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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. It has an acceptance rate of 5%. The freshman retention rate at Duke University is 98% and the six-year graduation rate is 97%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is January 5. The transfer application deadline is March 15.
Here are some current data on important things to consider about Duke University.
Quick Facts
6,523
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$70,265
Tuition
5:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
97%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you know as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission, you can make a better judgment about your eligibility and boost your chances of getting accepted. Learn some essential info about admission at Duke University.
According to the newest 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 for the candidates who choose 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. With a rich history of academic excellence, it offers 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 total number of those who submitted test scores. 97.94% of the first-year 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 first-year students 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 new students had an average SAT Critical Reading score of 740 and an average SAT Math score of 770.
Deadlines
The cutoff date for submitting applications to Duke University is January 5. For transfer students, the application deadline is March 15.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is the percentage of college or university newcomers who return for their sophomore year. Why is that information important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for Duke University was 98% in 2025, which is an amazing retention rate only the most prestigious institutions achieve.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. It reflects the proportion of students who obtain their degrees within the expected timeframe. This academic institution has the six-year graduation rate of 97%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Picking a school that is the right fit for you is not a simple task. You can better comprehend the culture and life of the school by finding out more about the student body.
Main Student Body
The overall 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. 4,636 full-time graduate men and 5,539 full-time graduate women attended this school.
Student Population Diversity
Higer Education is committed to focusing on the diversity of its student population and improving students' sense of inclusion and belonging. An inclusive 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 undergraduates at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 475 as multirace. The school also had 5 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 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
Here are some facts that can be useful if you were curious about Duke University estimated tuition price.
In 2025, tuition amounted to $70,265 for all full-time domestic students. 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 summed up to $2,530 in 2025.
Books and Supplies
The estimated price of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into consideration as another important financial factor. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $536.
Boarding
When choosing a college, you should factor in the price of a dorm room and meals at the school cafeteria. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for lodging and meals?
In 2025, room and board cost at Duke University amounted to $19,247 a year. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school stood at $10,910, according to the data from 2025. 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
Financial aid for students comes in different forms: grants, loans, scholarships, or work-study programs. Check out some recent data to get the information about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid at Duke University.
According to the most recent data, 759 freshmen were awarded financial aid. Students of this school received an average of $72,436.97 in financial help.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
There were 2,632 students who received need-based financial aid of any kind. 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 amounted to 2,645. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution stood at $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.
254 students, including freshmen, got institutional non-need-based financial aid at this school in 2025. 93 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. 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. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $12,594,133 USD.
Majors
Faculty
5:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
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 faculty members at this school. Out of that number, there were 1,107 male and 847 female faculty members.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at Duke University is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Find out some information about social life at Duke University.
Its campus is 8,500 acres in size.
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.
That includes sororities and fraternities. Those who like music can join the Duke University band or chorus. There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. Interested in media and communication? Duke University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
Duke University offers a number of services crucial for a comfortable and secure life on campus.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a round-the-clock security patrol. 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 all you need for a comfortable stay.
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 highly beneficial 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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According to the latest information, you would need to pay about 70,265 USD per academic year for Duke University.
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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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The most recent reported 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.