Finance and Financial Management Services at Denison University

Denison's finance program carries an estimated $27,000 in debt—slightly above the state median—for starting earnings that peer Ohio programs suggest hover around $59,000. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46 is manageable by typical standards, though it's worth noting that top-performing finance programs in the state report considerably stronger outcomes. Miami University graduates earn roughly $71,000 in their first year, while Ohio State and Case Western produce similar results in the mid-$60,000 range.

The challenge here is that Denison's highly selective admissions (17% acceptance rate, 1395 average SAT) suggest you're paying for an elite experience, but without program-specific data, there's no way to confirm whether that translates into stronger career outcomes than what similar Ohio finance programs deliver. Finance is typically a field where elite credentials matter—for breaking into competitive roles in investment banking or corporate finance—but the estimated figures place this program right at the state average rather than significantly above it.

The bottom line: if your child is choosing Denison for its intimate liberal arts environment and strong overall reputation, the estimated debt burden won't be crushing for a finance graduate. But if maximizing early career earnings is the priority, the larger Ohio universities show stronger reported outcomes. Press Denison's career services office for placement data—where graduates actually land jobs, not just what they earn—before committing.