Admissions
Yes, Duke is a competitive place to get into. That’s why you should be here.
Know What You Need?
We’re here to help guide you through what applying to Duke looks like. If you know what you are looking for, please use our search engine.
You Should be at Duke
We’re looking for students who take on challenges with intelligence, creativity, humanity and enthusiasm.
Undergraduate Admissions
Duke wants students who demonstrate intellectual strengths, a love of learning, a sense of imagination and open-mindedness, and a commitment to their communities. We seek students who make things better and treat others well.
54%
of undergraduates participate in faculty-mentored research
6,542
total undergraduate students
57%
of undergraduates study abroad
7:1
undergraduate student : faculty ratio
At Duke, admission is never about a single number or score. We practice holistic admissions, which means we look at the whole person.
Academic excellence is important — it shows you’re prepared for the rigor here — but we aren’t admitting just your grades. We want to know who you are and who you want to be, inside and outside the classroom. Who are you on the field, on the stage, in your school and community, or out in the world? That’s who Duke is admitting.
Our students are focused on success, but success at Duke isn’t about competition—it’s about collaboration.
Our students recognize that working together and building relationships leads to the greatest achievements. Our academic programs are rooted in interdisciplinary, cooperative work. You’ll be challenged here, but you’ll also be supported, and you’ll learn as much from your peers as you do from professors.
We’re committed to making a Duke education accessible to talented students from every background.
We meet the full demonstrated financial need of every admitted undergraduate student, and our aid packages are designed to make Duke affordable. Depending on your need, financial aid packages may include work study, student loans up to $5,000 per year, and grants/scholarships that don’t require repayment.
- Students from North and South Carolina with family incomes below $150,000 receive full tuition grants.
- Students with family incomes of $65,000 or less receive full tuition grants plus housing, meals, and other expenses—without the need for student loans.
A Duke education opens doors for life—and we are committed to making it possible.
You Can Afford Duke
Getting into and affording Duke may seem overwhelming; we get that. But we never want affordability to be why someone doesn’t come to Duke.
Free Tuition For Carolinians
Expanding Access to Education
Duke offers full tuition grants for admitted undergraduates from North and South Carolina with family incomes of $150,000 or less, so students like Isa can attend Duke without financial worries.
“We know that students with greater financial constraints are more likely to choose colleges that are closer to their homes, and that many of those students will also choose to stay closer to home after they graduate. Retaining talent is critical to our region’s success; Duke’s commitment to these students is also a commitment to the North and South Carolina communities they call home.”
– Gary Bennett, dean of Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Affordable Education
There Is a Lot More to Financial Aid Than Loans
Over half of our undergraduates receive some form of aid and 70% graduate debt-free.
70%
graduate debt-free
Duke can help you get there
52%
of Duke students receive some form of financial aid
100%
of a student’s demonstrated financial need met by Duke
95%
of students graduate in 4 years
Graduate and Professional Students
Duke Graduate School empowers scholars to advance research, deepen knowledge, and prepare for impactful careers across diverse disciplines.
Graduate and Professional
Find The Right School for You
The Duke graduate and professional experience begins where your focus of study lies. We can help you find out.
Duke values variety in its graduate programs and admits students from a wide range of academic backgrounds and institutions.
While research experience can be beneficial, Duke’s graduate admissions consider a variety of factors, including academic performance, letters of recommendation, and personal statements.
Similar to undergraduate admissions, Duke’s graduate programs take a holistic approach, evaluating candidates based on multiple criteria.
Visit Duke
Planning a trip to Duke? Find maps, hotel options, campus tour info, and guides to the best things to do in Durham on our visit page.
Parking and Transportation
Parking: Details on visitor parking locations and fees.
Campus Shuttles: Information on shuttle routes and schedules for easy navigation