Duke University

Durham, NC · Private nonprofit · Large city · Website

Admission rate: 5.7%; Extremely selective
Average net price: $23,706; per year, after aid
Graduation rate: 96%
Median earnings: $113,937; 10 years after enrolling

Duke University is a private nonprofit college in Durham, NC with 6,442 undergraduates. It admits 5.7% of applicants, and admitted students average 1548 on the SAT. The average net price after aid is $23,706 per year ($6,652 for families earning under $30,000). 96% of students graduate, and graduates earn a median of $113,937 ten years after enrolling.

private nonprofit college

Admissions

Admission rate: 5.7%; Fall 2024
Testing policy: Test optional; Fall 2024
Applicants: 46,365; Fall 2023
Admitted: 3,145; Fall 2023
Yield: 55%; of admitted students enrolled

Middle 50% of admitted students (Fall 2024). A quarter scored below the band and a quarter above.

SAT Reading & Writing740–770

200800

SAT Math760–800

200800

ACT Composite34–35

136

What Duke University looks at

As reported by the college to IPEDS (Fall 2023).

High school recordRequired
High school GPARequired
College-prep courseworkRequired
Class rankNot considered
Essay or personal statementRequired
RecommendationsRequired
Demonstrated competenciesNot considered
Legacy statusConsidered
Work experienceConsidered
English proficiency testNot considered

Cost

Cost of attendance: $90,696; sticker price, per year
Tuition & fees: $72,795

Net price by family income

Average yearly cost after grants and scholarships for students receiving federal aid.

$0–30k$6,652
$30–48k—
$48–75k$4,608
$75–110k$16,813
$110k+$48,954

Get a personal estimate with Duke University's net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation rate: 96%
Freshman retention: 98%
Median earnings: $113,937; 10 yrs after enrolling
Median debt: $13,000; at graduation

Students

Undergraduates: 6,442
Student–faculty ratio: 5:1
Receive Pell grants: 19%

White35%
Hispanic11%
Black9%
Asian22%

Duke University FAQ

What is Duke University's acceptance rate?+

Duke University admits 5.7% of applicants, which makes it extremely selective.

What SAT score do you need for Duke University?+

The middle 50% of admitted students scored 740–770 on SAT Reading and Writing and 760–800 on SAT Math; the average total is 1548.

What ACT score do you need for Duke University?+

The middle 50% ACT composite range for admitted students is 34–35.

Is Duke University test optional?+

Test optional (considered if submitted).

How many students apply to Duke University?+

In Fall 2023, 46,365 students applied to Duke University and 3,145 were admitted; 1,742 enrolled.

Does Duke University consider legacy status?+

Yes. Duke University reported that legacy status is considered in admissions (Fall 2023).

Does Duke University require an essay?+

Duke University reported that an essay or personal statement is required for admission (Fall 2023).

How much does Duke University cost?+

The sticker cost of attendance is $90,696 per year, but the average net price after grants and scholarships is $23,706.

What is Duke University's graduation rate?+

96% of full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.

Sources

Admission rate, test scores, cost, students, and outcomes: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (Most Recent Institution-Level Data), released 2026-10-15. Admissions figures are for Fall 2024, costs for 2024-25, and earnings are measured in 2023.
Applicants, admitted, yield, and admission factors: IPEDS Admissions survey (ADM2023), Fall 2023.
IPEDS unit ID 198419 · How we use this data