Duke University acceptance rate, scores and deadlines

Durham, NC · private · 6,442 undergraduates

Acceptance rate 5.2% Fall 2025 · ↓0.5 pts
SAT, middle 50% 1510–1570 Enrolled, Fall 2025
Tests, 2026–27 Test-optional From the admissions site

Source: Common Data Set 2025–26 · deadlines from Duke's admissions site.

Chances at Duke
1500
unweighted, 4.0 scale —
Your odds · Regular decision Reach
0.7–3.6%
  • Your SAT 1500 is below the middle 50% of enrolled students (1510–1570).
  • Only 48% of enrolled students sent an SAT, so that middle 50% may run high.
  • Duke admits 5.2% of applicants overall.
  • Under 15% admitted: a reach for every applicant.

Data: Common Data Set 2025–26 · Test-optional for 2026–27

An estimate, not a guarantee. Save to my list

Acceptance rate

Duke acceptance rate by year

2,910 of 55,541 applicants admitted for Fall 2025, against 5.7% for Fall 2024.

0% 5% 10% 15% 201520172019202120232025 5.2%
Show the numbers
Entering classAppliedAdmittedRateSource
Fall 202555,5412,9105.2%Common Data Set
Fall 202451,7952,9575.7%IPEDS
Fall 202346,3653,1456.8%IPEDS
Fall 202250,0163,1746.3%IPEDS
Fall 202149,7032,9275.9%IPEDS
Fall 202039,6393,0687.7%IPEDS
Fall 201941,9473,1877.6%IPEDS
Fall 201835,7863,1898.9%IPEDS
Fall 201733,0773,2619.9%IPEDS
Fall 201631,6713,43010.8%IPEDS
Fall 201531,2203,56611.4%IPEDS

2026–27 applications

Duke deadlines for 2026–27

Apply with Common App or QuestBridge. Checked October 24, 2026 on Duke's admissions site. Dates can change; confirm them there before you submit.

  1. Early decision Apply by Decisions Mid-December
  2. Regular decision Apply by Decisions Late March / early April
Every 2026–27 deadline, in date order

Early rounds

Early decision and early action at Duke

Duke offers early decision for 2026–27. It does not publish separate early admit rates in its Common Data Set.

Scores and GPA

Test scores and GPA at Duke

Scores are for enrolled students who sent them, not for everyone admitted.

SAT, middle 50% 1510–1570
40048% sent a score1600
ACT, middle 50% 34–35
1Enrolled, Fall 202536

What counts

What Duke weighs

From section C7 of Duke's Common Data Set 2025–26.

Very important

  • Course rigor
  • GPA
  • Recommendations
  • Activities
  • Talent or ability
  • Character

Important

  • Class rank
  • Essays

Considered

  • Test scores
  • Interview
  • First-generation status
  • Alumni relation
  • Where you live
  • State residency
  • Volunteer work
  • Work experience
  • Demonstrated interest

Not considered

  • Religious affiliation

Cost

What Duke costs

From the College Scorecard. For your own estimate, use Duke's net price calculator.

Tuition$72,795
Per year
Average net price$23,706
After grants, aided students
Open Duke's net price calculator

Compare

Colleges with a similar acceptance rate

Close to Duke's 5.2%, from the same official data.

FAQ

Questions about Duke admissions

What is Duke's acceptance rate?

Duke admitted 2,910 of 55,541 first-year applicants for Fall 2025, an acceptance rate of 5.2%. That is down from 5.7% for Fall 2024. Source: Common Data Set 2025–26.

Is Duke test-optional for 2026–27?

Yes. Duke is test-optional for 2026–27: you can apply with or without SAT or ACT scores.

When are Duke's application deadlines for 2026–27?

Early decision: November 2, 2026; Regular decision: January 4, 2027. Check Duke's admissions site before you apply, as dates can change.

What SAT score do you need for Duke?

There is no cutoff. The middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1510–1570 on the SAT (Fall 2025), and 48% of them sent a score. A score at or above 1570 is in the top quarter of enrolled students.

Where the numbers come from

Sources

Odds are estimates from public data, shown as a range. An estimate, not a guarantee.

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