collageGet the inside scoop on the University of Duke out of state acceptance rate, average SAT scores, honors programs and more. Learn how you can improve your application and increase your chances of being accepted at Duke University. Duke University is a private, not-for-profit university located in Durham, North Carolina. The school offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs through its three schools: the Pratt School of Engineering, the School of Nursing, and the Trinity School of Arts and Sciences. In addition to its Charlotte campuses, Duke also offers classes to students online through Duke Online.
Duke conducts a holistic assessment of all candidates for admission. While alumni affiliation by no means ensures acceptance to Duke, the university values meaningful connection to Duke and its traditions and does note alumni status when reviewing applications. Fret not! Collegelearners is here to afford you all the information you need on Duke University.
Right here on Collegelearners, you can rest assured to obtain relevant information on Duke out of state tuition, Duke acceptance rate early decision, Duke University acceptance rate for international students, Duke acceptance rate 2021, what GPA is needed for Duke University and so much more.
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university in Durham, North Carolina. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present-day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco and electric power industrialist James Buchanan Duke established The Duke Endowment and the institution changed its name to honor his deceased father, Washington Duke.
Duke’s campus spans over 8,600 acres (3,500 hectares) on three contiguous sub-campuses in Durham as well as a marine lab in Beaufort. The West Campus—designed largely by architect Julian Abele, an African American architect who graduated first in his class at University of Pennsylvania School of Design—incorporates Gothic architecture with the 210-foot (64-meter) Duke Chapel at the campus’ center and highest point of elevation, is adjacent to the Medical Center. East Campus, 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) away, home to all first-years, contains Georgian-style architecture. The university administers two concurrent schools in Asia, Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore (established in 2005) and Duke Kunshan University in Kunshan, China (established in 2013).
Duke University is ranked among the top universities in the United States. Undergraduate admissions are among the most selective in the country. It spends more money conducting research than most other universities in the country and its researchers are among the most frequently cited. As of 2019, 15 Nobel laureates and 3 Turing Award winners have been affiliated with the university. Duke alumni also include 50 Rhodes Scholars, 25 Churchill Scholars, 13 Schwarzman Scholars, and 8 Mitchell Scholars. The university has produced the third highest number of Churchill Scholars of any university (behind Princeton and Harvard) and the fifth-highest number of Rhodes, Marshall, Truman, Goldwater, and Udall Scholars of any American university between 1986 and 2015. Duke is the alma mater of one president of the United States (Richard Nixon) and 14 living billionaires.
Duke is the second-largest private employer in North Carolina, with more than 39,000 employees.[21][22] The university has been ranked as an excellent employer by several publications.
Duke’s acceptance rate in the 2019-20 admissions cycle was 8.2%. In the 2020-21 cycle, the received a whopping 49,555 applications and accepted only 5.8%, the lowest clip in school history.
Location & Contact
Address: Durham, NC 27708
United States: ContactMr. Christoph Guttentag
Director of Admissions
Email: askduke@admiss.duke.edu
Phone: 919-684-3214
Majors & Degrees
| Area, Ethnic, Cultural, And Gender Studies | Associate | Bachelors |
|---|---|---|
| African American/Black Studies |  | |
| Asian Studies | | |
| Canadian Studies | | |
| Women’s Studies | | |
| Biological And Biomedical Sciences | Associate | Bachelors |
| Anatomy | | |
| Biology/biological Sciences |
Duke university out of state acceptance rate
Acceptance Rate
35,767Applied3,189Accepted6,682Enrolled9%
Female Admissions
18,497 Females Applied 1,611Females Accepted 9% Acceptance Rate
Male Admissions
17,270 Males Applied1,578 Males Accepted 9% Acceptance Rate
Applying
85 Application Fee
| Admission Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Required | Transcript of high school record Essay |
| Required for some programs | Other requirements may exist (see below) |
| Recommended | Interview |
| Other requirements: | Audition tape for dance, drama, or music; slides of work for art |
Application Deadlines
