Duke University
杜克大学- Tier 1
- Durham, NC
- Data last checked 2026-10
Duke University admits about 5% of first-year applicants. The middle 50% SAT range is 1500–1570, and the GPA reference is 3.85 (Unweighted 4.0 scale, 25th percentile). SAT / ACT optional for the 2026-27 cycle (fall 2027 entry); strong scorers should submit. Applying for financial aid can affect admission for international students. A year costs about $103,180 (2026-27).
Flagship Majors and Admit Data
| Major | Admit rate | vs overall | One-liner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pratt School of Engineering★ Flagship | Not published | Harder | |
| Trinity - Biology / Neuroscience★ Flagship | ≈ overall 5% | ≈ overall | |
| Economics / Public Policy★ Flagship | ≈ overall 5% | ≈ overall |
Where no official major admit rate is published, difficulty is estimated from the school's public information.
US applicants
- Overall admit rate
- 5%. The actual number for the domestic pool (which holds most seats) is roughly aligned with the official figure.
- Financial aid / FAFSA
- Need-blind for domestic; FAFSA aid applications don't affect admission (need-aware applies only to international).
- Privates have no in-state preference
- Domestic applications don't differentiate by state, but schools care about state representation (over-concentrated areas face competitive squeeze).
- Test policy
- SAT / ACT optional for the 2026-27 cycle (fall 2027 entry); strong scorers should submit. Official policy ›
- Application timing
- ED/EA deadlines early November, RD January. Domestic families typically begin college visits at the end of 11th grade.
International (F-1) applicants
- International friendliness 3 / 3
- High international ratio (15%+), relatively friendly
- Need-blind for international
- ✗ No — F1 applicants applying for aid see significantly lower admit rates (need-aware)
Cost per year
Published cost of attendance for 2026-27 (tuition, housing, food, books and fees): about $103,180.
This is the published sticker price; what a family actually pays depends on financial aid and scholarships.
Waitlist
The school uses a waitlist but has not published how many students accepted a spot.
Numbers are from the school's Common Data Set (section C2), checked 2026-10. They can change a lot from year to year; the school's latest release is authoritative. Official waitlist policy ›
Already on a waitlist? The Application Rescue Kit lays out the timeline and real cost of four paths: waitlist, gap year, transfer and spring admission ›Transfer
Fall transfer, Fall 2024: 2,285 applied and 92 were admitted (about 4.0%).
Duke University · US College Application Deep Read · Chinese-American Lens
In the Chinese-American US college application pool, Duke University sits in the Top-tier private (US Top 15) layer. Overall admit rate is 5%, with traditional strength in Pre-Med / Engineering / Business, and Pratt School of Engineering as the entry that Chinese-American families track most.
Duke University is need-aware for international applicants — requesting financial aid reduces admit probability, intl-friendliness 3/3. Hardware bar: GPA 25th 3.85/4.0, SAT mid-range 1500-1570, AP expectation 8 courses. Only half of admission is on the numbers — the other half is EC depth, essays, and recommendations. Test scores are a ticket, not a verdict.
If you or a parent is evaluating whether Duke University is a reach, match, or safety in this US college application cycle, the "I have 4.0 / 1500, can I get in?" question is not answerable from public forums alone — real judgment requires layering this season's admissions policy, your high-school competitive density, within-major selectivity, and ED/EA timing into one model. Top 15 privates lean heavily on ED — if this school is on your long list, ED-candidate confirmation should start by end of 11th grade. The Kaiso engine assigns Duke University to a tier based on your real profile, and every judgment is auditable.
What parents ask about Duke University
What is Duke University's undergraduate admit rate?
Duke University (杜克大学) overall undergraduate admit rate is about 5% (private or public). SAT mid-range (25-75 percentile) 1500-1570. GPA threshold reference 3.85 (Unweighted 4.0 scale, 25th percentile). Data last verified 2026-10.
Does Duke University require the SAT or ACT?
SAT / ACT optional for the 2026-27 cycle (fall 2027 entry); strong scorers should submit.
What early rounds does Duke University offer?
2026-27 cycle: ED1 due Nov 2, RD due Jan 4. ED is binding: if admitted, you must enroll.
How much does a year at Duke University cost?
Published cost of attendance for 2026-27 (tuition, housing, food, books and fees): about $103,180. This is the published sticker price; what a family actually pays depends on financial aid and scholarships.
How hard is it to transfer into Duke University?
Fall transfer, Fall 2024: 2,285 applied and 92 were admitted (about 4.0%).
How many students get in from Duke University's waitlist?
The school uses a waitlist but has not published how many students accepted a spot.
What are Duke University's flagship majors?
Duke University flagship majors: Pratt School of Engineering, Trinity - Biology / Neuroscience, Economics / Public Policy. BME 全美前三，医预+工程跨界
Is Duke University friendly to international (F1) applicants?
Duke University is need-aware for international students — F1 applicants applying for aid see significantly lower admit rates. International friendliness 3/3.