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Duke University

Durham, North Carolina 27708

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Data last updated: May 29, 2026

Campus Vibe

Urban

Among the most selective in the Northeast — top graduate earnings

Duke University is a private institution in Durham with particular strength in engineering and biology. With an average SAT of 1539, the school attracts a competitive applicant pool.

A mid-sized campus of 6.4K undergraduates with a 6:1 student-faculty ratio. The urban location puts students at the center of city life.

96% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $97,800 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $34,454.

Established
1838
Motto
Eruditio et Religio
Mascot
Blue Devil
Type
Private research university
Division
Division I

Plan Your Visit

7%Acceptance
1539SAT Avg
6,417Students
6:1Student:Faculty
96%Grad Rate
$97,800Earnings 10yr
$34,454Net Price

Admissions

Acceptance Rate6.8%

SAT Score Ranges

Average: 1539

Reading & WritingMid: 745
740770
MathMid: 768
770800

ACT Score Range

CompositeMid: 34
3435

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$65,805
Room & Board$17,458
Books & Supplies$1,602
Total Cost of Attendance$82,749
Average Net Price$34,454
Median Debt at Graduation$13,000
Monthly Payment (10yr)$138

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$3,295
$30–48K$242
$48–75K$6,901
$75–110K$16,487
$110K+$54,375

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

84.0%

Avg Tuition Increase

4.3%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$12,000

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

50

Peer Average

37

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus police, emergency alert system, blue-light phones

Incident Breakdown (2024)

13

Burglary

3

Aggravated Assault

2

Robbery

4

Motor Vehicle Theft

5

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

13

Drug Arrests

10

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (229)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

96%

Very Positive

Student Body

Undergrads
6,417
Gender Split
53% / 47%
Women / Men
First Generation
13%
Pell Grant Recipients
13%

Race & Ethnicity

White 36%
Black 8%
Hispanic 11%
Asian 23%
Two+ 8%
Int'l 10%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate95.8%
Freshman Retention96.2%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$85,792
10 Years$97,800

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

Rankings

U.S. News
#7
vs 2024
Forbes
#22
vs 2024
Washington Monthly
#16
vs 2024
Niche
#18
vs 2024

More About This School

Varsity Sports

GolfBasketballLacrosseSoccerTennisBasketball cameronNational basketballBasketball include

History & Fun Facts

  • Duke first opened in 1838 as Brown's Schoolhouse, a private subscription school founded in Randolph County, North Carolina, in the present-day town of Trinity.
  • Organized by the Union Institute Society, a group of Methodists and Quakers, Brown's Schoolhouse became the Union Institute Academy in 1841 when North Carolina issued a charter.
  • The academy was renamed Normal College in 1851, and then Trinity College in 1859 because of support from the Methodist Church.
  • In 1892, Trinity College moved to Durham, largely due to the generosity of Julian S.
  • " As noted by Duke's Department of History in 2018: "Duke and Carr chose to..

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

106Above Average

Estimated from NC state average + large city premium

Climate (School Year)

Snowfall: 5"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 125

Nearest Cities

Raleighpop. 470K
23 mi(40 min)
Charlottepop. 880K
120 mi(208 min)
Washingtonpop. 690K
226 mi(392 min)

Getting There

Nearest Airports

RDU Raleigh-Durham12 mi
CLT Charlotte125 mi
RIC Richmond137 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA609 mi · ~17h 36m drive
New York, NY421 mi · ~12h 10m drive
Hartford, CT521 mi · ~15h 3m drive
Providence, RI570 mi · ~16h 28m drive
Albany, NY536 mi · ~15h 29m drive
Syracuse, NY509 mi · ~14h 42m drive
Rochester, NY499 mi · ~14h 25m drive
Buffalo, NY476 mi · ~13h 45m drive
Philadelphia, PA342 mi · ~9h 53m drive
Pittsburgh, PA312 mi · ~9h 1m drive
Harrisburg, PA315 mi · ~9h 6m drive
Newark, NJ417 mi · ~12h 3m drive
Washington, DC226 mi · ~6h 32m drive
Baltimore, MD260 mi · ~7h 31m drive
Atlanta, GA346 mi · ~10h drive
Charlotte, NC120 mi · ~3h 28m drive
Raleigh, NC23 mi · ~40 min drive
Miami, FL711 mi · ~20h 32m drive
Orlando, FL535 mi · ~15h 27m drive
Tampa, FL593 mi · ~17h 8m drive
Nashville, TN438 mi · ~12h 39m drive
New Orleans, LA768 mi · ~22h 11m drive
Richmond, VA135 mi · ~3h 54m drive
Chicago, IL618 mi · ~17h 51m drive
Detroit, MI489 mi · ~14h 8m drive
Minneapolis, MN973 mi · ~28h 7m drive
St. Louis, MO644 mi · ~18h 36m drive
Kansas City, MO882 mi · ~25h 29m drive
Indianapolis, IN472 mi · ~13h 38m drive
Columbus, OH352 mi · ~10h 10m drive
Cleveland, OH408 mi · ~11h 47m drive
Milwaukee, WI681 mi · ~19h 40m drive
Dallas, TX1041 mi · ~30h 4m drive
Houston, TX1045 mi · ~30h 11m drive
Austin, TX1156 mi · ~33h 24m drive
San Antonio, TX1222 mi · ~35h 18m drive
Los Angeles, CA2213 mi · ~63h 56m drive
San Francisco, CA2384 mi · ~68h 52m drive
San Diego, CA2178 mi · ~62h 55m drive
Seattle, WA2339 mi · ~67h 34m drive
Portland, OR2350 mi · ~67h 53m drive
Denver, CO1439 mi · ~41h 34m drive
Phoenix, AZ1881 mi · ~54h 20m drive
Salt Lake City, UT1804 mi · ~52h 7m drive
Honolulu, HI4767 mi · ~137h 43m drive
Southern (mild winters, hot summers)

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