| Type | Application Closing | Notification Date | Rolling Admissions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall freshmen | January 3rd | April 1st | |
| Early decision plan | November 1st | December 15th | |
| Other early decision plan | Not reported | Not reported | |
| Transfer | March 15th | May 15th |
Test Scores Accepted
| Test | Avg. Score | 25th %  | 75th % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Critical Reading | 740 | 710 | 770 | |
| SAT Math | 770 | 740 | 800 | |
| ACT Composite | 34 | 33 | 35 |
duke university Tuition and Fees
Tuition
55,880 Private
Fees
2,051Full-time student fees 15,588 Room & board 8,924 Room only
Other Payment Considerations
| Guaranteed tuition plan offered | No |
|---|---|
| Tuition pre-payment plan | Yes |
| Tuition payment plans offered | Yes |
Financial Aid
57,235Avg. Financial Aid Package 54,990 Avg. Freshman Financial Aid Package 70,070 Avg. International Student Financial Aid Package 3,207Avg. Loan Aid 74,761Avg. Grant Aid 55,374 Avg. Scholarship and/or Grant Aid awarded 100% Percentage of students with need who receive financial aid 100% Avg. Percentage of Financial Need Met 100% Percentage of Students Who Had Their Need Fully Met
Student Body
6,682 Total Undergrad students10%International Students85%Out-of-state students
Race/Ethnicity
| Hispanic/Latino | 9.46% |
|---|---|
| Black or African American | 10.14% |
| White or Caucasian | 42.47% |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 0.71% |
| Asian | 22.04% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 0.17% |
| Two or more races | 1.64% |
| Other | 3.73% |
Gender
Male (49.75%)Female (50.25%)
Campus Life
Housing
| Type | |
|---|---|
| College-owned housing | Yes |
| Housing requirements | Yes |
| Housing options | Co-ed housing Men-only housing Women-only housing Freshman car parking |
| % of undergrad students who live in college housing | 85% |
Student Activities
Student-run campus newspaper Drama/theatre group Student-run radio station Student-run television station Marching band Choral groups
Student Services
Legal services Health clinic Personal/psychological counseling Women’s center International students advisor
Student Organizations
Greek fraternities, Greek sororities, Local fraternities, Local sororities
Campus Security & Safety
24-hour emergency telephone/alarm services24-hour patrols by trained officers Student patrols, Late-night transport/escort services Electronically-operated dormitory entrances
Athletics
Men’s Sports
| Sport | Intramural | Intercollegiate | Scholarship |
|---|---|---|---|
| Badminton | | | No |
| Baseball | | Division 1 | |
| Basketball | | Division 1 | |
| Crew | No | | No |
| Cross-country Running | No | Division 1 | No |
| Equestrian Sports | No | | No |
| Fencing | No | Division 1 | No |
| Field Hockey | No | | No |
| Football | | Division 1A | |
| Golf | | Division 1 | |
| Ice Hockey | No | | No |
| Lacrosse | No | Division 1 | |
| Racquetball | No | | No |
| Rugby | No | | No |
| Sailing | No | | No |
| Skiing (cross-country) | No | | No |
| Skiing (downhill) | No | | No |
| Soccer | | Division 1 | |
| Softball | | | No |
| Squash | | | No |
| Swimming And Diving | | Division 1 | No |
| Table Tennis | | | No |
| Tennis | | Division 1 | |
| Track And Field | No | Division 1 | No |
| Ultimate Frisbee | No | | No |
| Volleyball | | | No |
| Water Polo | No | | No |
| Wrestling | No | Division 1 | No |
Women’s Sports
| Sport | Intramural | Intercollegiate | Scholarship |
|---|---|---|---|
| Badminton | | | No |
| Baseball | | No | No |
| Basketball | | Division 1 | |
| Crew | No | Division 1 | |
| Cross-country Running | No | Division 1 | No |
| Equestrian Sports | No | | No |
| Fencing | No | Division 1 | No |
| Field Hockey | No | Division 1 | |
| Football | No | | No |
| Golf | | Division 1 | |
| Ice Hockey | No | | No |
| Lacrosse | No | Division 1 | |
| Racquetball | No | | No |
| Rugby | No | | No |
| Sailing | No | | No |
| Skiing (cross-country) | No | | No |
| Skiing (downhill) | No | | No |
| Soccer | | Division 1 | |
| Softball | | | No |
| Squash | | | No |
| Swimming And Diving | | Division 1 | No |
| Table Tennis | | | No |
| Tennis | | Division 1 | |
| Track And Field | No | Division 1 | No |
| Ultimate Frisbee | No | | No |
| Volleyball | | Division 1 | |
| Water Polo | No | | No |
| Wrestling | No | No | No |
Faculty
1,563 Total Faculty 6:1Student-Faculty Ratio Full-time – 1,481 Part-time – 82 Male – 947 Female – 616
Applying to Duke University
Duke University COVID-19 Update The acceptance ratio at Duke University was 8.00% – 41,947 students were applied and 3,356 were admitted to the school. Based on the rate, it is extremely hard to get into the school. The yield, also know as enrollment rate, is 54% where 1,812 out of 3,356 admitted students were enrolled. The average SAT score is 1,510 and ACT score is 100 at the school.
