Duke University
What Duke University's own numbers say, from its Common Data Set 2025-26.
See your odds at Duke University →All 5 insights at Duke University PRO
Early DecisionDuke University
Duke University's ED number is inflated.
13% of Early Decision applicants get in, but that pool includes recruited athletes and legacies, admitted at far higher rates. Without them, our estimate is about 9.5%. Everyone else: 4.2%.
ED, as reported13%
ED, without hooks (estimate)≈9.5%
Everyone else4.2%
Source: Duke University's Common Data Set 2025-26; hooked share is an estimate (A12)
Getting harderDuke University
Getting into Duke University is 1.7× harder than in 2018.
The admit rate fell from 8.9% (2018-19) to 5.2% (2025-26).
2018-198.9%
2025-265.2%
Source: Duke University's Common Data Set 2025-26
MoneyDuke University
Duke University meets 100% of need.
The average need-based grant is $76,455 a year, against tuition of $73,740.
Average grant$76k
Tuition$74k
Source: Duke University's Common Data Set 2025-26
ApplicationsDuke University
Applications to Duke University are up 55%.
From 35,767 in 2018-19 to 55,541 in 2025-26.
2018-1935,767
2025-2655,541
Source: Duke University's Common Data Set 2025-26
Early DecisionDuke University
49% of Duke University's class is filled in Early Decision.
That leaves about 900 seats for 48,914 applicants outside ED.
Admitted Early Decision49%
Everyone else51%
Source: Duke University's Common Data Set 2025-26
6 more things the data says PRO
- The admit rate has moved down steadily, from 8.9% in 2018-19 to 5.2% in 2025-26. If the trend holds, expect about 4.8% in 2026-27.
- Early Decision filled about 49% of the 2025-26 first-year class, less than most similar colleges.
- ED applicants were admitted at 13%, against 4.2% for everyone else: 3.0 times the rate.
- After ED, 900 of 1,749 seats were left for 48,914 other applicants: about one seat for every 54.
- It reports meeting 100% of financial need for first-years who have need.
- Applications rose 55% from 2018-19 to 2025-26 (35,767 to 55,541), faster than 70% of colleges here.
What students say PRO
From students' own posts on Reddit and admissions forums: self-reported, unverified, never used in your odds.
- Most admits who named a round applied Regular Decision (about 23 of 34), and about 10 applied Early Decision.
- Admits had near-perfect academics, with most sharing an SAT of 1500-1600 or an ACT of 33-36 and GPAs of 3.9-4.0.
- Many admits had research, papers or patents, from lab work and preprints to funded aerospace computing research.
- Many admits founded or ran nonprofits and large organizations, often raising money or serving many members.
- Competition wins and captaincies were common: national design or science contests, debate, robotics, quiz bowl and math.
- Students report Duke is extremely selective, with RD admit rates cited around 3.25-4% and about 12.8% for ED on record applications, so strong stats alone don't guarantee entry.
- Students report ED figures include QuestBridge and recruited athletes, and athletes, legacies and faculty children take a sizable share of spots.
- Students report interviews are not a signal: Duke does not pre-screen, tries to interview all ED applicants, and invites or late timing say little about the outcome.
- Students report applications get two reads scored on six categories, with rigor judged in context, and strong recommendation letters from teachers who know the student carry weight.
- Students report the waitlist can move in some years (roughly 50 added in July), but about 10% of deferred ED students get in during RD.
Every number, year by year: Duke University on Open College Data. Something wrong? Suggest a correction.