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Duke University

Duke University is a private campus in Durham proper — federal locale codes class it as urban. The school reports a United Methodist affiliation in its federal filings. The institution reports a hospital in its federal directory record.

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What could it cost?

Start with net price after grants, then read the published costs. Each chart names its academic year and the students it covers.

Net price by family income

key chart

Average annual cost after grants for each family-income band. These group averages are not personal price quotes.

IPEDS Income brackets, 2022–23

family-income band

$3,295

family income
under $30k

$242

$30–48k

$6,901

$48–75k

$16,487

$75–110k

$54,375

over $110k

These figures don't always rise with income — aid formulas can make a higher bracket cheaper.

Average net price

$29,6122023–24Skip to data table

Average annual attendance cost after grants for the reported student group. Your own aid offer and costs may differ.

Average net price at Duke University has wandered from 2008 to 2023 — up to $36,415 at the peak — but ends near where it began, at $29,612.

Average net price — data
Year	Net price
2008	$27,247
2009	$23,085
2010	$26,164
2011	$26,562
2012	$28,058
2013	$25,369
2014	$34,137
2015	$33,665
2016	$36,415
2017	$23,442
2018	$27,020
2019	$32,459
2020	$31,416
2021	$30,785
2022	$34,454
2023	$29,612

IPEDS 16 federal reports, 2008–2023

Total cost of attendance

$87,0722024–25Skip to data table

Estimated annual attendance budget before grants, including tuition, fees, housing, food and books. Not every expense is billed by the school.

Total cost at Duke University rose from $50,974 (2009) to $87,072 (2024).

Total cost of attendance — data
Year	Cost
2009	$50,974
2010	$53,035
2011	$55,150
2012	$57,325
2013	$59,528
2014	$61,748
2015	$63,999
2016	$67,005
2017	$69,847
2018	$72,466
2019	$75,105
2020	$77,846
2021	$78,176
2022	$81,138
2023	$82,749
2024	$87,072

IPEDS Academic-year cost 2009–2024

Tuition & fees

Skip to data table

Published tuition and fees before grants. Housing, food, books and other attendance costs are separate.

Tuition & fees — data
Year	Tuition & fees
2000	$25,630
2001	$26,768
2002	$27,844
2003	$29,345
2004	$30,720
2005	$31,420
2006	$33,963
2007	$35,512
2008	$37,295
2013	$45,376
2014	$47,243
2015	$49,241
2016	$51,265
2017	$53,500
2018	$55,695
2019	$58,031
2020	$57,633
2021	$60,244
2022	$62,688
2023	$65,805

IPEDS Published price 2000–01 to 2023–24 (not adjusted for inflation)

Cost, size & completion summary

Cost, size & completion

Reported tuition is $68,758 before grants and other attendance costs. At Duke University, aid and other costs change the bill. Scorecard snapshot: 2026-06-10; historical charts show their own years.

At 6,442 undergrads, Duke University is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.

96.8% of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants completed at Duke University within six years (2026-06-10 release). This measure excludes other student groups.

Do students finish — and what comes after?

Graduation, debt and earnings cover different groups. Read each chart's entering class or fiscal period; they are not one group's journey.

Six-year graduation rate

key chart

96.8%entered Fall 2018Skip to data table

The share of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants who completed at this institution within six years. Other students are not included.

The six-year graduation rate at Duke University has held near 96.8% from Fall 1991 to Fall 2018 entering cohorts.

A six-year rate can only describe a class that entered six or more years ago — by definition the last point on the line is that old.

Six-year graduation rate — data
Year	Graduated within 6 yrs
1991 cohort	92.3%
1992 cohort	92.5%
1993 cohort	91.9%
1994 cohort	92.7%
1995 cohort	91.3%
1996 cohort	93.4%
1997 cohort	93.6%
1998 cohort	93.7%
1999 cohort	93.4%
2000 cohort	93.9%
2001 cohort	93.6%
2002 cohort	95%
2003 cohort	94.6%
2004 cohort	94.3%
2005 cohort	94.4%
2006 cohort	94.5%
2007 cohort	94.2%
2008 cohort	94.8%
2009 cohort	95%
2010 cohort	94.6%
2011 cohort	95.3%
2012 cohort	95.6%
2013 cohort	94.6%
2014 cohort	95.5%
2015 cohort	95.9%
2016 cohort	96.6%
2017 cohort	95.8%
2018 cohort	96.8%

IPEDS Entering cohorts 1991–2018

Median debt at exit (completers vs non-completers)

Historical student groups

key chart

Skip to data table

Median federal student loan debt when students left school, shown separately for those who completed and those who did not.