Duke University Admissions
The application fee is $85 for applying undergraduate school and $85 for graduate school at Duke University. Next table presents general admission information.
| Open Admission Policy | No |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate Application Fees | $85 |
| Graduate Application Fees | $85 |
| Admission Information | www.admissions.duke.edu |
| Online Application | admissions.duke.edu/application/instructions |
| Calendar System | Semester |
| Credits Accepted | Advanced placement (AP) Credits |
| Degree Offered | Bachelor, Post-Bachelor Certificate, Master, Post-Master Certificate, Doctorate (Research), Doctorate (Professional Practice) |
Admission Statistics
For academic year 2019-20, the acceptance rate is 8.00% and yield is 53.99%. 20,183 men and 21,314 women applied to Duke University and 1,615 men and 1,492 women students were accepted. Among them, 888 men and 806 women were enrolled into the school (Fall 2019). Following table and chart show the admission statistics including number of applicants, acceptance rate, and yield (also known as enrollment rate).
What is my chance for admission to Duke University
| Total | Men | Women | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applicants | 41,947 | 20,183 | 21,314 |
| Admitted | 3,356 | 1,615 | 1,492 |
| Enrolled | 1,812 | 888 | 806 |
| Acceptance Ratio | 8.00% | 8.00% | 7.00% |
| Yield | 53.99% | 54.98% | 54.02% |
Headcountspercentage (%)2019-2020 Admission StatisticsDuke UniversityApplicantsAdmittedEnrolledAcceptance RatesAdmission YieldTotalMenWomen010k20k30k40k50k0 %20 %40 %60 %80 %100 %Highcharts.com
SAT and ACT Score Distribution
For academic year 2019-2020, 956 students (55% of enrolled) have submitted their SAT scores and 988 students (57%) have submitted their ACT scores for seeking degrees. For score submitters, SAT 75th percentile score of Evidence-Based Reading/Writing is 770 and 25th percentile is 720. The SAT Math score is 800 (75th) and 760 (25th). The submitted ACT score is 106 (75th percentile) and 106 (25th percentile). .
| 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile | |
|---|---|---|
| SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing | 720 | 770 |
| SAT Math | 760 | 800 |
| ACT Composite | 33 | 35 |
| ACT Math | 32 | 35 |
| ACT English | 34 | 36 |
The submitted SAT and ACT scores of admitted students at Duke University are very competitive and high when comparing similar colleges (SAT: 1,462, ACT: 97 – Private (not-for-profit) Research University (very high research activity)).Values2019-2020 SAT & ACT Scores Statistics Duke University25th Percentile75th Percentile SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing SAT Math ACT Composite ACT Math ACT English01000250500750Highcharts.com
Application Requirements
Duke University requires to submit High School GPA, High School Rank, High School Record (or Transcript), Completion of College Preparatory Program, Recommendations, Formal Demonstration of Competencies, Admission Test Scores, TOEFL and Other Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.) to its applicants. Next table summarizes Duke University application requirements.
| High School GPA | Required |
|---|---|
| High School Rank | Required |
| High School Record (or Transcript) | Required |
| Completion of College Preparatory Program | Required |
| Recommendations | Required |
| Formal Demonstration of Competencies | Required |
| Admission Test Scores | Required |
| TOEFL | Required |
| Other Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.) | Required |
Duke Admission Requirements
Chances of getting into Duke University
Acceptance Rate
8.9%
| Admission Standards | Elite | |
| Applicant Competition | Extreme |
How hard is it to get into Duke and can I get accepted? The school has a 9% acceptance rate ranking it #1 in North Carolina for lowest rate of acceptance. Last year, 3,189 out of 35,786 applicants were admitted making Duke an extremely competitive school to get into with a very low chance of acceptance – even for applicants with the highest scores and grades. Academically, it has exceptionally high requirements for admission test scores, generally admitting students who score in the top 2 percent. Duke University typically accepts and attracts “A-” average high school students. Of those applicants who were admitted, 55% enrolled. With over half of admitted students enrolling, acceptance by Duke University is a prized outcome for many students. Most incoming freshmen graduated in the top ten percent of their high school class.
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Find out which students are getting accepted at Duke, which are not, and how your GPA, SAT, or ACT scores compare.
Duke SAT Scores
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
1450-1570
Applicants Submitting SAT
53%
| SAT Reading 25th | 710 |
| SAT Math 25th | 740 |
| SAT Composite 25th | 1450 |
| SAT Reading 75th | 770 |
| SAT Math 75th | 800 |
| SAT Composite 75th | 1570 |
| Average SAT Score | 1510 |
SAT Scores you need to get in
What are the SAT requirements for students to be admitted to Duke University?
