claremont Colleges consortium. Comparable to Denison as a residential liberal arts college with strong career outcomes; competes for top liberal arts applicants in Western U.S. and internationally.
• Williams College: Top-ranked private liberal arts college in Williamstown, Massachusetts with significantly larger endowment and resources. Sets the standard for the residential liberal arts model that Denison follows and competes with Denison in national rankings and selective applicant consideration sets.
• Wesleyan University: NESCAC private liberal arts university in Middletown, Connecticut with strong programs in arts, sciences, and athletics. Comparable residential liberal arts model to Denison with a stronger graduate/professional orientation, competing for top liberal arts applicants nationally.

Direct peers

• Bowdoin College: Elite private residential liberal arts college in Brunswick, Maine and a member of the NESCAC conference. Comparable to Denison in mission, residential model, NCAA Division III athletics emphasis, and selectivity, and a peer in national liberal arts rankings.
• Kenyon College: Highly selective private residential liberal arts college located about 30 miles from Denison in Gambier, Ohio. Comparable size, similar mission, and competes with Denison for Ohio and Midwest students as well as in athletic conferences and college rankings.
• Oberlin College: Private residential liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio with a conservatory of music. Closest geographic competitor to Denison for Ohio applicants and similar tuition pricing, while also competing for NCAA Division III athletics prestige and top liberal arts rankings.
• DePauw University: Private liberal arts college in Greencastle, Indiana. Competes with Denison in the Midwest recruitment corridor served by Denison's Midwest Initiative scholarship and overlaps with Denison in NCAA Division III athletics (NCAC conference).
• Ohio Wesleyan University: Private liberal arts university in Delaware, Ohio with similar enrollment size and Midwest regional recruitment. Competes with Denison for Ohio-resident students and private-college-bound applicants in central Ohio.
• The College of Wooster: Independent residential liberal arts college in Wooster, Ohio with a distinctive undergraduate thesis requirement. Directly comparable to Denison in size, Ohio-based recruitment footprint, NCAA Division III athletics, and liberal arts value proposition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/denisonu
• YouTubeyoutube.com/denisonuniversity
• Facebookfacebook.com/denisonuniversity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/denisonuniversity
• Instagraminstagram.com/denisonu/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Denison University