Barnard vs. Duke

Deciding between Barnard College and Duke University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Barnard College
Duke University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Barnard New York, NY
  • Duke Durham, NC
  • Setting
  • Barnard Large City
  • Duke Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Barnard 3,487
  • Duke 17,499
  • Type
  • Barnard Private 4 Year
  • Duke Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Barnard #35
  • Duke #2
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Barnard -
  • Duke United Methodist
  • Status
  • Barnard Non-profit
  • Duke Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Barnard
  • Duke

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Duke $68,758
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Duke $68,758
  • Room & Board
  • Barnard $21,714
  • Duke $18,128
  • Average Net Price
  • Barnard $26,407
  • Duke $21,981
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Barnard $63,131
  • Duke $65,522
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Barnard 33%
  • Duke 43%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Barnard 11,836
  • Duke 51,795
  • Admitted
  • Barnard 1,046
  • Duke 2,957
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Barnard 8.8%
  • Duke 5.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Barnard 68.6%
  • Duke 58.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Barnard 1520
  • Duke 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • Barnard 33
  • Duke 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Barnard 3.85
  • Duke 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Barnard A
  • Duke A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Barnard Elite
  • Duke Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Barnard Extreme
  • Duke Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Barnard 32/34
  • Duke 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Barnard 1470/1560
  • Duke 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Barnard Test optional
  • Duke Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Barnard Jan 4, 2027
  • Duke Jan 3, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Barnard 10:1
  • Duke 5:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Barnard
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)
  • Duke
    • Social Sciences (24%)
    • Engineering (16%)
    • Human Services (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Barnard 92%
  • Duke 94%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Barnard $66,900
  • Duke $108,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Barnard 89%
  • Duke 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Barnard $17,847
  • Duke $7,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Barnard $184
  • Duke $77

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Barnard 2%
  • Duke 44%
  • % Women
  • Barnard 98%
  • Duke 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Barnard High
  • Duke Very High
  • HBCU
  • Barnard No
  • Duke No
  • % White
  • Barnard 53%
  • Duke 46%
  • % Asian
  • Barnard 14%
  • Duke 22%
  • % Black
  • Barnard 7%
  • Duke 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • Barnard 12%
  • Duke 7%
  • % Native American
  • Barnard 0%
  • Duke 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Barnard 0%
  • Duke 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Barnard 6%
  • Duke 2%
  • % International
  • Barnard 8%
  • Duke 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Barnard 0%
  • Duke 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Barnard 20%
  • Duke 15%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Barnard 62%
  • Duke 73%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Barnard Yes
  • Duke Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Barnard No
  • Duke Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • Barnard Yes
  • Duke Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Barnard No
  • Duke No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Barnard No
  • Duke No

Comparable Facts

Compare Barnard College in New York, NY with Duke University in Durham, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Duke University is larger than Barnard based on total student enrollment (17,499 students vs. 3,487 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Barnard College is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); Duke University is in Durham, NC (Midsize City setting).
  • Barnard College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Duke University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Barnard College 10:1; Duke University 5:1.

Barnard vs. Duke Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Barnard or Duke? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Duke University than Barnard ($21,981 vs. $26,407).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Duke University are 16.5% lower than at Barnard College ($18,128 vs. $21,714).
  • Barnard College is 1.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Duke (about $1,130 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $68,758.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.6% higher at Barnard than at Duke University (about $1,130 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $68,758.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Duke University than at Barnard College (43% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Duke University students is 3.8% larger than aid received by Barnard College students ($65,522 vs. $63,131).

Barnard vs. Duke Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Barnard or Duke? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Duke and Barnard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Duke University (1540) is 20 points higher than at Barnard (1520).
  • Incoming Duke students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at Barnard).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Barnard College 1470/1560; Duke University 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Barnard College 32/34; Duke University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Barnard - Test optional; Duke - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Barnard Jan 4, 2027; Duke Jan 3, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Duke students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Barnard (3.85).
  • Barnard has a higher acceptance rate (8.8%) than Duke (5.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 68.6% at Barnard vs. 58.8% at Duke.

Barnard vs. Duke Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Barnard and Duke? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Duke University's six-year graduation rate (94%) is higher than Barnard College's (92%).
  • Graduates from Duke University earn a median of about $42,000 more per year than Barnard graduates about ten years after starting college ($108,900 vs. $66,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Duke University graduates have a $10,347 lower median loan debt than Barnard graduates ($7,500 vs. $17,847).
  • Among borrowers, Duke graduates have an estimated $107 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Barnard graduates ($77 vs. $184).
  • More Barnard graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Duke students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 89%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.