Have you been wondering what Duke University Acceptance rate is at the moment? Not to worry, this article will give all the answers you need about Duke University, including its tuition and cost.
You probably clicked on this post because you’re among the “I want to study in the USA” students or because you would want to do your master’s degree in the USA but don’t have a choice of university yet.
The most popular study-abroad destination for international students is the USA. In that regard, we have put this article together to educate you on all you need to know about Duke University, its tuition fees, scholarships, courses, and online courses.
This is a complete guide written with up-to-date information. It’s going to be an educational ride. Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
Overview of Duke
Location: Durham, North Carolina, United States
Year of Establishment: 1838
Formerly Known as Brown School (1838–1841), Union Institute (1841–1851), Normal College (1851–1859), and Trinity College (1859–1924)
Motto: Eruditio et Religio (Latin) translated in English as Knowledge and Faith
Academic affiliations: AAU, CDIO, COFHE, 568 Group, IAMSCU, NAICU, ORAUn, and URA
Number of Staff: Academic staff: 3,870, Administrative staff: 8,880, Total Campus & Health System Employees 41,206
Students: 15,634 (Undergraduates 6,526, Postgraduates 9,108)
Research Output: Very High
Endowment: As of 2019, $8.61 billion
School Type: Private
Religious affiliation: United Methodist Church
Campus Style: Suburban/Urban
Land Mass: 8,693 acres (35.2 km2)
Colors: Duke blue, white,
Website: https://www.duke.edu
Standing tall for 182 years, Duke University is a private research university in North Carolina. Walking in excellence and prestige, it flaunts its prowess academically and character-wise. We don’t mean to exaggerate; Duke is one of the best research universities in North Carolina.
Duke has produced the third-highest number of Churchill Scholars, behind Princeton and Harvard. We know Duke to have the fifth-highest number of Rhodes, Goldwater, Marshall, Truman, and Udall Scholars of any American university dating between 1986 and 2015.
Its level of research output keeps it at the forefront of university rankings. So if you’re looking for a university whose academic excellence has been tested, you must read this article until the end.
Before sending in your application documents, we recommend you consider the Duke University tuition fees, courses, scholarships, and other requirements that might threaten to secure admission at Duke!
Read Also: Duke Transfer Acceptance Rate | Admissions, Courses & Scholarships
History of Duke University
Established under the name “Brown’s Schoolhouse,” the University came into existence in 1838. They found it as a private subscription school in Randolph County in the present-day town of Trinity.
In 1841, Brown’s Schoolhouse became the Union Institute Academy. The Union Institute Society: a group of Methodists and Quakers, renamed the University. In 1851, they renamed the academy “Normal College,” and in 1859, they renamed it “Trinity College” because of support from the Methodist Church.
In 1892, the University moved to Durham on land donated by Julian S. Carr. Today, we know the campus in Durham as the “East Campus.” Following this event, Washington Duke donated $85,000 for an initial endowment and construction costs.
He augmented his generosity in 1896, 1899, and 1900 by donating $100,000 yearly. Washington Duke made this contribution by stipulating that the college “open its doors to women, placing them on an equal footing with men.”
James Buchanan Duke, a tobacco and electric power industrialist, established The Duke Endowment in 1924. With this, the institution changed its name to “Duke University” to honor his deceased father: Washington Duke.
Between 1925 and 1927, Duke’s original campus in Durham was rebuilt with Georgian-style buildings. By 1930, most of the Collegiate Gothic-style buildings on the campus were completed. They completed construction on West Campus in 1935, with the completion of Duke Chapel.,
Duke was one of 131 colleges and universities participating in the V-12 Navy College Training Program during World War II, which offered students a path to a navy commission. Established as a white-male institution, Duke enrolled its first black postgraduate students in 1961. In September 1966, the school admitted its first black undergraduates.
To strengthen the University’s reputation, Duke administrators began attempting to strengthen Duke’s reputation both nationally and internationally in 1970.
Today, Duke’s campus has over 8,600 acres (3,500 hectares) on three contiguous sub-campuses in Durham and a marine lab in Beaufort. The West Campus incorporates Gothic architecture with the 210-foot (64-meter) at the center you get, Duke Chapel. The highest point of elevation is next to the medical center. East Campus, 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) away and home to all first-years, contains Georgian-style architecture.
