If you’re curious about what the Duke University Acceptance Rate is, the article presents a detailed guide on the Duke University admission exercise.
The acceptance rate for Duke University is just 6% for the Class of 2027, with even lower acceptance of 4.8% for Regular Decision applicants.
This places Duke’s acceptance rate slightly below that of other prestigious schools like Dartmouth, Tufts, or Rice. Despite its academic competitiveness, Duke’s acceptance rate was significantly higher in the past, standing at 22% in 2004.
The university’s popularity is evident from its high application numbers, comparable to those of Brown and Yale. As gaining admission to Duke becomes increasingly challenging, this blog aims to provide comprehensive guidance for prospective students aiming to secure a spot at the university.
Contents
Where is Duke University?
Duke is situated in Durham, North Carolina. The city of Durham is part of North Carolina’s famed Research Triangle. Its 720-acre campus is exceptionally beautiful and is a beloved home to 6,600 undergraduate students.
Duke Acceptance Rate – Class of 2027
The Duke acceptance rate for the Class of 2027 was 6%. As mentioned in the opening paragraph, the regular decision acceptance rate was only 4.6%. Recent historical Duke acceptance rates are as follows:
- Class of 2026: 6%
- 2025: 5.8%
Duke Early Decision Acceptance Rate – Class of 2027
Just 800 of the 4,015 Early Decision applicants in the 2022-23 admission cycle were successful. This means that the Duke Early Decision acceptance rate was 16.5%, a figure which is roughly four times that of the regular round. The previous year (Class of 2026), the ED acceptance rate was 21%.
Duke Admissions – SAT, ACT, and Class Rank
Of those invited to join the Class of 2026, the middle 50% range on the SAT was 1510-1570; the ACT range was 34-36. Classroom performance of Duke students was equally strong as an incredible 95% of enrolled freshmen had earned a place in the top 10% of their graduating class; 99% were in the top quartile.
Admissions Trends & NotesÂ
- The regular decision acceptance rate rose from 4.6% to 4.8%.
- Duke received just shy of 50,000 applications for the Class of 2027, a slight increase from the previous year.
- 52% of those admitted through Early Decision were students of color.
- The average grant offer rose from $54,000 to $58,000 for the Class of 2027.
- Duke has yet to release any information about legacy admissions or test-optional percentages for the 2022-23 admissions cycle.
Who Actually Gets In?
Let’s look at the demographics of Duke undergraduates:
Geographically, the greatest number of recently admitted hail from the following states:
- North Carolina
- California
- New York
- Florida
- Texas
13% of current students are N.C. residents and, as with all selective colleges, those from lower-populated, more remote areas of the country (e.g. Montana, South Dakota, Idaho) enjoy a boost to their admissions prospects.
Looking at ethnic identity, the breakdown of the Class of 2026 was as follows (some students identify as more than one race):
- Asian American: 32%
- Hispanic: 16%
- African American: 13%
- Caucasian: 63%
- Native American: 1%
The breakdown by gender of all students offered a place in the Class of 2025 reveals more men than women, a rarity in today’s postsecondary landscape (outside of engineering-heavy schools).
- Male: 46%
- Female: 54%
The split by type of high school is as follows:
- Public: 55%
- Private: 27%
- Outside of U.S.: 13%
- Other: 5%
Duke’s Yield Rate
Duke’s yield rate was 60% for the Class of 2026. For comparison, schools like Stanford and Harvard were over 80%, and the University of Chicago, MIT, and Yale all sported 70%+ yield rates. Duke finished in the same ballpark as schools like Northwestern, Notre Dame, and Dartmouth in this category.
How Duke Rates Applicants
Duke University’s admissions process considers a range of factors, with eight factors deemed “very important”: rigor of secondary school record, class rank, GPA, standardized test scores, application essays, recommendations, extracurricular activities, and character/personal qualities.
Several factors are considered, including interviews, first-generation status, legacy status, geographical residence, state residency, religious affiliation, racial/ethnic status, volunteer and work experience, and level of applicant interest.
Duke aims to build a collaborative community of intellectual explorers, valuing talents both inside and outside the classroom. The university prioritizes assessing applicants’ extracurricular activities and essays before grades, recommendations, and test scores.
Demonstrated impact and genuine contributions in various areas, such as volunteering, athletics, or academic competitions, are highly valued. Being recruited as an athlete for one of Duke’s Division I sports teams can also enhance an applicant’s profile.
What to Do Before You Apply for Admission
For those considering applying to Duke University, here are some key points to keep in mind:
===>Duke’s test-optional policy remains in place for the 2022-23 admissions cycle (Class of 2027), allowing applicants to choose whether to submit standardized test scores.
===>Optional alumni interviews are available as part of the admissions process. These interviews are typically 30-60 minutes long and are conducted by alumni in your area. While not all applicants are guaranteed an interview, those who don’t have the opportunity can submit an additional recommendation.
===>Demonstrating interest is important to Duke, so engaging with the admissions office, connecting on social media, and visiting campus (when feasible) or attending college fairs can be beneficial.
===>Dedicate sufficient time and effort to Duke’s supplemental essays. The 2022-23 application cycle included three essay prompts—one mandatory, one practically mandatory, and one specific to members of the LGBTQ community.
Duke Essays
Please share with us why you consider Duke a good match for you. Is there something in particular about Duke’s academic or other offerings that attracts you? (200 word limit)Â
Optional #1) Duke University seeks a talented, engaged student body that embodies the wide range of human experience; we believe that the diversity of our students makes our community stronger. If you’d like to share a perspective you bring or experiences you’ve had that would help us understand you better, perhaps a community you belong to or your family or cultural background, we encourage you to do so here. Real people are reading your application, and we want to do our best to understand and appreciate the real people applying to Duke. (250 word limit)
Optional #2) Duke’s commitment to diversity and inclusion includes sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. If you would like to share with us more about your identity, you can do so here, or use any previous essay prompt you feel is appropriate. (250 word limit)
For detailed advice on how to write these essays, check out our blog:Â Duke University Supplemental Essay Prompts and Tips.
Summary of Duke Acceptance Rate 2023
If your SAT score falls below 1500+, it’s important to showcase other strong qualities, such as athletic achievements or being part of an underrepresented group, to enhance your application. Even exceptional credentials may not guarantee admission, as Duke University often turns down students with nearly perfect qualifications annually.
When preparing for college applications, it’s crucial for all prospective students to create a well-balanced college list that includes both “target” and “safety” schools. Collaborating with an admissions professional, including your high school counselor, can provide valuable guidance throughout this process.
