Organizer Information
Denison University is a private, residential liberal arts university in Granville, Ohio, offering undergraduate education across the arts, humanities, social sciences, and sciences. Its arts-related academic offerings include Cinema, Visual Arts, Art History & Visual Culture, Theatre, Dance, Music, and related media and communication fields.
Key Information
- Official Institution Name: Denison University
- Opportunity Type: University Programs & Admissions
- Study Levels: Undergraduate
- Degrees Offered: BA, BFA
- Academic Fields: Film/Cinema, Visual Arts, Art History, Visual Culture, Communication & Media, Theatre, Dance, Music
- Relevant Programs: Cinema (B.A.); Visual Arts (B.A., B.F.A.); Art History & Visual Culture (B.A.); Communication & Media Studies (B.A.); Dance (B.A.); Music (B.A.); Theatre (B.A.)
- Language of Instruction: English
- International Applicants: Yes
- Application Period: Early Decision and Regular Decision
- Application Deadline: 15 November for Early Decision I; 15 January for Early Decision II and Regular Decision
- Start of Studies: 30 August 2027
- Application Fee: $0
- Tuition: $74,000 for 2026–27
- Funding: Need-based financial aid, merit scholarships, and arts scholarships available.
Field of Study & Eligible Disciplines
- Denison's relevant undergraduate fields include Cinema, Visual Arts, Art History & Visual Culture, Communication & Media Studies, Dance, Music, and Theatre. The Cinema B.A. combines film history, theory, aesthetics, analysis, and hands-on production, including directing, cinematography, sound, lighting, and editing.
- Visual Arts offers B.A. and B.F.A. pathways, with work across animation, ceramics, design, painting, performance, photography, printmaking, sculpture, video, and other media.
- Students may also pursue interdisciplinary study through Denison's liberal arts curriculum and individually designed majors, subject to institutional approval.
General Eligibility
- Denison admits international and domestic first-year applicants. Admission is holistic; the university states that academic performance and course rigor are among the most important factors considered. There is no published minimum GPA for admission.
- Applicants must complete secondary education appropriate for undergraduate admission and provide the required school documentation. International applicants must also demonstrate adequate English proficiency and submit the Denison University Certification of Finances.
- Early Decision is binding for applicants admitted through an Early Decision round.
Educational Background
Applicants are evaluated on their high-school academic record, including the rigor of courses available to them. Denison does not prescribe a fixed set of high-school courses for admission, although it states that competitive applicants typically complete four years of English and at least three years of mathematics, foreign language, science, and social studies.
Language Requirements
International applicants must demonstrate adequate English proficiency. Denison considers several forms of evidence, including English as the primary language of school instruction, English as a first/native language, TOEFL iBT 80+, TOEFL Essentials 8.5+, IELTS 6.5+, Duolingo English Test 115+, SAT Reading 600+, ACT English Language Arts 26+, and an admission interview. English-proficiency waivers may be considered case by case after application.
Application Fee
| Applicant Type | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| First-year applicants | $0 |
| International first-year applicants | $0 |
| Financial-aid applicants | CSS Profile fee may apply |
Denison does not charge an admission application fee. International applicants do not pay a fee for the Denison Certification of Finances. Applicants seeking financial aid may incur the separate CSS Profile fee.
Tuition
| Academic Year | Tuition | Housing & Food | Total Tuition, Housing & Food |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026–27 | $74,000 | $18,400 | $92,400 |
The university states that the 2026–27 total cost of attendance, including a $4,500 allowance for personal expenses and books, is $96,900. Additional billed costs can include required health insurance, federal loan fees, private music lessons, and studio art fees.
Funding & Financial Support
- Denison offers need-based financial aid and merit-based scholarships to international students. The university states that it meets 100% of each international student's demonstrated financial need. International applicants must request need-based aid during the admission process; students who enroll without requesting need-based aid cannot apply for it later.
- Arts scholarships are available to talented incoming first-year and transfer students. Arts awards range from $5,000 to $15,000 and are renewable for four years. An arts supplement is required for arts-scholarship consideration.
University Services & Academic Support
- Relevant support includes faculty mentoring, academic advising, career exploration and internship support, international student advising, study-abroad opportunities, and dedicated facilities for the arts. Cinema students have access to Cinema House production resources and equipment, while Visual Arts students work with faculty and visiting artists and receive internship support through the Knowlton Center for Career Exploration.
- International Student Services provides pre-orientation, one-to-one advising, and guidance concerning academic, social, personal, and immigration matters.
Application Requirements
International first-year applicants must submit:
- Common Application or Coalition Application
- Personal essay included in the application
- Counselor recommendation and school report
- Official high-school transcript
- At least one teacher evaluation from a core-course teacher
- English-proficiency evidence
- Denison University Certification of Finances
Optional: ACT/SAT scores.
Recommended: Admission interview.
Optional Arts Supplement: Available for cinema, creative writing, dance, music, visual arts, and theatre.
For Cinema, the optional arts supplement consists of a video of work the applicant has shot, edited, written, or directed, no longer than five minutes, plus a description of the applicant's role and context and a short essay about their interest in film studies and production.
For Visual Arts, the optional supplement consists of 10–20 images and a short explanation of the applicant's artistic practice.
How to Apply?
- Application Portal
Deadline & Timeline
- Early Decision I Deadline: 15 November 2026
- Early Decision II Deadline: 15 January 2027
- Regular Decision Deadline: 15 January 2027
- Final Admission Decision Date: 1 April 2027
- Fall Semester 2027 Classes Begin: 30 August 2027
Location
Denison University — Granville, Ohio, United States
Additional Details
- Denison's B.F.A. in Visual Arts is not an entry-level application pathway. Students apply to the B.F.A. during the first semester of their junior year by presenting artwork produced at Denison and discussing their work and reasons for pursuing the B.F.A. with Visual Arts faculty.
- For students interested in cinema, the B.A. requires both cinema studies and production. The 2026–27 catalog specifies 36 credits for the Cinema major, including production, film history, theory, aesthetics, and electives.
- The university's 2027–28 academic calendar is currently marked tentative; the listed start date for Fall Semester 2027 is 30 August 2027.