Having existed for 182 years, the University prides itself on several faculty members, affiliates, and alums. Clarivate Analytics, in 2019, named 54 members of Duke’s faculty to its list of “Highly Cited Researchers.” This places the University 8th among the world’s universities.
As of 2019, they have affiliated with 3 Turing Award winners and 15 Nobel laureates with the University. Duke alums also include 50 Rhodes Scholars and 25 Churchill Scholars.
We rate Duke University highly because its results show its excellence and prestige. Deciding to study at this University is an impressive feat, but before proceeding, we recommend you check Duke’s university tuition fees, acceptance rate, courses, and entry requirements.
What is the Admission Process to Duke Like?
Without mincing words, admission to Duke University is highly selective and competitive. Duke expects its prospective students to be on the A-list and highly intellectual. Duke rarely accepts average students.
Admissions to Duke are “booked” ahead of time. Currently, the university has received 39,800 applications for the class of 2024. To stand a chance of gaining admission to Duke, meet their entry requirements, and submit your application and scores on time.
Even though there are many components to a college application, you should concentrate on just a few crucial ones:
- GPA requirements
- Testing requirements, including SAT and ACT requirements
- Application requirements
This post will go over your requirements to apply successfully to Duke.
What is the Duke University Acceptance Rate in 2024?
The acceptance rate should be your first consideration if you want to be admitted. This reveals how demanding the school’s criteria are and how competitive it is.
Duke has an acceptance rate of 8.9%. For every 100 applicants, only 9 are admitted. So it is highly competitive.
Out of its applications for the class of 2026, only 54% were admitted. Regardless of the acceptance rate, admission largely depends on the ACT and SAT scores. We recommend you focus on that.
This demonstrates how selective the school is. To get beyond their initial filters and demonstrate your academic readiness, it’s crucial to meet their GPA and SAT/ACT requirements. Your chances of being in are almost nonexistent if you don’t live up to their standards.
After getting past this obstacle, you’ll need to wow the Duke application reviewers with your extracurricular activities, essays, and letters of recommendation. We’ll talk about more below.
Duke GPA Requirements
Many colleges have minimum GPA requirements, but in reality, this is frequently the lowest amount that is needed to apply without it being rejected right away.
The GPA criterion that counts is the GPA you need to have a legitimate possibility of being admitted. We consider the school’s current students’ average GPA for this.
The Average GPA at Duke is 4.13. This is highly competitive.
Duke expects you to be at the top of your class with a GPA of 4.13. You’ll need to receive almost all A’s to compete with other applications. You should also enroll in challenging classes, such as AP or IB courses, demonstrating that higher education coursework is simple.
Changing your GPA in time for college applications is challenging if you’re currently a junior or senior. You will require a better SAT or ACT score to make up for a GPA equal to or lower than the school average of 4.13.
Thanks to this, you will be better able to compete with applicants with higher GPAs than yours.
SAT and ACT Requirements
Standardized testing requirements vary from school to school. The SAT or ACT are typically required, and many schools also demand SAT subject assessments.
To apply to Duke, you must take the SAT or ACT. But more significantly, you must succeed to have a compelling application.
Duke SAT Requirements
There is a covert SAT requirement, notwithstanding the claims of many colleges that they have no cutoff for SAT scores. Based on the standard grade at the institution.
The average SAT score composite at Duke is 1510 on the 1600 SAT scale, which is highly competitive.
Duke SAT Score Analysis (New 1600 SAT)
The New SAT 25th percentile and 75th percentile scores are 1450 and 1570, respectively. To put it another way, 1450 on the New SAT places you below average, and 1570 puts you over average.
Here’s the breakdown of new SAT scores by section:
SAT Score Choice Policy
Your testing plan heavily relies on your school’s Score Choice policy.
Duke has a “Highest Section” score choice policy.
Another name for this is “superscoring.” This implies that you have a choice regarding which SATs you submit to the institution. Your application readers will consider your highest section scores from all your SAT dates out of all the scores they receive.
Therefore, we strongly advise you to study for the SAT and retake it if your current superscore is below 1570. You have a great opportunity of improving your score, which will significantly boost your likelihood of being admitted.
