Denison University
PAE-10: Affordability and Access Programs

Denison does not participate in TRIO programs

Denison continues to have a need blind admissions policy. When students are accepted for admission to Denison, they are evaluated for merit scholarship eligibility. Approximately 93% of the students accepted for admissions are awarded one of the merit scholarships ranging from $8,000 to $35,000 annually for 8 semesters. Knowing that a portion of the tuition can be covered for 4 years, provided the student maintains the required GPA, can help a low-income family begin to plan for the 4 year costs of college. If students apply for need based aid, the first source to meet federal need is the merit scholarship, if applicable. In addition to the merit awards, Denison attempts to meet federal need with a combination of federal, state, and institutional funds. In some cases of very high federal need, Denison is unable to meet 100% of this need. If students receive outside scholarships, these awards can help meet unmet federal need. Denison’s generous gift aid program (merit scholarships and need based grants) was funded with $41 million in institutional grants and scholarships in 2009-10 and will exceed $43.5 this year.

Denison scholarships are awarded by the Admissions Office and are based on merit. Because Denison practices need blind admissions, the Admissions Office staff does not know anything about the income levels of the applicants. Denison’s Financial Aid Office awards need based grant funds to low income students. Eligibility for these awards is based on the information filed on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Both the Admissions Office and the Financial Aid Office make available to parents of low-income students a variety of resources that explain the financial aid process from start to finish. These resources link parents with FAFSA forms, as well as calculators that help parents to assess true costs associated with attending Denison University. Both offices have extensive websites that detail the application and financial aid processes and link to available scholarships, grants, loans, available to in-coming students. During June Orientation, parents are given the opportunity to attend informational sessions relating to the college experience and to meet one-on-one with Financial Aid representatives.

Denison’s financial aid staff is actively involved in the following outreach activities that are designed to help encourage students from low-income background to consider pursuing college after completing high school by educating them about the resources available to them to make college affordable: Financial Aid Night Presentations— The Director of Financial Aid does several presentations annually in central Ohio high schools that have large enrollments of low-income students. These presentations focus on the process of applying for aid and provide questions for the students and parents to ask at the respective colleges to which they will apply. Students and parents are encouraged to apply to colleges with a variety of costs because a higher cost school can be more affordable because it often awards more financial aid. Call to College in Newark, Ohio- This organization focuses its efforts on assuring that qualified students in Newark High School from low-income backgrounds have the opportunity to pursue higher education. The Financial Aid staff works closely with this organization to provide presentations when needed and to work with the Call to College counselors to encourage students to apply to Denison. College Goal Sunday- All of the Financial Aid staff volunteer to participate in this nationally organized annual event that takes place on a Sunday in February. This event is designed to provide opportunities for families and students to actually complete the FAFSA with the assistance of financial aid professionals that volunteer to the event. The college counselors at the sites hosting this event are appreciative of our willingness to help and they will encourage their students to include Denison in their list of schools to which they apply. Junior Financial Aid Night—Licking Valley High School- The Director of Financial Aid volunteers to be a financial aid expert for this event in which parents and students are encouraged to complete the FAFSA 4Caster on line in the computer lab at this school. This school has a substantial enrollment of low-income students and the counselor is trying to encourage these students to begin thinking about college and to begin the financial aid process in their junior year with the hopes they will graduate from high school and pursue higher education.