Education at Denison University

Denison's highly selective profile—just 17% admitted with SAT scores averaging 1395—doesn't translate to exceptional teaching salaries. Similar education programs in Ohio suggest graduates earn around $37,000 in their first year, climbing modestly to $39,480 by year four. That's essentially matching the state median for education majors, where even top-performing Ohio programs cluster tightly in the $35,000-$38,000 range. The appeal of Denison's rigorous liberal arts environment comes without a salary premium in this field.

The estimated $27,000 in debt (based on peer programs at similar institutions in Ohio) creates a manageable but not trivial burden, representing about 73% of first-year earnings. That's better than many education programs nationally, though the modest salary growth—just $2,300 over three years—means loan payments will feel substantial throughout the early career years. Teaching salaries in Ohio are what they are, regardless of where you earned your degree.

For families paying full or near-full freight at a selective private institution, the math gets challenging quickly. If your child is passionate about teaching and Denison offers strong financial aid, the small classes and supportive environment could justify the investment. But if you're financing this primarily through loans, comparable programs at public universities would produce the same teaching credential and similar earnings with substantially less debt.