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Duke University

Durham, North Carolina · Private · 6,442 undergrads

Duke admits 5.2% of applicants (fall 2025, Common Data Set 2025-26), is test-optional for fall 2027, and regular decision is due Jan 4, 2027.

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Can I get into Duke?

5.2% of applicants get in

Almost everyone who applies is turned down, including many students with perfect grades. The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent scores had 1510–1570 on the SAT.

Add your SAT to see where you sit

Likely: even the low end of our estimate is 60% or more, and the college admits at least 25% of applicants. Target: our estimate is 30% or more. Reach: our estimate is under 30%, or the college admits under 15%. Long shot: our estimate is under 12%, or the college admits under 12%. Estimates use the college's admit rate and score range plus your grades and scores. They are not a promise.

55,541 applied, 2,910 admitted, fall 2025 (Common Data Set).

What does Duke cost?

$23,706 a year

What students who got federal aid paid on average after grants, 2024-25. The sticker price, with housing and food, is $90,696.

Tap your family income:

Average paid after grants by family income
under $30,000$6,652
$30,000–$48,000Not reported
$48,000–$75,000$4,608
$75,000–$110,000$16,813
over $110,000$48,954

Own a business or have divorced parents? Run Duke's own calculator.

Net price 2024-25, College Scorecard.

Does Duke need the SAT or ACT?Optional

No.

Test-optional for fall 2027. 48% of enrolled first-years sent the SAT. Send your SAT if it's 1540 or higher, the middle of what enrolled first-years scored.

Which colleges require scores

Checked on admissions.duke.edu Nov 2, 2026. See the source

What it's like

6,442
undergrads. Mid-size: plenty of people, and professors who can learn your name.
City
Campus setting in Durham, NC.
98%
of first-years come back for year two.
88%
finish in four years. 96% within six.
$113.9k
median pay 10 years after starting.
$13k
median federal debt at graduation.

Lists Duke is on

Test-optional collegesColleges due Jan 4Deadlines after Jan 1Most selective in North CarolinaColleges for a 34 ACTCheapest after aid, families under $30kCheapest after aid, families $48–75kColleges that meet full need

Questions people ask

Is Duke University test-optional for fall 2027?
Yes. Duke is test-optional for students entering in fall 2027, so you choose whether to send SAT or ACT scores. Checked on admissions.duke.edu on Nov 2, 2026.
What is Duke University's acceptance rate?
5.2% for fall 2025: 2,910 of 55,541 applicants were admitted (Common Data Set).
What SAT score do you need for Duke University?
The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent SAT scores had 1510 to 1570 (Common Data Set, fall 2025). A quarter scored higher and a quarter lower, so a score in that range is typical, not a cutoff.
How much does Duke University cost for a family earning $60,000?
Families earning $48,000–$75,000 paid an average of $4,608 a year after grants in 2024-25 (students who got federal aid). The sticker price is $90,696.
When is the Duke University application deadline for fall 2027?
Early decision closed Nov 2, 2026. Regular decision is due Jan 4, 2027. Checked on admissions.duke.edu on Nov 5, 2026.
What is Duke University's graduation rate?
96% of students finish within six years and 88% within four (IPEDS).