Elite Private · Durham, North Carolina
Duke University
Most selective in the country. 5.1% acceptance rate.
Calculate your Duke oddsHow hard is it to get into Duke?
Duke is most selective in the country, with a 5.1% acceptance rate. Admitted students typically score 1490–1570 on the SAT and 34–35 on the ACT. The application is read holistically, so essays, recommendations, activities, and demographic context all factor into the decision alongside test scores and GPA.
Quick Facts
| Acceptance rate | 5.1% |
| SAT (mid-50%) | 1490–1570 |
| ACT (mid-50%) | 34–35 |
| Cost of attendance | $90,222 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $29,612 |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 6,717 |
| 6-year graduation rate | 96.8% |
| Median earnings (10 yrs after entry) | $97,800 |
| Type | Private · Elite Private |
| Setting | Large urban |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Last verified May 2026.
Getting In
Duke's 5.1% acceptance rate reflects 2,767 admits from 54,094 applications. The mid-50% SAT range of 1490–1570 means a quarter of admitted students scored above 1570, and a quarter scored below 1490. Scores in that range don't guarantee admission. Scores outside it don't rule it out. The application is read holistically.
That number doesn't tell you your odds. A 1550 SAT and a 4.0 GPA put you in the academic conversation. They don't put you in the admit pile. Your actual probability depends on your full profile: coursework rigor, activities, recommendations, demographic context, and what your essays accomplish. The pool average is a starting point, not a forecast.
Personalized estimate
What are your actual odds at Duke?
Enter your SAT/ACT, GPA, activities, and target schools. Get a probability calibrated to real admit data, not a headline acceptance rate.
Run the calculatorDuke Test Score Profile
Admitted students score in the following ranges across SAT sections:
SAT Reading
740–770
25th–75th percentile
SAT Math
760–800
25th–75th percentile
Strong applicants tend to score above the 75th percentile in their stronger section and at or above the 25th percentile in their weaker one. Both numbers are descriptive, not prescriptive. Plenty of admitted students score below the 25th percentile in one section, especially with strong context elsewhere.
Beyond the Numbers
Duke is best known for Trinity College and Pratt Engineering, DukeEngage, and the tight undergraduate community. Admissions readers are looking for applicants whose specific interests and ways of working would actually thrive in that environment. Not generic “passion.” Concrete curiosity that already shows up in what you do.
Duke admits roughly 5 to 6 percent. Duke undergraduates apply to one of two schools, Trinity (arts and sciences) or Pratt (engineering), and the two have distinct cultures and admission patterns.
Class Profile
The undergraduate population at Duke breaks down as follows according to federal IPEDS data:
Race & ethnicity
These percentages reflect the enrolled student body, not the applicant pool. Admit rates by demographic differ from the headline rate, and the school's composition is the result of its full holistic review process.
Cost & Financial Aid
The published cost of attendance at Duke is $90,222 per year before aid. After grants and scholarships, the average student pays $29,612per year. The sticker price isn't the number that matters for most families.
Net price by family income
What the average student actually pays per year, after grants:
| Family income $0–30K | $735 |
| Family income $30K–48K | $-361 |
| Family income $48K–75K | $5,706 |
| Family income $75K–110K | $17,100 |
| Family income $110K+ | $54,230 |
Highly selective private universities tend to meet 100% of demonstrated financial need, often without loans, for families below specific income thresholds. The number that matters for your family is your net price, which can be estimated using the school's own net price calculator before applying.
Outcomes
Federal data on what happens after enrollment at Duke:
Graduation rate
96.8%
6-year (federal IPEDS)
Median earnings
$97,800
10 yrs after entry
Median debt
$13,000
Among completers
14.0% of students receive a Pell Grant (federal need-based aid), and 13.6%take federal loans. These rates are useful proxies for the school's socioeconomic mix and how much most families end up borrowing.
Duke Supplemental Essays
Duke requires supplemental essays beyond the Common App personal statement. The most recent prompts include:
- “What is your sense of Duke as a university and a community, and why do you consider it a good match for you? If there's something in particular about our offerings that attracts you, feel free to share that as well.”
- “Optional: Share with us something you feel is important about you to help us know you better.”
