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Duke University

Private

Durham, NC

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Located in Durham, NC, Duke University is a private mid-sized school with roughly 6,442 undergraduates. Duke University is highly selective, with an acceptance rate near 6%. Among reported majors, Mathematics shows the strongest outcomes -- $297,029/year in median earnings four years after graduation. On-campus housing is mandatory here.

Admissions

Admit rate6%
SAT range1500–1570
ACT range34–35
Undergrads6,442
Yield (admits who enroll)55%
Next deadlineNov 2, 2026 (ED1)

Cost & outcomes

Cost of attendance$87,072
4-year grad rate96%
Median earnings, 10yr out$97,800

From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field.

Where do you stand against Duke University's numbers?

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How Duke University weighs your application

From Duke University's own Common Data Set, 2024-25, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?

Academic factors
Rigor of secondary school recordVery important
Class rankImportant
Academic GPAVery important
Standardized test scoresConsidered
Application essayConsidered
RecommendationsVery important
Nonacademic factors
InterviewConsidered
Extracurricular activitiesVery important
Talent/abilityVery important
Character/personal qualitiesVery important
First generationConsidered
Alumni relation (legacy)Considered
Geographical residenceConsidered
State residencyConsidered
Religious affiliationNot considered
Volunteer workConsidered
Work experienceConsidered
Level of interest (demonstrated interest)Considered
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Paying it back

Undergrads taking federal loans14%
Loan balance still growing, 3yrs out89%

"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.

Majors & earnings

Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Biology, General$83,192/yr
Neurobiology and Neurosciences$73,140/yr
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
Computer Science$195,809/yr
Education
International and Comparative Education$79,640/yr
Engineering
Computer Engineering$174,522/yr
Mechanical Engineering$120,991/yr
Biomedical/Medical Engineering$105,921/yr
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services$88,098/yr
Health Professions and Related Programs
Public Health$101,771/yr
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$87,763/yr
History
History$112,377/yr
Mathematics and Statistics
Mathematics$297,029/yr
Statistics$152,782/yr
Natural Resources and Conservation
Natural Resources Conservation and Research$73,435/yr
Psychology
Psychology, General$73,359/yr
Public Administration and Social Service Professions
Public Policy Analysis$103,071/yr
Social Sciences
Economics$161,149/yr
Political Science and Government$88,459/yr
Anthropology$81,120/yr
Sociology$61,425/yr

Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.

Campus life

On-campus housingYes
Required to live on campusYes
Dormitory capacity5,699
Typical room charge$9,495
Typical board charge$7,156

Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.

What matters in your application

GPARequired
Class rankNot considered
RecommendationsRequired

From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.

Frequently asked questions

What does Duke University look for in applicants?

Per Duke University's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates extracurricular activities, academic GPA, recommendations, talent/ability, rigor of secondary school record, character/personal qualities as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.

What is Duke University's acceptance rate?

Duke University in Durham, NC admits approximately 6% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.

What SAT score do I need for Duke University?

Admitted students at Duke University typically score between 1500–1570 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile).

What ACT score do I need for Duke University?

Admitted students at Duke University typically score between 34–35 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile).

How much does Duke University cost?

Duke University's total cost of attendance is reported at $87,072 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.

When is the application deadline for Duke University?

Duke University's earliest deadline is Nov 2, 2026 (ED1), per its own published admissions calendar.

Does Duke University require students to live on campus?

Yes -- Duke University requires students to live in on-campus housing.

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