CompletedLeft without degree

Each point combines two years. Neighboring points share one year, so changes should be read with that overlap in mind.

These two-year windows closed before today's students borrowed — they describe past cohorts, not the current price of a degree.

Median debt at exit — data
Year	Completed	Left without degree
Left school in fiscal years 1997 and 1998 (FY1997/98)	$14,530	$4,903
Left school in fiscal years 1998 and 1999 (FY1998/99)	$15,120	$5,540
Left school in fiscal years 1999 and 2000 (FY1999/00)	$15,356	$5,815
Left school in fiscal years 2000 and 2001 (FY2000/01)	$15,019	$4,669
Left school in fiscal years 2001 and 2002 (FY2001/02)	$14,847	$3,855
Left school in fiscal years 2002 and 2003 (FY2002/03)	$14,946	$5,125
Left school in fiscal years 2003 and 2004 (FY2003/04)	$14,500	$6,125
Left school in fiscal years 2004 and 2005 (FY2004/05)	$14,725	$6,125
Left school in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 (FY2005/06)	$14,867	$4,375
Left school in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 (FY2006/07)	$14,500	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 (FY2007/08)	$13,000	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 (FY2008/09)	$10,738	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 (FY2009/10)	$7,500	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 (FY2010/11)	$7,363	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 (FY2011/12)	$7,500	$4,000
Left school in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 (FY2012/13)	$6,610	$4,650
Left school in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 (FY2013/14)	$6,421	$4,500
Left school in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 (FY2014/15)	$7,000	$4,857
Left school in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 (FY2015/16)	$7,500	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (FY2016/17)	$9,200	$7,000
Left school in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 (FY2017/18)	$11,500	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (FY2018/19)	$12,582	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 (FY2019/20)	$13,500	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (FY2020/21)	$13,000	$5,500

NSLDS GRAD_DEBT_MDN / WDRAW_DEBT_MDN, merged FY periods · via College Scorecard

Earnings after entry

Historical student groups

Median annual earnings after entering college, for federally aided students who were working and not enrolled when measured.

Entered: academic years 2013–14 or 2014–15

$85,792

6 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2011–12 or 2012–13

$95,882

8 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2009–10 or 2010–11

$97,800

10 years after entry

Each figure covers a different group of students who entered college in the stated years. Earnings were measured in the same two years; these are not one group followed over time.

Measured in 2020–21, adjusted for inflation to 2022 dollars. Each figure pools two entering academic years.

Treasury Pooled entering cohorts · Scorecard 2020–21 historical file

What does the admissions record show?

Rates and score ranges describe a past admissions cycle. Submitted scores are not cutoffs or a prediction of admission.

Admissions snapshot & test policies

Duke University admitted 2,957 of 51,795 applicants in Fall 2024. The 5.7% rate describes that application pool.

5.7%

acceptance rate · Fall 2024 admissions cycle

rate trend $65,805 tuition · 2023–24 6,442 undergraduates · Fall 2024

Test-optional (considered) · Fall 2024

400SAT range (section 25th/75th sums): 1500–15701600

Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →

Admissions

In the Fall 2024 cycle, Duke University received 51,795 applications and admitted 2,957 (5.7%), with 1,740 enrolling.

Duke University reported scores as considered but not required for the Fall 2024 admissions cycle. For Duke University’s enrolled SAT submitters, Reading and Writing was 740–770 and Math was 760–800 (25th–75th percentiles). The section-percentile sums 1500–1570 are not composite-score percentiles. These are not admission cutoffs.

Check current requirements with admissions.

Score	25th	50th	75th
SAT Reading & Writing	740	760	770
SAT Math	760	780	800
ACT Composite	34	35	35

25th / 75th: a quarter of enrolled submitters scored below the first number, a quarter above the second. These are not cutoffs.

Only students who submitted scores are counted — at test-optional schools, many enrolled students aren't in this table.

Percentiles are among enrolled students who submitted scores (Fall 2024 admissions cycle).

Acceptance rate

5.7%Fall 2024Skip to data table

The share of applicants offered a spot — lower means more selective; read it alongside the score ranges below.

Read Duke University's change from 26.3% to 5.7% as a share of applications, not an explanation of admissions decisions. This describes Fall 2002 to Fall 2024.

