Quad

Head-to-head

Denison
Franklin and Marshall

Key differences

The biggest gaps between these schools, largest first.

  1. 1

    Denison is 2.1× more selective than Franklin and Marshall

    Acceptance rate
  2. 2

    Franklin and Marshall grads earn $8.4K more ten years out than Denison's ($76,124 vs. $67,753)

    Median earnings, 10 yrs
  3. 3

    Denison costs about $6.3K less per year on average than Franklin and Marshall ($46,122 vs. $52,376, all students)

    Average cost, all students
  4. 4

    Denison's yield is 6 pts higher than Franklin and Marshall's

    Yield rate
  5. 5

    Denison's grants cover 44% of its full price on average, vs. 39% at Franklin and Marshall

    Aid generosity
  6. 6

    Denison is a bit larger (2,380 vs. 1,799)

    Undergrads

The shape of each school

Each axis is a national rank among 4-year colleges; further out = more of it.

SelectivityTest scoresSizePell shareFirst-genDiversity

Who's hardest to get into

Denison admits 17%, Franklin and Marshall 36%; Denison's yield is higher, at 24%.

Acceptance rate
Denison17%
Franklin and Marshall36%
Quad's selectivity
  • DenisonVery selective
  • Franklin and MarshallVery selective
SAT middle 50%Axis 1200–1600
Denison
1270–1420
Franklin and Marshall
1310–1463
How they read a recordfirst-years at 3.75+
  • DenisonGPA, school record, and prep program required
  • Franklin and MarshallGPA, school record, and prep program required

Who's on each campus

Denison is a bit larger than Franklin and Marshall (2,380 vs. 1,799 undergrads); Franklin and Marshall has the larger Pell share.

Undergrads
Denison2.4K
Franklin and Marshall1.8K
Pell Grant share
Denison13%
Franklin and Marshall16%

Majors and faculty

Econometrics and Quantitative Economics leads at Denison, and Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies at Franklin and Marshall; both have 9 students per faculty member.

Students per faculty member
Denison9 to 1
Franklin and Marshall9 to 1
Most popular majorshare of graduates
  • DenisonEconometrics and Quantitative Economics13%
  • Franklin and MarshallMulti-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other17%

What each costs

Denison costs about $6.3K less a year than Franklin and Marshall on average, and its grants cover the larger share of its price.

Average cost, all students
Denison$46.1K
Franklin and Marshall$52.4K
Aid generosity
Denison44%
Franklin and Marshall39%

What each pays off

Franklin and Marshall's former students earn more, a median $76.1K ten years after enrolling; both graduate more than 80% within six years.

Median earnings, 10 years
Denison$67.8K
Franklin and Marshall$76.1K
Graduation rate
Denison83%
Franklin and Marshall84%

How each has changed

Applications grew at both; both got more selective.

Applications, 10-year change
  • DenisonGrowing+236%
  • Franklin and MarshallGrowing+81%
All the numbersEvery figure for these colleges in one table, with differences highlighted.
Sources for this comparisonEvery dataset and year behind the numbers in this comparison; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;Denison University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;College Scorecard, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, most recent release;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;Denison University Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D), Fall 2024;IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field), 2024–25 graduates;College Scorecard, 2023–24;IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients), Entered fall 2018;Franklin and Marshall College (Fall 2026), Fall 2026;Franklin and Marshall College Common Data Set 2024–25, Fall 2026 applicants;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why