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Duke University

Durham, NC · Private · Large city · Carnegie R1/R2

Private institution in Durham, NC · 6,417 undergraduates · 7% acceptance rate · $97,800 median earnings 10 years after entry.

Stats

College Scorecard figures, each with where this school sits nationally among institutions that report the same measure. A dash means the school does not report it.

Cost

Average net price
$34,4541,827th cheapest of 1,969 reporting
In-state tuition & fees
$65,8052,000th cheapest of 2,024 reporting
Out-of-state tuition & fees
$65,8052,000th cheapest of 2,024 reporting
Cost of attendance
$82,7491,931st cheapest of 1,969 reporting
Median graduate debt
$13,000225th lowest of 1,865 reporting

Outcomes

Median earnings, 10 years after entry
$97,80040th highest of 1,954 reporting
Median earnings, 6 years after entry
$85,79241st highest of 1,950 reporting
Graduation rate (4-year)
95.8%33rd highest of 2,014 reporting
Full-time retention
96.2%103rd highest of 1,837 reporting

Admissions

Acceptance rate
6.8%17th most selective of 1,596 reporting
Average SAT
153913th highest of 1,022 reporting
Median ACT
349th highest of 952 reporting

Campus

Undergraduates
6,417402nd largest of 2,144 reporting
Student-faculty ratio
6.0:194th smallest of 2,141 reporting
Pell Grant share
12.7%1,996th highest of 2,122 reporting

Nearest large-hub airport: 125 mi (CLT)

On 14 of our 111 lists

Every published ranking this school appears on, with its rank there.

Applying

Common App member
Yes
Application fee
$85
Personal essay
Required
Writing supplement
No

Supplemental prompts (2025-26)

  • The following question is required for all first-year applicants to Duke University during the 2025-26 application cycle. (250 word limit)
  • - What is your impression of Duke as a university and community, and why do you believe it is a good match for your goals, values, and interests? If there is something specific that attracts you to our academic offerings in Trinity College of Arts and Sciences or the Pratt School of Engineering, or to our co-curricular opportunities, feel free to include that too.
  • We want to emphasize that the following questions are optional. We invite you to answer one of the four if you believe that doing so will add something meaningful that is not already addressed elsewhere in your application. (250 word limit)
  • Duke recently launched an initiative “to bring together Duke experts across all disciplines who are advancing AI research, addressing the most pressing ethical challenges posed by AI, and shaping the future of AI in the classroom.” Tell us about a situation when you would or would not choose to use AI (when possible and permitted). What shapes your thinking?
  • We believe a wide range of viewpoints and experiences is essential to maintaining Duke’s vibrant living and learning community. Please share anything in this context that might help us better understand you and your potential contributions to Duke.
  • Meaningful dialogue often involves respectful disagreement. Provide an example of a difference of opinion you’ve had with someone you care about. What did you learn from it?
  • What’s the last thing that you’ve been really excited about?

Source: Aristotle Circle 2025-26 supplemental prompt roundup

Deadlines and essay flags come from the Common App Requirements Grid, joined by school name. Always confirm against the school’s own admissions page before applying.

Best-paying fields of study

Median earnings one and two years after graduating, by field. Showing 12 of 53 reported programs.

FieldLevel1 yr2 yr
Computer Sciencebachelors$119,247$106,898
Computer EngineeringEngineeringbachelors$105,306$97,071
EconomicsSocial Sciencesbachelors$95,118$90,856
StatisticsMathematics & Statisticsbachelors$86,867$83,546
Mechanical EngineeringEngineeringbachelors$80,292$80,964
MathematicsMathematics & Statisticsbachelors$79,450$81,333
Biomedical/Medical EngineeringEngineeringbachelors$73,321$75,114
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingHealth Professionsbachelors$66,278$63,970
Public Policy AnalysisPublic Administrationbachelors$53,358$60,106
Historybachelors$52,107$52,941
Political Science and GovernmentSocial Sciencesbachelors$49,214$54,463
SociologySocial Sciencesbachelors$48,432$45,305

Campus facts

Athletics — 15 sports

NCAA Division I-FBS · NCAA Division I

Athletic scholarships allowed · Athletic aid $30,099,294 (M $15,690,493 · W $14,408,801)

Self-reported EADA participants (2024-2025). Athletic aid is institution-level, not per sport.

Notable alumni

Illustrative alumni only — not exhaustive and not a quality ranking. Affiliation claims cite Wikipedia/Wikidata; confirm on primary bios before relying on them.

Campus news

Nearest undergraduate enrollment to Duke University’s 6,417 (College Scorecard UGDS, compiled 2026-10-24). Size only — not a judgment of similarity or quality.

In NC

Elsewhere