Better yet, the Superscore allows you to concentrate solely on a single section. Only prepare for the Reading part of the SAT before taking it if your Reading score is lower than your other sections.
For the subsequent test, concentrate on math, and so forth. You will receive the maximum Superscore by doing this.
Duke ACT Requirements
Duke probably doesn’t have a strict ACT cutoff, like the SAT, but your application will be rejected if your score is too low.
At Duke, the typical ACT score is 34. Duke is now Highly Competitive for ACT scores because of this score.
The 25th percentile ACT score is 33, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 35.
Duke may claim that they have no minimum ACT requirement. Still, if you apply with a 33 or lower, you’ll have difficulty getting in unless you have other solid application materials.
Because so many applicants received a 34 or higher, a 33 will appear to be an academically inadequate score.
ACT Score Sending Policy
The ACT has a significant edge over the SAT regarding how scores are sent, significantly impacting your test-taking technique.
Here it is: you have complete control over whatever tests you send to universities, along with your ACT scores. You could send the best test out of the ten that you take. Contrary to the SAT, where many institutions demand that you send all your past test results, this does not.
This indicates that you have more opportunities than you might realize to raise your ACT score. You should attempt to take the ACT as many times as you can to try to aim for the school’s ACT requirement of 35 and above. When satisfied with your final result, you can send only one score to all your schools.
ACT Superscore Policy
Generally speaking, very few colleges superscore the ACT. When you “superscore,” the school combines the best sectional scores from each test date you submit to produce the highest possible composite score. Therefore, most colleges will only consider your highest ACT score from a single test.
Nevertheless, our research discovered that Duke has an ACT superscore policy. In their admissions office’s words:
Regardless of the test date, Duke will consider the highest composite score and the highest scores on each component for students who want to submit their ACT with writing, but it will not recalculate the composite score.
You must ensure that your testing is planned in a way that considers superscoring. Your application’s reviewers will consider your highest section scores from all your ACT dates out of all the scores Duke receives.
Consequently, if your present ACT score is less than 35, we advise you to retake the ACT after preparing for it. You have a good chance of improving your score, which will significantly increase your admission chances.
The Superscore allows you to concentrate solely on a single section. Only prepare for the Reading component of the ACT if your overall score in the other sections is higher. For the subsequent test, concentrate on math, and so forth. You will receive the maximum Superscore by doing this.
SAT/ACT Writing Section
The essay portion of the SAT and ACT is optional.
You must take the SAT Essay/ACT Writing part to attend Duke. This will be taken into account as yet another aspect when deciding who to admit.
SAT Subject Test Requirements
The SAT subject test requirements vary between schools. Most schools in the nation do not, whereas selective ones frequently do.
Duke probably does not require the SAT subject examinations because we could not locate any information to the contrary. You should check at least six months again before applying to ensure that you have adequate time to take the test.
Final Admission Judgement
A strong GPA and SAT/ACT score are essential for your chance of admission to this highly selective school. You’ll probably be rejected without much thought if you don’t meet their GPA and SAT/ACT requirements.
You should aim for the 75th percentile, with a 1570 SAT or 35 ACT, to have the best chance of getting in. A GPA of at least 4.13 is also required. You must make up the difference if your GPA is below this with a higher SAT/ACT score.
You’ll also need to make an impression on them with the rest of your application for a prestigious institution like Duke. Next, we’ll discuss those specifics.
However, if you apply with a score below a 1570 SAT or a 35 ACT, you sadly have a slim chance of being accepted. You need to compete against students with suitable applications and high SAT/ACT scores because there are too many.
When is the Application Deadline for Duke?
Once you have picked your application, you can decide to apply to Duke before one of two deadlines:
- Duke Early Decision — November 1
- Duke Regular Decision — January 4
Remember that this choice is final if you submit an early decision application to Duke. If you accept a Duke regular decision admissions offer, you must enroll at Duke.
Whichever Duke application deadline you select, you must make sure that you have each of the following:
- Application fee or waiver
- High school transcript
- Counselor recommendation
- Two teacher recommendations
- Duke SAT scores or ACT scores (optional)
- Duke supplemental essays
Meetings with your guidance counselor and teacher recommenders should be scheduled before the Duke application deadline. Take your time to make sure you comprehend the prerequisites and can submit them to the platform of your choice.