Acceptance rate — data
Year	Acceptance rate
Fall 2002	26.3%
Fall 2003	23.2%
Fall 2004	21.4%
Fall 2005	22.1%
Fall 2006	23.7%
Fall 2007	22.7%
Fall 2008	23%
Fall 2009	22.4%
Fall 2010	18.9%
Fall 2011	16.5%
Fall 2012	14%
Fall 2013	13.4%
Fall 2014	11.4%
Fall 2015	11.4%
Fall 2016	10.8%
Fall 2017	9.9%
Fall 2018	8.9%
Fall 2019	7.6%
Fall 2020	7.7%
Fall 2021	5.9%
Fall 2022	6.3%
Fall 2023	6.8%
Fall 2024	5.7%

IPEDS Fall cycles 2002–2024

SAT range (section sums, 25th–75th)

1500–1570Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

Sums of the reading/writing and math percentiles among enrolled submitters — not percentiles of total SAT scores or admission cutoffs.

SAT range (section sums) — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2002	1320	1500
Fall 2003	1330	1520
Fall 2004	1330	1530
Fall 2005	1330	1530
Fall 2006	1380	1560
Fall 2007	1330	1540
Fall 2008	1340	1540
Fall 2009	1340	1540
Fall 2010	1340	1530
Fall 2011	1350	1530
Fall 2012	1350	1530
Fall 2013	1360	1550
Fall 2014	1370	1550
Fall 2015	1360	1550
Fall 2016	1380	1570
Fall 2017	1380	1540
Fall 2018	1450	1570
Fall 2019	1480	1570
Fall 2020	1470	1570
Fall 2021	1468	1558
Fall 2022	1490	1570
Fall 2023	1510	1570
Fall 2024	1500	1570

IPEDS Fall 2002–2024, submitters only

ACT middle 50%

34–35Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

The middle half of enrolled ACT submitters, using published composite-score percentiles — not admission cutoffs.

ACT middle 50% — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2003	29	34
Fall 2004	29	34
Fall 2005	29	33
Fall 2006	29	33
Fall 2007	29	34
Fall 2008	29	34
Fall 2010	30	34
Fall 2011	30	34
Fall 2012	30	34
Fall 2013	30	34
Fall 2014	31	34
Fall 2015	31	34
Fall 2016	31	34
Fall 2017	31	35
Fall 2018	33	35
Fall 2019	33	35
Fall 2020	34	35
Fall 2021	33	35
Fall 2022	34	35
Fall 2023	34	35
Fall 2024	34	35

IPEDS Fall 2003–2024, submitters only

What is the campus like?

Enrollment counts a campus population; retention follows first-years returning. Their dates and populations are shown separately.

Undergraduate enrollment

6,442Fall 2024Skip to data table

Reported undergraduate enrollment. This count does not measure class size or teaching access.

Undergraduate enrollment at Duke University has held near 6,442 from Fall 2002 to Fall 2024.

Undergraduate enrollment — data
Year	Undergraduates
Fall 2002	6,053
Fall 2003	6,086
Fall 2004	6,107
Fall 2005	6,259
Fall 2006	6,214
Fall 2007	6,260
Fall 2008	6,352
Fall 2009	6,416
Fall 2010	6,545
Fall 2011	6,534
Fall 2012	6,493
Fall 2013	6,501
Fall 2014	6,480
Fall 2015	6,501
Fall 2016	6,467
Fall 2017	6,552
Fall 2018	6,596
Fall 2019	6,546
Fall 2020	6,650
Fall 2021	6,815
Fall 2022	6,570
Fall 2023	6,417
Fall 2024	6,442

IPEDS Fall headcounts 2002–2024

First-year retention (full-time)

98%Fall 2023 cohortSkip to data table

The share of the reported first-time student group who returned the following year. This rate does not explain why others left.

First-year retention at Duke University has held near 98% from Fall 2002 to Fall 2023.

