Duke University is a highly competitive school and its admissions statistics make Duke University one of the 50 most competitive schools for undergraduate admissions globally. Similar to the trends across all top schools, Duke University acceptance rates have continued to decline over the past 8 years and will almost certainly continue to do so into the future.
The Class of 2024 was one of the most challenging years to be admitted to Duke University ever. For the Class of 2024, 39,783 students applied to Duke University of which 3,057 students were accepted, yielding an overall acceptance rate of 7.7%. Overall applications decreased by 4.4% over last year (2023 to 2024) from 41,613 to 39,783.
For the Class of 2024, 887 students were admitted through the early admissions process. Total early applications totaled 4,300, yielding an early acceptance rate of 20.6%. Early applications decreased by 11.4% over last year (2023 to 2024) from 4,852 to 4,300.
Duke University is a private research university that traces its roots back to 1838 when it was called Trinity College. It was in 1924 when James B. Duke created a philanthropic foundation under the family name entitled The Duke Endowment that Trinity College officially became Duke University. During that time, Duke University underwent major changes, both physically and academically. The original old campus became known as the East Campus and the university’s new Gothic-style architecture side became known as the West Campus. Duke’s original East Campus served as Duke’s College for women until 1972 when the campuses were integrated and made co-ed. The East Campus is now the home for all first-year students. Forbes recently ranked Duke University thirteenth in Research Universities and second in the South on its list of Top Colleges. Duke University’s mission is to “offer a unique and compelling combination of academic achievement, engagement with society, and athletic accomplishment at the highest.”
Some of Duke University’s most popular undergraduate programs are in the areas of science (biomedical engineering, biology, and psychology), economics and public policy. With regard to science, Duke University is also known to host the world’s largest protected population of endangered primates, including 200 lemurs at the university’s Lemur Center. With regard to academics, Duke Libraries rank among the nation’s top ten private research library systems.
Duke University has produced a great many notable alumni, and when speaking of some of today’s most recognizable and relevant to current public policy issues, the likes of Charlie Rose, Ron Paul and Jeffrey Zients should be mentioned. Also worth noting is Melissa Gates, Cofounder of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and wife of Bill Gates. The foundation donates large sums of money to the school annually. Ironically, Timothy Cook CEO of Apple Inc. is also a notable Duke University Alumni.
Approximately 15,467 students annually attend Duke’s ten schools and colleges including; Trinity College of Arts & Sciences, School of Law, Divinity School, Graduate School, School of Medicine, School of Nursing, Pratt School of Engineering, Fuqua School of Business, Sanford School of Public Policy and the Nicholas School of the Environment.
Duke University competes in 26 NCAA Division I varsity sports and has numerable recent championships in both basketball and lacrosse. Duke University Press puts out about 120 new books every year, in addition to publishing more than thirty scholarly journals covering areas such as the humanities, social sciences, law, medicine, the sciences and mathematics. Duke University is also home to more than 400 recognized clubs, living groups, and other organizations.
DUKE UNIVERSITY: CURRENT STUDENT POPULATION
- Total Enrollment 15,427
- Undergrad Enrollment 6,680
- Freshmen 1,724
- % Male/Female 50% / 50%
- % From Out of State 89%
- % Freshman from Public High School 67%
- % Undergrads Live on Campus 82%
- % African American 10%
- % Asian 21%
- % Caucasian 47%
- % Hispanic 7%
- % Native American 1%
- % Mixed (2+ Ethnicities) 2%
- # of Countries Represented 89
DUKE UNIVERSITY: FRESHMAN STUDENT PROFILE
- Range SAT Critical Reading 670-760
- Range SAT Math 690-790
- Range SAT Writing 680-780
- Range ACT Composite 30-34
- Minimum Paper TOEFL Not Reported
- Minimum Web-based TOEFL Not Reported
- % Graduated Top 10% of Class 90%
- % Graduated Top 25% of Class 98%
- % Graduated Top 50% of Class 100%
DUKE UNIVERSITY: ACADEMICS
- Academic Rating 90/100
- % Students Returning for Sophomore Year 97%
- % Students Graduating within 4 Years 87%
- % Students Graduating within 6 Years 94%
- Calendar System Semester
- Student/Faculty Ratio 7:1
- Professor’s ‘Interesting’ Rating 77%
- Professor’s ‘Accessible’ Rating 74%
- Most classes have 10-19 students.
- Most lab/discussion groups have 10-19 students.
DUKE UNIVERSITY: MOST POPULAR MAJORS
- Economics
- Psychology
- Public Policy Analysis
