Denison University

Granville, OH · founded 1831 · 2,300 students · liberal arts college · NCAA Division III, North Coast Athletic Conference

Known for: Denison is a highly selective private liberal arts college known for its strong undergraduate research programs, beautiful hilltop campus, and successful alumni network in business, the arts, and sciences.

Rankings

U.S. News liberal arts: #39
Forbes: #94

Top programmes

Biology
Economics
Communication
Psychology
Studio Art
Environmental Studies

Notable alumni

Jennifer Garner — Academy Award-nominated actress
Michael Eisner — Former CEO of The Walt Disney Company
Steve Carrell — Emmy Award-winning actor and comedian
Richard Lugar — Former U.S. Senator
Joe Banner — Former President of the Philadelphia Eagles
Bobby Flay — Celebrity chef and restaurateur
Hal Holbrook — Academy Award-nominated actor

Traditions

A-Day (All-Campus Day)
Big Red Weekend
Naked Week (pre-finals stress relief)
Senior Week

If Denison University were…

As a food: A beautifully composed, seasonal grain bowl from a trendy fast-casual spot like Sweetgreen — Balanced, aesthetically pleasing, healthy but not austere, customizable with high-quality ingredients, and appealing to the active, socially-conscious, preppy-but-casual demographic.
As an athlete: Steph Curry — Exceptionally skilled and successful, with a clean-cut, family-friendly image, a strong team ethos, and a game that's both fundamentally sound and creatively joyful—makes excellence look fun and accessible.
As a person alive today: Jennifer Garner — The Denison alumna who projects wholesome, Midwestern authenticity, approachable charm, and versatile talent, balancing Hollywood success with a reputation as 'America's sweetheart' and a grounded family life.
As a historical figure: Walt Disney (in his early, ambitious Midwestern phase) — The optimistic, innovative entrepreneur who combined artistic vision with shrewd business sense to build an empire of wholesome entertainment, believing in hard work, clean fun, and technological progress.
As a movie or TV show: The show 'Ted Lasso' — Warm, optimistic, and community-focused, where teamwork, personal growth, and believing in people wins out over cynicism, all wrapped in a stylish, feel-good package that's both smart and deeply kind.
As a US president: Gerald Ford — The affable, athletic, unpretentious Midwesterner who restored stability and decency after crisis, a team player more known for his collegiate football stardom at Michigan than for ideological fire.
As a city: Austin, Texas (circa 2010) — A vibrant, growing city in the middle of a traditional region that balances outdoor activity (hiking, lakes) with a thriving creative scene (music, film), attracting a fit, educated, and socially-engaged crowd.
As an element: Carbon — The fundamental element for life, capable of forming strong, stable bonds (community) while also being the basis for both diamonds (prestige) and graphite (everyday utility)—versatile and essential.
As a car: 2015 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited — Ohio liberal arts versatility—preppy enough for Greek life, artsy enough for theater majors, sporty enough for DIII athletics, all on a scenic hilltop campus. The good-looking all-rounder that does everything reasonably

Campus life

Campus life is vibrant and residential, with over 90% of students living on campus. There is a strong emphasis on student organizations, arts, and athletics, fostering a close-knit community. Greek life is present but not overwhelmingly dominant.

The film, scored

This profile answers “if Denison University were a movie or TV show?” with Ted Lasso (2020). Warm, optimistic, and community-focused, where teamwork, personal growth, and believing in people wins out over cynicism, all wrapped in a stylish, feel-good package that's both smart and deeply kind. It sits in the 92nd percentile on rankquant, which re-centres every critic score on the reviewer who gave it, so a percentile means position against peers rather than a raw star average. The full film & TV catalogue ranks the rest the same way.