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 5.7% of more than 51,000 applicants for its most recent class, and enrolled first-years posted middle-50% SAT scores of 1500–1570 and ACT scores of 34–35. The university is test-optional through the 2025–26 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.
Admit rate by application plan
% admitted~4.1× higher admit rate applying early.
Standardized Tests
Duke is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Class Rank
Where Duke's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.
Based on the 25% of enrolled students who reported a class rank. Duke does not publish an average GPA.
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 5.7% of applicants in the most recent cycle, roughly 2,957 offers out of more than 51,795 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?＋
Duke's binding Early Decision plan is meaningfully easier than the regular round: of 6,013 Early Decision applications, about 1,042 were admitted — roughly a 17% ED admit rate, versus the 5.7% overall rate. ED is binding, meaning you commit to enroll if accepted, so apply early only if Duke is clearly your first choice.
Is a 1500 SAT good enough for Duke?＋
A 1500 is competitive but sits at the low end of Duke's range — it matches the 25th percentile of enrolled first-years, whose middle 50% scored 1500–1570 on the SAT and 34–35 on the ACT. Duke is test-optional through the 2025–26 cycle, so you can apply without scores, and a 1500 is more compelling paired with a rigorous course load and top class rank.
Does Duke require the SAT or ACT?＋
No — Duke is test-optional through the 2025–26 admissions cycle, so you may apply without submitting SAT or ACT scores. Among enrolled first-years who did submit, the middle 50% scored between 1500 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, but admitted students cluster at the very top of their class: about 92% of enrolled first-years who reported class rank were in the top tenth, and 98% in the top quarter. There's no hard cutoff, but academic GPA and the rigor of your high school record are both weighed as very important factors.
Is Duke good for computer science?＋
Yes — computer and information sciences is the single most popular field at Duke, accounting for about 16% of degrees conferred, ahead of the biological sciences at 13%. Engineering, the social sciences, and interdisciplinary studies follow at roughly 11% each, 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 $72,795 per year, with housing and food adding to the total cost of attendance. Duke meets 100% of demonstrated financial need: about 43% of students receive need-based aid, and the average need-based package for first-years is roughly $76,028.
Do the supplemental essays matter at Duke?＋
Duke rates the application essay as a 'considered' factor, below academics, recommendations, and character/personal qualities, which are very important. With an admit rate near 5.7% 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 2024-2025. Figures transcribed 2026-06-06. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Duke. Banner photo by CramBetter.com, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0).