- “Optional: We believe a wide range of personal perspectives, beliefs, and lived experiences are essential to making Duke a vibrant and meaningful living and learning community. Feel free to share with us anything in this context that might help us better understand you and what you might bring to our community.”
The “Why Duke” supplemental is capped at roughly 250 words. At that length, every sentence has to do real work. List-making and adjective-stacking get cut by readers in the first pass.
What tends to go wrong
- Writing a Why Duke about basketball. Duke readers see this at scale.
- Applying to Pratt without any engineering background or interest reflected in your application.
- Writing the optional essays as if they're required and padding them with filler. If you don't have something real to add, submitting without them is fine.
Stronger ways to open
- For the Why Duke, decide before you write whether you're applying to Trinity or Pratt and ground your essay in that school's specific courses, faculty, or structure.
- Use DukeEngage, the Duke Research Scholars program, or a specific Bass Connections project as evidence of fit. Every applicant mentions Duke's balance of academics and community, so concrete programs make the essay stand out.
- For the community essay, take Duke's phrasing seriously. 'Living and learning community' is deliberate, and Duke reviewers want to see you engaging with what it would mean to live on campus, not just attend classes.
Application Timeline
- ED deadline: November 1. Historically 12.3% acceptance rate.
- Regular Decision deadline: January 2
- Testing: SAT/ACT optional. Submit if your scores fall within or above the mid-50% range.
Duke essay tools
Score, brainstorm, or revise Duke essays with tools tuned to Duke's prompts.
Duke vs. Peer Schools
Side-by-side comparison with similar Elite Private schools applicants typically consider.
| School | Accept | SAT mid-50 | Net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duke This page | 5.1% | 1490–1570 | $29,612 |
| Stanford | 3.7% | 1500–1580 | $13,807 |
| Northwestern | 7.2% | 1500–1560 | $29,167 |
| Johns Hopkins | 7.3% | 1530–1570 | $18,809 |
| UChicago | 5.4% | 1510–1580 | $14,860 |
| Rice | 8.0% | 1510–1570 | $13,370 |
FAQ
How hard is it to get into Duke?
Duke is most selective in the country. The most recently published acceptance rate is 5.1%. Admitted students score in the 1490–1570 SAT range. Test scores are necessary but not sufficient. Holistic review weighs essays, activities, recommendations, and demographic context.
What SAT score do I need for Duke?
Admitted students at Duke typically score between 1490 and 1570 on the SAT. A quarter of admits scored above 1570, and a quarter scored below 1490. Scores in this range are competitive but do not guarantee admission.
How much does Duke cost?
The published cost of attendance at Duke is $90,222 per year before financial aid. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $29,612. Most highly selective schools meet 100% of demonstrated need for families below specific income thresholds.
What is the graduation rate at Duke?
96.8% of students at Duke graduate within 6 years (the standard federal graduation rate metric).
What is the difference between Trinity and Pratt at Duke?
Trinity is Duke's College of Arts & Sciences (most majors). Pratt is Duke's engineering school (BME, ECE, CE, ME, and a few interdisciplinary tracks). You apply to one when you submit.
How long is the Why Duke essay?
About 250 words, comparable to most peer schools. The prompt asks both why Duke and why you're a good match, so balance both.
Can I switch between Trinity and Pratt after admission?
Internal transfer is possible but not guaranteed. Admissions notices if your essays feel like they belong in the other school.
What is DukeEngage?
A summer service program where Duke funds and places students in domestic and international community engagement projects. Roughly half of Duke undergraduates participate.
Should I mention Duke's Basketball culture in my essay?
Almost never. It's the most common mention Duke readers see. If you have a genuine reason (you played high school ball and want to walk on), fine. Otherwise pick something else.
Sources
All numerical data on this page is sourced from official, primary sources. Admissions stats reflect the most recent publicly published cycle. Verify current figures with Duke's admissions office before applying.
- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard — federally maintained dataset on admissions, cost, demographics, and post-graduation outcomes (IPEDS-derived).
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) — the underlying federal data collection that all U.S. accredited institutions report into annually.
- Duke University official admissions site — for the most current published figures and application requirements.
- Duke Common Data Set — the standardized annual data document published by the school.
Last verified May 2026. Stats reflect Duke's most recent publicly published admit cycle.