Duke University typically requires applicants to be in the top 2 percent of SAT test takers. The school consistently takes SAT composite scores down to 1450 on a 1600 scale, below which admission should be considered a reach. We estimate some students could be accepted with SAT’s as low as 1390. The estimated average SAT composite for admitted freshman is 1510 out of 1600. The school ranks #1 in North Carolina for highest average SAT composite score. 53 percent of applicants submit SAT scores to the school. Note: SAT scores presented on this page have been adjusted upwards per the College Board’s concordance tables for test takers after March 2016.Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2018 starting class.
Estimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score
| SAT SCORE (1600 SCALE) | COMPETITIVENESS | ADMISSION CHANCES |
|---|---|---|
| 1570 and Above | Good | >14% |
| 1510 to 1570 | Avg + | 9%-14% |
| 1450 to 1510 | Avg – | 5%-9% |
| 1390 to 1450 | Reach | 3%-5% |
| Less than 1390 | Low | <3% |
Duke ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
33-35
Applicants Submitting ACT
72%
| ACT Reading 25th | 32 |
| ACT Math 25th | 31 |
| ACT Composite 25th | 33 |
| ACT Reading 75th | 35 |
| ACT Math 75th | 35 |
| ACT Composite 75th | 35 |
| Average ACT Score | 34 |
ACT Scores needed to get accepted
What are the ACT requirements for prospective students to get into Duke?
Admission data indicates that Duke regularly accepts students with ACT’s of 33 and above. Successful applicants typically send ACT scores in the top 2 percent nationally. We estimate the school accepting minimum ACT composite scores around 32 in some instances. Prospective students submitting an ACT composite of 34 or higher should be in the upper half of applicants – and students with a 35 and above have very competitive chances. The school ranks #1 in North Carolina for highest average ACT composite score. Scoring well on the ACT is very important as 72 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to Duke University. Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2018 starting class
Estimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score
| ACT SCORE | COMPETITIVENESS | ADMISSION CHANCES |
|---|---|---|
| 35 and Above | Good | >14% |
| 34 to 35 | Avg + | 9%-14% |
| 33 to 34 | Avg – | 5%-9% |
| 32 to 33 | Reach | 3%-5% |
| Less than 32 | Low | <3% |
Estimated GPA Requirements & Average GPA
Avg. High School GPA
3.94*
Typical High School Grades
A-
You will need exceptionally good grades to get into Duke University. The average high school GPA of the admitted freshman class at Duke University was 3.94 on the 4.0 scale indicating that primarily A- students are accepted and ultimately attend. The school ranks #8 in North Carolina for highest average GPA. Given the school’s very highly selective admissions, acceptance at Duke extremely difficult and unlikely even with a 3.94 GPA. The school should be considered a reach even if you have a 3.94 GPA.
What do these ratings mean?This school has not released high school GPA data for its incoming freshmen. In these cases, CollegeSimply employs an artificial intelligence (AI) process to predict GPA based on this school’s test scores and a large sample of other colleges’ data. 3.94 is an estimate of the school’s average incoming freshman GPA.
High School Class Rank
92% of Duke University freshman were in the top ten percent of their high school graduating class.
| HIGH SCHOOL CLASS RANK | FRESHMEN WITHIN RANGE |
|---|---|
| Top 10% of class | 92% |
| Top 25% of class | 98% |
| Top 50% of class | 99% |
| Bottom 50% of class | 1% |
| Bottom 25% of class | 0% |
Data Sources, Wintergreen Orchard House
Admission Statistics
| WOMEN | MEN | TOTAL | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 18,505 | 17,281 | 35,786 |
| Accepted | 1,611 | 1,578 | 3,189 |
| Acceptance Rate | 9% | 9% | 9% |
| Enrolled | 909 | 836 | 1,745 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 56% | 53% | 55% |
Fall 2020 Application Deadline
APPLICATIONS WERE DUE
Jan 2, 2020
DAYS LEFT TO APPLY
None
The application deadline for Fall 2020 has passed. Applications were due on Jan 2, 2020.
Admission Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to Duke University and what considerations affect admission decisions?
| Test Scores | Required |
| High School GPA | Recommended |
| High School Class Rank | Recommended |
| Completion of College Preparatory Program | Required |
| Recommendations | Required |
| Demonstration of Competencies | Neither required nor recommended |
Credits Accepted
| AP Credit | Yes |
| Dual Credit | No |
| Credit for Life Experiences | No |
Other Colleges to Consider
Georgetown University
Washington, District Of Columbia
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, Maryland
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, Pennsylvania
Emory University
Atlanta, Georgia
Haverford College
Haverford, Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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