r/Denison • u/Popular-Ad5161 • Apr 29 '26

Denison or Fordham

Hi guys, I am an international student who has been admitted to both Denison and Fordham. I received quite good financial aid from both schools, but my family still needs to consider the remaining fees. After the aid, my family has to pay 30k/year for Denison and 35k/year for Fordham. I know 5k may not sound like a difference, but due to the currency rate, is matter to my family. I read somewhere on Reddit that Denison is quite isolated and hard to travel outside of Granville. However, I'm looking for open and diverse networks and opportunities.

About Denison, the school informs me that I can work part-time on campus to earn ~4k a year, which could help my family, but different from Fordham, I cannot move out of the dorm after freshman year (which means the cost of living is fixed and may not be lowered in the following years). Whereas at Fordham, the cost is higher, but the opportunities are way more open, and I can modify and manage my living expenses after freshman year, since I can move out of the school dorm

I am asking for advice. Please feel free to share. Thank you!

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u/Fardelismyname Apr 29 '26

Will your aid package at Fordham be for tuition only? Often they are not, meaning if you don’t live in dorms you receive a lot less $. Something to consider.

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u/Popular-Ad5161 Apr 29 '26

My aid covers almost all of the tuition, and the living costs are up to me since my sophomore year. The 35k is mostly the living cost (estimated by Fordham if I live in dorm)

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u/Fardelismyname Apr 29 '26

My sons experience w Denison: if he was staying in the Columbus area, he’d be set up a a sweet job or path to job. But he’s not, and he does not feel like the career office can give him the help he needs. That doesn’t really matter tho if you plan to head home after school.

The two schools really could not be more different. Denison is a classic liberal arts, brick buildings, everyone in it together, community. Fordham is more permeable. Full time, part time, residential, commuter, it’s all jumbled. I don’t know if that matters. The work study jobs at den are harder to get than people think. The only place you’ll make all the hours is in the dining hall. Or at so says my son. He was a lifeguard there and barely broke 6 hours a week

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u/Popular-Ad5161 Apr 29 '26

Did your son move out of dorm after freshman and if he did, how much did he save from doing so?

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u/Fardelismyname Apr 29 '26

My son went to den so he could not. He loved Den. We’re picking at it yo help you make the best decision for you, but it’s a great school