Admissions data checked October 9, 2026 by Florida Test Prep.
Denison University reports a middle 50% SAT of 1270 to 1420 (enrolled, fall 2025 CDS 2025-26, C9). We use 1340 as a first planning target, then adjust it to the student's diagnostic and timeline. It is not an admission requirement or a guarantee.
| Middle 50% SAT | 1270 to 1420 (enrolled, fall 2025 CDS 2025-26, C9) |
| Middle 50% ACT | 28 to 33 |
| Acceptance rate | 19.5% (fall 2025 CDS 2025-26, 12,202 applicants) |
| Testing for 2026-27 | Test-optional |
| Type | Private university |
Source: Denison official admissions data. A middle 50% describes the central half of the reported group, not a cutoff.
Only about 27% of Denison's enrolled fall-2025 first-years submitted an SAT score.
| School | Middle 50% SAT | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|
| Case Western Reserve University | 1440 to 1530 | 35.3% |
| Ohio State University | 1300 to 1440 | 49.2% |
| Denison University | 1270 to 1420 | 19.5% |
| Miami University | 1240 to 1378 | 75.4% |
| University of Dayton | 1210 to 1350 | 66.6% |
| University of Cincinnati | 1160 to 1350 | 85.3% |
| Ohio University | 1130 to 1300 | 85.2% |
| Wright State University | 910 to 1250 | 96.2% |
| Kent State University | 990 to 1230 | 62.7% |
Cohorts differ by school (admitted vs enrolled, and year). See every school with its cohort and source on SAT Scores for Ohio Colleges.
Ohio has no statewide SAT-cutoff cash scholarship; the clearest published SAT-tiered money in the state is Ohio State's own automatic scholarship grid for Ohio residents.
President's Ohio Scholarship Program (Ohio State University): Full cost of attendance, renewable for 8 full-time semesters, for Ohio-resident first-years admitted to the Columbus campus who apply by the Nov 1 priority deadline.
Excellence Scholarship (Ohio State University): Full tuition each year it's renewed (minimum 2.5 GPA required to keep it), for U.S.-citizen Columbus-campus admits.
The full rules, deadlines and class years are on our Ohio SAT prep page.
| College | State | Middle 50% SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Creighton University | Nebraska | 1280 to 1410 |
| Pennsylvania State University, University Park | Pennsylvania | 1280 to 1410 |
| New Jersey Institute of Technology | New Jersey | 1235 to 1460 |
| Bennington College | Vermont | 1308 to 1375 |
A score that is competitive at Denison lands in the same part of the range at these schools. Cohorts differ by school, so read each page's notes before comparing.
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Which of these numbers is your teen's target? Pick the Ohio colleges on their list and get a target score and the gap from today's score in under a minute.
Find my teen's target scoreThere is no published minimum; the middle half of the reported group scored 1270 to 1420. A score at or above 1420 puts a student in the top quarter of that group. A score near 1270 is within the range, and grades, coursework and the rest of the application still decide the outcome.
Yes. Denison lists its policy as: Test-optional. A score inside or above the range can still strengthen an application, and some scholarships and programs use scores separately.
19.5% (fall 2025 CDS 2025-26, 12,202 applicants). Rates vary by program and residency, so read the overall figure as context, not a personal prediction.
No. A middle 50% is a description of last year's group, not a cutoff in either direction. It tells you where a score is competitive, which is the useful part for planning test dates.
Want to know what your teen needs for Denison? Their target, their gap and the weeks to close it are what we map in the free Strategy Session.
Book the free Strategy Session. You leave with your teen's target score, their gap, and a 6 to 12 week plan. Yours to keep either way.
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