First-year retention — data
Year	Retention
Fall 2002 cohort	96%
Fall 2003 cohort	97%
Fall 2004 cohort	96%
Fall 2005 cohort	96%
Fall 2006 cohort	97%
Fall 2007 cohort	96%
Fall 2008 cohort	97%
Fall 2009 cohort	97%
Fall 2010 cohort	97%
Fall 2011 cohort	97%
Fall 2012 cohort	97%
Fall 2013 cohort	97%
Fall 2014 cohort	97%
Fall 2015 cohort	97%
Fall 2016 cohort	97%
Fall 2017 cohort	98%
Fall 2018 cohort	98%
Fall 2019 cohort	97%
Fall 2020 cohort	98%
Fall 2021 cohort	97%
Fall 2022 cohort	96%
Fall 2023 cohort	98%

IPEDS Full-time cohorts 2002–2023

More about Duke University

14% of Duke University's undergraduates carry Pell grants — the standard federal marker of lower-income enrollment. Carnegie classes Duke University as a primarily residential campus of 6,442 undergraduates — and 97.9% of the reported first-time, full-time student group returned for a second year.

Duke University's SAT section-percentile sums are 1500–1570 — their midpoint is above the NC four-year benchmark. These are not total-score percentiles. Put your own practice estimate on Duke University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.

Why some charts are marked “key chart”

key chart

Start with three useful questions: what costs were reported for families in your income band, how many first-time full-time students finished, and what federal debt borrowers held when leaving.

How Duke University compares

State and national medians cover active bachelor-primary institutions, mixing public and private schools. Tuition uses in-state rates at public schools. These are broad reference points, not a ranking of similar schools or your likely bill.

Scorecard dates identify the release snapshot, not a shared measurement year. Earnings describe federally aided students who were working and not enrolled ten years after entry; cohorts and populations differ from the admissions and tuition figures.

Acceptance rate

Fall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS

Duke University5.7%

North Carolina median74.9%

National median76.8%

Tuition

Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid

Duke University$68,758

North Carolina median$19,500

National median$19,591

Median earnings (10 yr)

Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot

Duke University's snapshot: calendar years and dollar basis unverified.

Duke University$97,800

North Carolina median$45,873

National median$53,781

View comparison data & dates

Duke University, North Carolina and national reference values
Metric & basis	Duke University	North Carolina median	National median
Acceptance rateFall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS	5.7%	74.9%	76.8%
TuitionScorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid	$68,758	$19,500	$19,591
Median earnings (10 yr)Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot	$97,800	$45,873	$53,781

Published earnings by bachelor's field of study

For Duke University, these are federal subject groups (CIP), not departments. Median is the middle annual income.

Duke University federal-aid recipients · graduated 2017–18 or 2018–19 · income measured 2022 or 2023 · inflation-adjusted to 2024 dollars. Definitions and limits.

View 20 fields & earnings

Bachelor's field of study (CIP category)	Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion
Mathematics	$297,029
Computer Science	$195,809
Computer Engineering	$174,522
Economics	$161,149
Statistics	$152,782
Mechanical Engineering	$120,991
History	$112,377
Biomedical/Medical Engineering	$105,921
Public Policy Analysis	$103,071
Public Health	$101,771
Political Science and Government	$88,459
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services	$88,098
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing	$87,763
Biology, General	$83,192
Anthropology	$81,120
International and Comparative Education	$79,640
Natural Resources Conservation and Research	$73,435
Psychology, General	$73,359
Neurobiology and Neurosciences	$73,140
Sociology	$61,425

These 20 fields listed for Duke University measure earnings after completion. The $97,800 institution-level snapshot above measures earnings after entry; it is not the same cohort or a total for these fields. 44 additional Duke University fields have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.

Frequently asked questions

What test-score data does Duke University report?

Duke University's enrolled submitters had SAT section-percentile sums of 1500–1570 in Fall 2024. These are not total-score percentiles or a GPA requirement.

What is Duke University's acceptance rate?

5.7% in the Fall 2024 cycle — 2,957 admitted from 51,795 applicants.

How much does Duke University cost?

At Duke University, tuition is $68,758. Tuition is not the total cost of attendance; aid can reduce your bill.

What earnings data does Duke University report?

Median earnings ten years after entry: $97,800. Major figures measure four years after completion. Source and date limits.

Similar colleges in North Carolina

Davidson College — 13.4% admitted
East Carolina University — 89.2% admitted
Elizabeth City State University — 64.2% admitted
Elon University — 66.3% admitted

Run your own numbers

Data: IPEDS ADM2024 (Fall 2024 admissions, provisional) · IPEDS HD2024/IC2024 directory · College Scorecard 2026-06-10 release (institution and field-of-study files; earnings from Treasury records). Retrieved 2026-09-01. Chart dates follow this institution's available observations; the release date is not an academic year or an earnings year. Some records end earlier than others. Field-of-study cohort dates are shown with the table. Read the date and population definitions.