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Durham , NC
Founded in 1838, Duke University is a prestigious private research institution located in Durham, North Carolina. With its strong foundation in liberal arts and sciences, Duke offers a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programs across its 10 schools and colleges. The university's commitment to excellence in education is reflected in its rigorous curriculum, renowned faculty, and state-of-the-art facilities.
Duke has gained international recognition for its strong academic programs, particularly in areas such as law, business, medicine, and engineering. The university's undergraduate program is known for its distinguished faculty and extensive research opportunities, providing students with a challenging yet supportive environment. Duke's graduate and professional schools, including the highly regarded Fuqua School of Business and School of Law, attract top-tier students from around the world.
Beyond academics, Duke offers a vibrant campus life with numerous extracurricular activities and a strong sense of community. With over 400 student organizations, the university encourages students to explore their passions and develop leadership skills outside of the classroom. The Blue Devils athletic teams, especially the esteemed men's basketball program, contribute to a strong school spirit and provide exciting entertainment for the campus community.
Overall, Duke University stands as a prestigious institution that combines world-class education, groundbreaking research, and a strong commitment to community. With its rich history and commitment to excellence, Duke continues to attract motivated students who aspire to make a positive impact in their chosen fields and society at large.
Located in Durham, NC and set in a suburban environment, Duke University is a private university. This school follows a semester-based calendar. The selection process is very rigorous, with an acceptance rate of a mere 5%. The freshman retention rate at Duke University is 98% and the six-year graduation rate is 97%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is January 2. The transfer application deadline is March 15.
Learn more about what Duke University has to offer based on the most recent data this institution has reported.
Quick Facts
6,523
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$70,265
Tuition
5:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
97%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you learn as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission, your chances of getting accepted will significantly increase. Here are the most important data you have to know about admission at Duke University.
According to the most recent information reported, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 2,957 in 2025. Duke University has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores if the applicant chooses to submit them. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is one of the most difficult schools to get into. Having a long tradition of academic success and a dedication to encouraging intellectual curiosity, Duke University provides an unmatched educational experience.
Test Scores
47.3% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 29.79% submitted ACT scores, out of the overall number of those who submitted test scores. 97.94% of the new students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 2.06% between 1,200 and 1,399 and 0.81% between 1,000 and 1,199. The percent of incoming freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 99.23, 0.77 between 24-29 and 0.16 in the range between 18-23.
The SAT Critical Reading average score was 740 for the admitted students, while the average SAT Math score was 770.
Deadlines
The application deadline for this school is January 2. If you are applying for a transfer, the application deadline is March 15.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is defined as the percentage of first-year students who return for their sophomore year at a college or university. When you create your list of possible schools to attend, don't forget to consider the freshmen retention rate.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Duke University was 98%, which is an amazing retention rate only the most prestigious institutions have.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. The six-year graduation rate at this institution stands at 97%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
It is never easy to figure out which school is the perfect choice for you. You can get a better insight into a school's culture and life by learning more about its student body.
Main Student Body
The total number of students enrolled at Duke University in 2025 was 17,499.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 83% for that year. There was a total of 6,523 those pursuing undergraduate studies, including 679 international students. The school admitted a total of 52 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 7,486 male and 9,470 female full-time students in 2025. There were 4,636 full-time graduate male and 5,539 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of student diversity. A heterogeneous student body brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
This school had 1,403 Asian students and 562 Afro-American students in 2025. 691 undergrads at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 475 as multirace. The school also had 5 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 13 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 348 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
One of the most crucial things to take into consideration when applying to any college or university is the financial component. The most recent data reported regarding the expenses for attending this school are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at Duke University? Here is what you need to know.
As a full-time domestic student, you were required to pay tuition of $70,265 in 2025. Duke University is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students amounted to $2,530 in 2025.
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to take into account the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $536.
Boarding
Before you apply to a college or university, you should, among other things, think about the price of a dorm room and cafeteria meals. What do schools typically charge for room and board?
In 2025, the price of room and board at Duke University was $19,247 per academic year. If you only wanted a room on the campus, you had to pay $10,910 for the 2025 academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was $10,962.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 70,265 |
| Room and Board | $ 19,247 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 536 |
| Total Expense | $ 90,048 |
Financial Aid
There are different types of financial support: grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study programs. If you wish to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Duke University, here are some recent data you should take into consideration.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 759 freshmen. Students of this school received an average of $72,436.97 in financial help.
Need-based
If you need help with paying for your studies and you meet certain eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for need-based aid.
2,632 students gained some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Duke University is available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was 2,645. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution summed up to $8,908,623, and state $1,717,209. The students of Duke University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $171,158,200, and external in the amount of $4,360,859.
$83,644
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 254 students overall (including freshmen) at Duke University in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 93 full-time freshman. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $14,819,769. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $12,594,133 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Majors
Faculty
5:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Knowing more about a school's faculty can help you gauge the caliber of the education it can provide to you.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Duke University was 5:1: that means 5 students per one teacher, which is considered an excellent ratio. According to the most recent information, there are 1,954 teachers at this school. This number included 1,107 male and 847 female faculty members.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Check out some details about students' life at Duke University.
Its campus spans 8,500 acres.
Student Organizations
A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
Sororities and fraternities are included in that number. If you are interested in music, you can join the Duke University band or chorus. For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. You have a talent for media and communication? Duke University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
Duke University offers a number of services vital for a comfortable and secure life on campus.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. Dormitory entrances at the school are electronically operated. There is a security patrol that operates around the clock. The after-hours transportation/escort service is available.
This school has a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Legal Services and Women's Center are available to the students of Duke University.
All in all, campus life at Duke University is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Duke University.
Career Counselling
At Duke University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be a great asset for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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Duke University is located in Durham, NC.
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Duke University offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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The overall full-time tuition per academic year for Duke University is 70,265 USD, based on the most recent data.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Duke University is 5%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for Duke University is 98%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