The Duke SAT and ACT scores are no longer required, but we always encourage you to transmit your test results if possible.
What’s the Cost of Studying at Duke?
Before sending in your application, you must consider the tuition fees at Duke University. Duke University tuition fees differ depending on the program and course of study. In this, we have put down the tuition fees for all programs at Duke University.
Based on research, the tuition fee for the 2023–2024 academic session is $60,488. This is 89% more expensive than the average college tuition at other North Carolina universities. This places it 44th on our Expensive 100 list.
We recommend you apply for Duke University scholarships or any other scholarships to aid you financially.
Undergraduate Tuition & Fees
Standard undergraduate tuition, required fees, housing, and dining charges (per semester, fall and spring*)
| Tuition & Required Fees | 2022-2023 | 2021-2022 | |
| Tuition (Trinity College and Pratt Engineering) | $30,217.50 | $29,042.50 | |
| UGrad First Time Registration (first-year students only) | $180.00 | $180.00 | |
| Student Activity Fee | $144.65 | $139.25 | |
| Student Services Fee | $361.50 | $348.50 | |
| Recreation Fee | $170.75 | $162.75 | |
| Health Fee | $449.50 | $429.00 | |
| Insurance (fall term only) | $3,375.00 | $3,605.00 | |
| Post Office Box Rental | $36.50 | $35.00 | |
| Engineering Government Dues | $30.00 | $29.00 | |
| Housing | |||
| Single – A/C | $6,271.00 | $6,053.00 | |
| Double – A/C | $4,747.00 | $4,582.00 | |
| Triple – A/C | $4,233.00 | $4,086.00 | |
| Edens Private Bedrooms (4 students) | $7,795.00 | $7,524.00 | |
| 300 Swift – Shared | n/a | $6,053.00 | |
| 300 Swift – Private | n/a | $7,524.00 | |
| Residential Programming Fee | $54.20 | $54.20 | |
| Dining | |||
| Plan A | $2,494.00 | $2,416.00 | |
| Plan B | $2,989.00 | $2,891.00 | |
| Plan C | $3,310.00 | $3,199.00 | |
| Plan D | $3,577.75 | $3,431.00 | |
| Plan E | $3,874.00 | $3,739.00 | |
| Plan F (non-residential) | $817.00 | $808.00 | |
| Plan G (first-year students on West Campus) | n/a | $3,199.00 | |
| Plan I (first-year students) | $4,010.00 | $3,870.00 | |
| Plan J (Swift Ave Apts.) | $1,764.00 | $1,716.00 | |
| Dining Fee | $25.00 | $25.00 | |
Duke University Ranking
Duke University is ranked #10 out of 443 National Universities.
- Ranks 1st in Best Christian College in America
- Ranks #3 in Biomedical
- Ranks 1st in Best Colleges for Student Athletes in America
- Ranks 10/443 in National Universities
- #12 in Environmental / Environmental Health
- Ranks 18th in World University rankings
- Ranks 42nd Q.S. Global World rankings
- Ranks 16th in Best Value Schools
- #9 in Writing in the Disciplines (tie)
- #18 in Learning Communities (tie)
- Ranks 13th in Most Innovative Schools
- 65 in First-Year Experiences (tie)
- #11 in Senior Capstone
- #5 in Co-ops/Internships (tie)
- Ranks 11th in Best Undergraduate Teaching (tie),
- Ranks 339th in Top Performers on Social Mobility (tie),
- Ranks 16th in Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs (link),
- Ranks 27th in First-Year Experiences (tie)
- #6 in Biocomputing/Bioinformatics/Biotechnology
- #3 in Nursing (tie)
- Ranks 15th in Study Abroad
- Ranks 8th in Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects
These rankings show that the University’s academic prowess is recognized. Its prestige speaks for it.
Duke University Courses
Following its expansion, Duke University is home to over 46 arts and sciences courses, four engineering majors, 52 minors (including two in engineering), and Program II. Program II allows students to design their interdisciplinary major, whether in arts & sciences.
