Duke University: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

Dr. Allen Grove is an Alfred University English professor and a college admissions expert with over 20 years of experience helping students transition to college.

Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke University is an elite private university with an acceptance rate of 7.8%. This makes it one of the most selective universities in the country. Considering applying to this highly selective school? Here are the Duke University admissions statistics you should know.

Why Duke University?

• Location: Durham, North Carolina
• Campus Features: The stunning stone architecture of Duke's main campus is just a small part of the university's 8,693 acres. The school has a 7,000+ acre forest, marine lab, golf course, and medical campus.
• Student/Faculty Ratio: 8:1
• Athletics: The Duke Blue Devils compete in the NCAA Division I Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
• Highlights: Duke rivals the Ivies for selectivity. The school has an $8.5 billion endowment and is part of the "research triangle" with UNC Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University. The area has the highest concentration of PhDs and MDs in the world.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, Duke University had an acceptance rate of 7.8%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 7 students were admitted, making Duke's admissions process highly competitive.

The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to Duke University. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

Most students who get into Duke have "A" grades and standardized test scores that are significantly above average. That said, realize that many students with a 4.0 GPA and extremely high standardized test scores still get rejected from Duke. For this reason, you should consider a highly selective school like Duke to be a reach school even if your grades and test scores are on target for admission.

At the same time, keep in mind that Duke has holistic admissions. Duke is looking for students who will bring more than good grades and standardized test scores to the campus. A strong Common Application essay and/or supplemental essays, glowing letters of recommendation, and a strong alumni interview can all strengthen your application, and of course the university will be looking for meaningful extracurricular activities.

Also, you can improve your admissions chances if you highlight true artistic talent in an artistic supplement, and by applying to the university early decision (do this only if you are 100% sure that Duke is your first-choice school).