College Profiles/ Duke University
College Profile · Fall 2027 Entry
Duke University Admissions: Acceptance Rate, Cost, Financial Aid and Deadlines
Durham, NC · 6,525 undergraduates. Everything families need to apply to Duke University for fall 2027, verified against the school’s own Common Data Set, cost of attendance and admissions pages, with ConnectPrep’s strategic read.
By Jeremy Fine, Founder of ConnectPrep
Updated October 11, 2026 · Data verified against official sources
✓ Every figure cited
Quick answer
Duke University admitted 4.8% of 58,698 first-year applicants.[1] Early Decision applicants were admitted at 12.6%.[1] The middle 50% SAT range for enrolled first-years is 1510 to 1570.[2] The 2026-2027 cost of attendance is $103,180.[3] First-year students who received need-based aid got an average grant of $76,455.[2] For fall 2027 entry, deadlines are Early Decision I Nov 2, Regular Decision Jan 4.[4]
4.8%
Overall admit rate[1]
12.6%
Early Decision admit rate[1]
1510 to 1570
Middle 50% SAT[2]
$103,180
Cost of attendance, 2026-2027[3]
$76,455
Average need-based grant[2]
$14.3B
Endowment, FY2026[5]
Duke University at a Glance
- Location
- Durham, NC
- Type
- Private nonprofit
- Student to faculty ratio
- 5:1[6]
- Endowment
- $14.3 billion (FY2026)[5]
- SAT/ACT, fall 2027
- Optional (2026-27 cycle)[4]
- Application
- Common App, QuestBridge[4]
- First-year retention
- 97.0%[2]
The ConnectPrep Take on Duke University
The ConnectPrep take
Duke looks for intellectual promise, maturity of judgment, and a life beyond the classroom, and it wants students who will use its opportunities with ambition, curiosity, talent, and persistence. Duke admitted 12.6% of 6,714 Early Decision applicants against 4.8% overall, about 2.6 times the overall rate. That ED pool is self-selected and often includes recruited athletes and legacies, so the gap overstates the edge. ED falls on Nov 2 this cycle. Testing is optional for 2026-27; with a middle 50% SAT of 1510 to 1570, we say submit at 1540 or above and aim for 1570. Engineering applicants apply to Pratt, where calculus is a prerequisite. The miss we see most is the Robertson Scholars application, which has an Oct 15 early window and a Nov 15 final deadline, both well ahead of Regular Decision.
What to do this fall
- Mark Nov 2 as the ED deadline this cycle, and file the CSS Profile and FAFSA that same day.
- Send an SAT of 1540 or higher; below that, apply test optional and keep working toward 1570.
- Pratt applicants should make sure calculus appears on the record, since Duke lists it as a prerequisite.
- Start the Robertson Scholars application now. The early window closes Oct 15 and the final deadline is Nov 15.
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Duke University Admissions Statistics
| Applicant pool |
Applied |
Admitted |
Admit rate |
| All first-year applicants[1] |
58,698 |
2,818 |
4.8% |
| Early Decision[1] |
6,714 |
849 |
12.6% |
- Early Decision admits made up about 30% of all admitted students, so a large part of the class is filled before Regular Decision applications are read (ConnectPrep calculation from the figures above).
- The Early Decision admit rate is about 2.6 times the overall rate. Early pools are self-selected and often include recruited athletes and legacy applicants, so the true advantage for a typical applicant is smaller.
Testing and academic profile
| Academic profile of enrolled first-years |
Middle 50% or share |
| SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing[2] |
740 to 780 |
| SAT Math[2] |
770 to 790 |
| SAT composite[2] |
1510 to 1570 |
| ACT composite[2] |
34 to 35 |
| Enrolled students who submitted the SAT[2] |
48% |
| Enrolled students who submitted the ACT[2] |
27% |
ConnectPrep score target
Aim for 1570 on the SAT, the 75th percentile here, or 35 on the ACT. When testing is optional, we generally advise submitting scores at or above about 1540, the middle of the range. A higher score is always better, and the test can be retaken. Not there yet? Take a free practice test and we will build the plan to close the gap.
What Duke University looks for
In its own words: Duke says it seeks evidence of intellectual promise and maturity of judgment and a sense of life beyond the classroom, and wants students who will engage its opportunities with ambition, curiosity, talent, and persistence.[8][9]
Duke University Application Deadlines 2026-2027
| Round |
Deadline |
Decision |
| Early Decision I |
Nov 2 |
mid-Dec |
| Regular Decision |
Jan 4 |
late Mar or early Apr |
Insider deadlines families miss
These scholarship, honors, program, interview and aid deadlines come from Duke University’s own pages. Anything tagged Before RD is due before the Regular Decision deadline.
| Program or rule |
Deadline |
What to know |
Robertson Scholars Leadership Program
Before RD |
Oct 15 (early window); Nov 15 (final) |
Separate Robertson application for high school students, due Oct 15 for the early window or Nov 15 otherwise, well before Duke's Jan 4 RD deadline.[10] |
| Glimpse video |
Nov 9 (ED); Jan 11 (RD) |
Optional Glimpse video, available to U.S. high school students; alumni interviews are offered to some applicants after submission.[4] |
| CSS Profile and FAFSA (ED) |
Nov 2 (ED); Feb 1 (RD) |
ED applicants must file CSS Profile and FAFSA by Nov 2, the same day as the application, with additional documents by Nov 15.[4] |
| Duke merit scholarships |
See note |
All applicants are automatically considered for merit scholarships other than Robertson; no separate application.[4] |
See how Duke University compares with other colleges in the South deadlines database or the full 2026-2027 college application deadlines hub.
