Duke vs. William & Mary

Comparable Facts

Compare Duke University in Durham, NC with William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Duke University is larger than William & Mary based on total student enrollment (17,499 students vs. 9,818 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Duke University is located in Durham, NC (Midsize City setting); William & Mary is in Williamsburg, VA (Large Suburban setting).
• Duke University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. William & Mary is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Duke University 5:1; William & Mary 12:1.

Duke vs. William & Mary Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Duke or William & Mary? 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 William & Mary than Duke ($19,686 vs. $21,981).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at William & Mary are 10.7% lower than at Duke University ($16,182 vs. $18,128).
• Duke University is 165.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than William & Mary (about $42,844 more per year; $68,758.00 vs. $25,914.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 34.7% higher at Duke than at William & Mary (about $17,720 more per year; $68,758.00 vs. $51,038.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Duke University as at William & Mary (43% vs. 43%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Duke University students is 183.1% larger than aid received by William & Mary students ($65,522 vs. $23,144).

Duke vs. William & Mary Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Duke or William & Mary? 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 William & Mary and Duke.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Duke University (1540) is 70 points higher than at William & Mary (1470).
• Incoming Duke students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at William & Mary).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Duke University 1500/1570; William & Mary 1400/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Duke University 34/35; William & Mary 32/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Duke - Test optional; William & Mary - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Duke Jan 3, 2027; William & Mary Jan 2, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Duke students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at William & Mary (3.85).
• William & Mary has a higher acceptance rate (34.1%) than Duke (5.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 58.8% at Duke vs. 26.6% at William & Mary.

Duke vs. William & Mary Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Duke and William & Mary? 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 William & Mary's (91%).
• Graduates from Duke University earn a median of about $40,200 more per year than William & Mary graduates about ten years after starting college ($108,900 vs. $68,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Duke University graduates have a $12,000 lower median loan debt than William & Mary graduates ($7,500 vs. $19,500).
• Among borrowers, Duke graduates have an estimated $124 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than William & Mary graduates ($77 vs. $201).
• More Duke graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former William & Mary students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 85%)

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.