Below is a list of some Duke University courses
- Biological Sciences
- Business
- Chemistry
- Clinical Psychology
- Computer Science
- Earth Sciences
- Economics
- Engineering
- English
- History
- Law
- Mathematics
- Medicine: Primary Care, Research
- Nursing: Doctorate, Master’s, Anesthesia
- Physical Therapy
- Physician Assistant
- Physics
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Public Affairs
- Sociology
- Statistics, etc
We do not limit Duke University courses to the list above. To narrow down your search, visit the school’s website.
They offer these Duke University courses in either of these arms of the institution.
- Trinity College of Arts and Sciences
- Duke University School of Law
- Graduate School of Duke University
- Duke Divinity School
- Duke University School of Medicine
- Duke University School of Nursing
- Nicholas School of the Environment
- Pratt School of Engineering
- Fuqua School of Business
- Sanford School of Public Policy
- Duke-NUS Medical School
- Duke Kunshan University,
Duke University has 12 schools and institutes, three of which host undergraduate programs: the Trinity College of Arts and Sciences, the Pratt School of Engineering, and Duke Kunshan University.
Does Duke University offer Scholarships to its Students?
Yes, Duke is known for its generous scholarships to residents and international students. Securing any of the Duke University scholarships is a sure way to aid your finances. Many students have testified that Duke University scholarships are a sure way to pay their bills.
Roughly, Duke offers 60 merit-based full-tuition scholarships. This includes the Angier B. Duke Memorial Scholarship, awarded for academic excellence; the Benjamin N. Duke Scholarship, awarded for community service; and the Robertson Scholars Leadership Program, a joint scholarship and leadership program.
You should apply for the Karsh International Scholarship, organized by Duke. This scholarship provides eight semesters of full tuition, room and board, and mandatory fees at Duke.
To discover more scholarships, click the links below!!!
What’s Duke University Famous for?
The University is highly rated, depending on which angle you’re coming from. Academically, the University is known for its prowess in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programs.
Its biomedical engineering program is consistently ranked as one of the top three programs in the nation. Little wonder the University is often referred to as the Harvard of the South.
In sports, the university’s basketball team has produced many NBA players. It might interest you that it’s where Tim Cook (CEO of Apple) got his MBA.
Duke University Programs
Twenty-four certificate programs are available at Duke. Programs offered at Duke include
- Doctoral programs
- Master’s programs
- Undergraduate programs
- Pre-med programs, etc
Duke University Notable Alumni
145,000 Duke University graduates are active in the University through organizations and events such as the annual reunion weekend and homecoming. In 2019, there were 75 Duke clubs in the U.S. and 38 international clubs.
For a university that has existed for over 100 years, it has produced many notable individuals in today’s society. They include;
- Richard Nixon, 37th President of the United States
- Elizabeth Dole, Former U.S. Senator and Secretary of Transportation
- Ricardo Lagos 33rd President of Chile
- Juanita M. Kreps, former U.S. Secretary of Commerce
- Ron Paul, congressional representative, and three-time presidential candidate
- Army Eric Shinseki, U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs and former Chief of Staff of the United States
Among others
Frequently Asked Questions about Duke University
What’s the ACT/SAT score range to apply to Duke?
To apply to Duke, you need an SAT score between 1480 and 1570 or an ACT score between 33 and 35. However, one-quarter of admitted applicants scored above these ranges, proving Duke’s “A-list” criteria. Test score ranges account for the 25th–75th percentile of accepted students.
Does Duke offer Online courses?
All campus events, admissions, and classes for all students are online at Duke University. They introduced Duke University online courses to aid students who can’t make it to America to study at Duke virtually.
Taking advantage of Duke University online courses is one way to study at a fair price. The tuition for online classes at Duke University is cheaper and more convenient for those who want to juggle careers, family life, and academics.
Visit the school’s website to learn more about the Duke University online courses.
How much is the Cost of Living in North Carolina?
Based on research, we have estimated the average cost of living in North Carolina to be $94,339. This covers housing, books, feeding, tuition, transportation, and all other expenses.
Conclusion
Studying at Duke is a splendid choice. Take your time to check out the tuition fees, courses, online courses, and scholarships at Duke University. This gives you a chance to ponder ANS and make your decision.
We hope you found this piece educative; reach out to us once you secure a spot at Duke as a student.
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