Duke University
Duke University is a private research university in Durham, North Carolina, pairing a liberal-arts core in Trinity College with the highly ranked Pratt School of Engineering and one of the country's premier medical and research enterprises. Admission is intensely competitive — Duke admitted about 5.2% of more than 55,000 applicants for its most recent class, and enrolled first-years posted middle-50% SAT scores of 1510–1570 and ACT scores of 34–35. The university is test-optional through the 2026–27 cycle and meets 100% of demonstrated financial need. The figures below are drawn directly from Duke's official Common Data Set.
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Duke admissions statistics
Acceptance Rate
Total applicants, admitted students, and enrolled students for the most recent admission cycle.
Early Decision
Duke offers binding Early Decision. Applying early can meaningfully change your odds — but ED commits you to enroll if admitted.
Standardized Tests
Duke is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Admissions Factors
How Duke weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of Attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from Duke's Common Data Set.
Private universities charge the same tuition regardless of state residency.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
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Frequently asked questions about Duke admissions
Is it hard to get into Duke?＋
Yes — Duke is extremely selective, admitting about 5.2% of applicants in the most recent cycle, roughly 2,910 offers out of more than 55,541 applications. Admissions is holistic, with the rigor of your high school record, academic GPA, recommendations, extracurriculars, and character all weighed as very important factors, so strong grades alone don't guarantee a spot.
What is Duke's Early Decision acceptance rate, and is it binding?＋
Yes, Duke's Early Decision plan is binding: applicants admitted under ED agree to enroll and withdraw their other applications, so apply early only if Duke is clearly your first choice. Duke's most recent Common Data Set doesn't publish Early Decision application or admit counts, so a precise ED admit rate isn't available from the official data, though the overall admit rate sits near 5.2%.
Is a 1500 SAT good enough for Duke?＋
A 1500 is competitive but sits just below Duke's middle range — the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1510–1570 on the SAT and 34–35 on the ACT. Duke is test-optional through the 2026–27 cycle, so you can apply without scores, and a 1500 lands stronger when it's paired with a rigorous course load and a sharp application.
Does Duke require the SAT or ACT?＋
No — Duke is test-optional through the 2026–27 admissions cycle, so you may apply without submitting SAT or ACT scores. Among enrolled first-years who did submit, the middle 50% scored between 1510 and 1570 on the SAT and 34–35 on the ACT, and test scores are only 'considered' rather than a very important factor in Duke's review.
What GPA and class rank do you need to get into Duke?＋
Duke doesn't publish an average GPA or a class-rank breakdown in its most recent Common Data Set. There's no hard cutoff, but academic GPA and the rigor of your high school record are both weighed as very important factors, so admitted students generally carry top grades in a demanding course load.
Is Duke good for computer science?＋
Yes — computer and information sciences is the single most popular field at Duke, accounting for about 15% of degrees conferred, just ahead of interdisciplinary studies at 14% and the social sciences at 13%. Engineering follows near 12% and the biological sciences near 10%, reflecting Duke's strength across both the Pratt School of Engineering and Trinity College.
How much does Duke cost, and does it meet financial need?＋
Tuition and required fees run about $76,375 per year, with housing and food adding to the total cost of attendance. Duke meets 100% of demonstrated financial need: about 41% of students receive need-based aid, and the average need-based aid package for first-years is roughly $83,513.
Do the supplemental essays matter at Duke?＋
Duke rates the application essay as an 'important' factor in its most recent Common Data Set — a step below the very important academics, recommendations, and character, but above the many things it merely considers. With an admit rate near 5.2% and most applicants holding top grades and scores, a specific, well-revised essay is one of the few places to show the personal qualities Duke weighs most heavily.
Source: Duke University Common Data Set 2025-2026. Figures transcribed 2026-06-25. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Duke. Banner photo by CramBetter.com, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0).