Duke University

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.

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%.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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