Quad

Duke University

Durham, NCQuad's selectivityUltra selective
Known forUltra-selectiveTop test scoresVery small student-faculty ratioBig endowment per studentVery diverseHigh earnersHigh graduation ratePell students graduate at the same rateTest-optional heavy
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Updates

What changed

New and revised figures from the latest data releases, each with its year.

Published Oct 10, 2026

  • Fall 2025: middle 50% SAT Reading & Writing 740–780 (fall 2024: 740–770)Duke University Common Data Set 2025–26
  • Fall 2025: middle 50% SAT Math 770–790 (fall 2024: 760–800)Duke University Common Data Set 2025–26
  • Fall 2025: 6,434 undergraduates (fall 2024: 6,442)Duke University Common Data Set 2025–26
  • Entered fall 2024: 97% returned for a second year (entered fall 2023: 98%)Duke University Common Data Set 2025–26

Sources:Duke University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;Duke University Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Admissions · Fall 2026

1 in 21 applicants admitted

Duke admits about 1 in 21 applicants (4.7%). That puts it in the "Ultra selective" tier, more selective than 99% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

4.7%

4.7%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityUltra selective

Applied

61,935

Admitted

2,930

Yield

59%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

1510–1570

10001600
ACT middle 50%

34–35

1836
Applications +64% since fall 2014 · admit rate 11% → 5.7%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A medium campus of 6,434 undergrads, where 14% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

6.4K

undergrads · larger than 82% of colleges

Diversity index

0.79

Pell Grant

14%

below the median

First generation

13%

below the median

Large cityFirst-years live on campusNCAA D-I FBS · Atlantic Coast ConferenceROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research
More diverse · index 0.70 → 0.79 (to fall 2024) since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (15% of graduates). 5 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 96% of colleges. 94% of faculty are full-time. Spends $87,044 a year on instruction per student.

5 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 96% of colleges

Most popular major

Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other

15% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Mathematics

$297K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

94%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$87K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $58,582 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $34.3K more than the national median. The 43% who received grants paid $21,981 on average; the other 57% paid the full sticker price of $87,072.

33%

$58.6K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $34.3K above the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price
$87,072 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Published data end at $110K
use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 33% of full price

Federal loans

14%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost steady · +1% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $97,800 ten years after enrolling, more than at 98% of colleges; 97% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 2.4 years of that salary.

97%

97%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$97.8K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$13K

≈ $138/month for 10 years

Retention

97%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 95% → 97% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 7% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid held about steady, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 64% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 11% to 5.7%.

  • Cost

    Steady

    +1% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +64%

  • Selectivity

    More selective

    admit rate 11% → 6% (to fall 2024)

  • Diversity

    More diverse

    index 0.70 → 0.79 (to fall 2024)

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

Brown University

5.4% admit · SAT 1545 · 7.2K undergrads

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University of Chicago

4.5% admit · SAT 1530 · 7.6K undergrads

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Carnegie Mellon University

11% admit · SAT 1535 · 7.3K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
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Tufts University

11% admit · SAT 1495 · 7.1K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    Duke University (Fall 2026)

    Duke University · Fall 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-03

  4. 4
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  5. 5
    Duke University Common Data Set 2025–26

    Duke University · Fall 2025; Entered fall 2024; 2024–25; 2025–26; Fall 2026 entrants; Fall 2026 cycle; 2026–27; Class of 2025 · retrieved 2026-10-05

  6. 6
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    Duke University (2026–27)

    Duke University · 2026–27 · retrieved 2026-10-10

  14. 14
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  19. 19
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  20. 20
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  21. 21
    Duke University (2026)

    Duke University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 198419 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything