Acceptance Rate
6%
Avg. SAT
1570
75th percentile
“Duke fuses Gothic grandeur and basketball madness with relentless ambition in North Carolina's brainy Research Triangle.”
Durham, NC
Location
Large City
Campus Setting
You'll step onto a campus born from tobacco fortune in 1924, when James B. Duke dumped $40 million—equivalent to $600 million today—into a modest Methodist school founded as Union Institute in 1838, catapulting it into an academic powerhouse. Duke's personality shines as preppy yet gritty, blending Southern drawl with coastal elite polish; ambitious overachievers thrive here, the ones who juggle startups, NCAA fandom, and seminar debates without breaking a sweat. But if you're laid-back or averse to humid 90-degree summers that turn quads into saunas, you might wilt amid the constant hustle. Durham wraps Duke in a revitalizing vibe—once gritty tobacco town, now hipster haven with farm-to-table spots and breweries—but it's no walkable utopia like Boston; you'll need a car or bus to escape the sprawling, car-dependent metro area shared with rival UNC and NC State in the Research Triangle.
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Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Test Policy
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Average GPA
Application Fee
Academics
Student-Faculty Ratio
Programs Offered
Full-Time Faculty
Women Faculty
Research Spending
Degree Levels Offered
In Duke's intimate classrooms, where a 6:1 student-faculty ratio means professors like Nobel chemist Paul Modrich know your name, you'll dive into discussion-heavy seminars that spark fierce but collaborative debates, especially in standouts like the Sanford School of Public Policy or biomedical engineering intertwined with nearby Duke Health. Research hits early via programs like Bass Connections, pairing you with labs tackling climate tech or AI ethics, but expect cutthroat competition for spots—more selective than 98% of schools, so Type-A grinders dominate while others feel the pressure. Tradeoff: Pre-professional tracks to med, law, and Fuqua business lure 40% of undergrads, sometimes sidelining pure humanities explorers.
Student Body
Total Enrollment
6,523 undergrad • 10,976 grad
Undergraduate
Graduate
International
White
36%
Black / African American
7%
Hispanic / Latino
8%
Asian
14%
Other / Multi-racial
34%
Campus Life
Campus Setting
Durham, NC
Varsity Athletics
NCAA Athletics
A typical week pulses with 8 a.m. lectures, afternoon pickup basketball on Hanes Turf, Friday tailgates amid Gothic spires, and all-nighters in study carrels overlooking Duke Forest. Greek life claims 30% of students, fueling raucous parties, but quads like East Campus foster tight-knit houses via the selective QuadEx system, where you'll bond over midnight waffles at the 24-hour Pavilion. Traditions like 'tenting'—camping in a cardboard village for Duke basketball tickets—forge unbreakable loyalties among Cameron Crazies, yet the social scene skews privileged and competitive, challenging introverts or those seeking chill vibes; scorching humidity and pollen-choked springs test your resolve, but fall football weekends against UNC deliver electric highs.
Housing
On-Campus Housing
Housing Capacity
Meal Plan Available
Average Room & Board
Athletics
Athletic Association
Atlantic Coast Conference
ROTC & Veteran Support
Army
Yes
Navy
Yes
Air Force
Yes
Veteran’s Programs Available
Yellow Ribbon Program (Post-9/11 GI Bill)
Yes
Recognized student veteran organization
Yes
Cost & Aid
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
Room & Board
Estimated Cost
Financial Aid
Students Receiving Aid
Receiving Pell Grants
Average Grant
Average Federal Loan
Net Annual Cost by Household Income
Household Income
Avg. Net Cost
$0 – $30K
$2,945
$30K – $48K
$4,301
$48K – $75K
$10,304
$75K – $110K
$18,753
$110K+
$47,805
Apply for Financial Aid
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Costs shown are before financial aid. Most students receive some form of aid. Complete the FAFSA to see what you qualify for.
Outcomes & Earnings
Retention Rate
98%
4 Years Graduation Rate
90%
6 Years Graduation Rate
96%
Median 10-Year Earnings
$97,800
98% of first-time, full-time students complete their freshman year at Duke University and return in the fall. 90% of first-time, full-time students graduate in 4 years, and 96% graduate within 6 years.
Graduation Rate
4-year grads
90%
4-6 years
6%
Non-grad
4%
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Key Statistics
Type
Private
Tuition
$60,435
Acceptance
6%
Undergrads
6,523
4-Year Grad Rate
90%
Endowment
$8.9B
Durham, NC 27708