Duke University Cost and Financial Aid
| Cost and aid |
Figure |
| Cost of attendance (2026-2027)[3] |
$103,180 |
| Tuition[3] |
$73,740 |
| First-years awarded need-based aid[2] |
41.5% |
| Average need-based scholarship or grant[2] |
$76,455 |
| Average total financial aid package[2] |
$83,513 |
| Average share of need met[2] |
100.0% |
First-year estimate, range $103,180 to $103,975 depending on transportation (low end shown): tuition 73,740, fees 3,019, housing (double) 11,560, food 10,469, books 536, personal 3,274.[3]
- For a family that qualifies for need-based aid, the average grant would bring the $103,180 cost of attendance down to roughly $26,725 before loans and work-study. This is a ConnectPrep calculation for illustration; your student’s number depends on your family’s finances, so run the school’s net price calculator.
- Duke University states that it meets 100% of demonstrated financial need.[11]
- Carolinas initiative: admitted North Carolina and South Carolina residents with family income of $150,000 or less receive full tuition grants; those at $65,000 or less also get help with housing, meals, and other costs, without student loans.[12]
What families actually pay: net price by income
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus the average grants and scholarships for first-year students receiving aid, by family income. It comes from federal data, which runs a year or two behind the school’s current cost figures.[6]
| Family income |
Average net price per year |
| $0 to $30,000 |
$735 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 |
$0 (aid exceeded cost) |
| $48,001 to $75,000 |
$5,706 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 |
$17,100 |
| Over $110,000 |
$54,230 |
| All aided students |
$29,612 |
Academics and Majors at Duke University
Signature programs
Bass Connections
Interdisciplinary research teams that pair undergraduates with faculty and graduate students on real-world problems.[13]
DukeEngage
Funded immersive civic engagement and service programs in the US and abroad.[14]
Program II
An individualized degree program where students design their own major.[15]
FOCUS Program
Themed first-year course clusters linked to a residential community.[16]
Undergraduate research
Duke reports that 53% of undergraduates graduate with research experience.[17]
Choosing a major and getting in
Duke has two undergraduate schools, Trinity College of Arts and Sciences and the Pratt School of Engineering; calculus is a prerequisite for admission to Pratt. Duke offers 69 majors, 59 minors, and 23 certificates, with up to three academic pathways.[7][8]
Special admission paths
- Carolinas initiative full-tuition grants for NC and SC residents.[12]
Duke University Retention and Graduation Rates
| Outcome |
Figure |
| First-year students who returned for sophomore year[2] |
97.0% |
| Graduated within four years[2] |
84.9% |
| Graduated within six years[2] |
96.0% |
| Median earnings 10 years after starting college[6] |
$97,800 |
| Median federal loan debt of graduates[6] |
$13,000 |
| Undergraduates receiving Pell Grants[6] |
14% |
Make Duke University a realistic goal
ConnectPrep builds the full plan: the right round, a score target and test schedule, essays that sound like your student, and every scholarship and program deadline on one calendar. Start with a free consultation or a free practice test.
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Duke University FAQs
What is the Duke University acceptance rate?
Duke University admitted 4.8% of first-year applicants (2,818 of 58,698). The Early Decision admit rate was 12.6%.
When are the Duke University application deadlines for 2026-27?
For students entering in fall 2027: Early Decision I Nov 2; Regular Decision Jan 4. 1 scholarship, honors or program deadlines come before Regular Decision; see the insider deadlines table on this page.
How much does Duke University cost?
The 2026-2027 cost of attendance is $103,180. First-year students who received need-based aid got an average grant of $76,455. The school states it meets 100% of demonstrated need.
What SAT score do you need for Duke University?
The middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1510 to 1570 on the SAT and 34 to 35 on the ACT. ConnectPrep advises aiming for 1570, the 75th percentile. Testing policy for fall 2027 entry: Optional (2026-27 cycle).
Is it easier to get into Duke early decision?
On paper, yes. Duke admitted 12.6% of Early Decision applicants compared with 4.8% overall, about 2.6 times the overall rate. The ED pool is self-selected and often includes recruited athletes and legacies, so the advantage for a typical applicant is smaller than it looks. ED is binding and due Nov 2 this cycle.
Is Duke test optional this year?
Yes. Duke is test optional for students applying in the 2026-27 cycle. The middle 50% of enrolled students scored 1510 to 1570 on the SAT and 34 to 35 on the ACT, and 48% submitted the SAT. We advise sending an SAT at or above 1540, the midpoint, and aiming for 1570.
About the author
Jeremy Fine
Jeremy Fine founded ConnectPrep in 2013 and brings more than 20 years of experience in education, spanning test preparation, college advising and academic program management. He holds a BA from Washington University in St. Louis and an MPA from the University of Pittsburgh.
ConnectPrep is based in Westport, Connecticut, and works with students from kindergarten through graduate school, in person and online. Meet the team.
This profile is an independent ConnectPrep resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Duke University. Figures come from the sources listed above as published when checked in October 2026; the Common Data Set year is noted where used. Policies and costs change, so confirm with the school before applying.
