Admissions
Getting in, fall 2025
Duquesne admits about 9 in 10 applicants (86%). That puts it in the "Accessible" tier, more selective than 31% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.
Out of every 100 applicants…
The funnel
Men and women were admitted at similar rates (82% and 84%).
No application fee
Grants credit for AP exams
Where applicants live
Pennsylvania applicants were admitted at 90%, applicants from other states at 90%, and international applicants at 45%.
All applicants in the same class: 86%
Of those admitted, 16% from Pennsylvania enrolled, against 7.4% from other states and 5.9% from abroad.
Counted by where applicants lived when they applied, which can differ from who qualifies for in-state tuition. A group's rate reflects who applies from there as well as how the college chooses.
Yield
12% of admitted students enroll, on the lower end nationally.
Wait list: 435 offered a place, 422 accepted, 77 admitted (18% of those who accepted)
Applying early
Early action (not binding): apply by Nov 15; decisions by Dec 15
No early decision plan.
Where you stand
How Duquesne reads a record
, GPA, and tests are all very important; class rank is important. Scores are recommended. 20% of first-years sent an SAT and 4% an ACT. Of the 39% whose high school reported a rank, 28% were in the top tenth. Requires 4 years of English, 2 of math, 2 of science, and 2 of social studies. See the years by subject
What they look at
Considers whether an applicant's parent attended (legacy status).
| Very important | Important | Considered | Not considered | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic | |||||
| Rigor of high school record | Very important | ||||
| Class rank | Important | ||||
| Academic GPA | Very important | ||||
| Test scores | Very important | ||||
| Essay | Considered | ||||
| Recommendations | Considered | ||||
| Personal | |||||
| Interview | Considered | ||||
| Extracurricular activities | Important | ||||
| Talent or ability | Important | ||||
| Character and personal qualities | Important | ||||
| First generation | Considered | ||||
| Alumni relation (legacy) | Considered | ||||
| Geographic residence | Considered | ||||
| State residency | Considered | ||||
| Religious affiliation | Considered | ||||
| Volunteer work | Important | ||||
| Work experience | Important | ||||
| Demonstrated interest | Considered | ||||
From the federal survey: high school record required; college-prep program required; English proficiency test considered
Transferring in
88% of transfer applicants were admittedvs. 86% of first-year applicants
646 applied · 570 admitted
Transfers may start in the fall, spring, and summer.
Minimum college GPA: 2.5
Grants credit for course work completed at another college
Dates
- Fall entry: decisions on a rolling basis
- Spring entry: decisions on a rolling basis
- Summer entry: decisions on a rolling basis
What the application needs
- College transcripts
- Required
- Essay or personal statement
- Recommended for some
- Interview
- Not required
- Standardized test scores
- Recommended for some
- Statement of good standing from a prior college
- Required
Applying
The regular round, as the college reports it. Early rounds have their own dates.
- Priority date: November 15. Applying by then can matter for scholarships, programs, or housing.
- Decisions are sent on a rolling basis starting September 1.
- Admitted students must reply by May 1, or within 2 weeks if admitted later.
- $500 housing deposit, due May 1.
- Admitted students may postpone enrollment for a gap year. Longest postponement: 1 Year.
What you'll need in high school
Requires a high school diploma; accepts the GED.
Requires a college-preparatory program in high school.
| Years of | Required |
|---|---|
| English | 4 |
| Math | 2 |
| Science | 2 |
| Foreign language | 2 |
| Social studies | 2 |
| Academic electives | 4 |
| Total | 16 |
A unit is a year of the subject; lab science is part of science.
Recent change: Started considering class rank in fall 2024; Started considering legacy status in fall 2024; Started considering work experience in fall 2024.
On the admissions map
↑ SAT midpoint (higher = higher scores)
Fall 2025 first-years
First-years' high school GPA
Average GPA 3.76
High schools grade differently, and colleges recalculate or weight GPAs their own way, so compare this college only with itself.
This college publishes an average but not a breakdown.
28% were in the top tenth of their high school class, 56% in the top quarter, of the 39% whose high school reported a rank.
Source:Duquesne University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Test scores
What enrolled first-years scored
The typical enrolled first-year who sent scores is around 1260 on the SAT, 90 points above the median for colleges that report scores.
Recommended
Scores are recommended, not required. For students entering in fall 2027.
Where would you land?
Middle 50% of enrolled first-years who sent scores This college's median National median midpoint
Who submitted scores?
submitted SAT
submitted ACT
Read with care: fewer than half of enrolled students submitted either test, so these ranges may run high. Learn about admissions.
Sources:Duquesne University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;Duquesne University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;Duquesne University Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26;Duquesne University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 cycleAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)