Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Denison University

Denison's highly selective liberal arts program comes with a noteworthy financial reality: comparable programs in Ohio suggest first-year earnings around $40,600 against estimated borrowing of $27,600. That 0.68 debt-to-earnings ratio sits in workable territory—roughly eight months of gross pay—but it's worth understanding what you're getting for that investment at a school with a 17% admission rate.

The estimated earnings align almost exactly with Ohio's median for liberal arts degrees, which means peer programs typically produce similar first-year outcomes whether graduates attended selective Denison or less competitive state schools. That's not necessarily a problem if the value comes from network, graduate school placement, or long-term trajectory—but it does mean immediate earning power won't obviously distinguish a Denison grad in the job market. Meanwhile, programs like Xavier and Antioch show that some Ohio liberal arts graduates do start higher, though those too are institutional averages that don't predict individual results.

For families paying full freight or taking on significant private loans beyond these estimates, scrutinize whether Denison's specific advantages justify the total cost. If your student qualifies for substantial need-based aid (only 13% receive Pell grants, suggesting limited financial diversity), the debt-to-earnings picture becomes more manageable. Without that aid, a liberal arts degree requiring manageable but meaningful debt makes sense primarily when paired with clear post-graduation plans—graduate school, specific career paths, or family connections that leverage the network.