Duke vs. UNC Chapel Hill

Comparable Facts

Compare Duke University in Durham, NC with University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is larger than Duke based on total student enrollment (32,438 students vs. 17,499 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Duke University is located in Durham, NC (Midsize City setting); University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is in Chapel Hill, NC (Small City setting).
• Duke University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Duke University 5:1; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 15:1.

Duke vs. UNC Chapel Hill Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Duke or UNC Chapel Hill? 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 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill than Duke ($10,154 vs. $21,981).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are 23.9% lower than at Duke University ($13,804 vs. $18,128).
• Duke University is 664.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than UNC Chapel Hill (about $59,764 more per year; $68,758.00 vs. $8,994.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 66.9% higher at Duke than at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (about $27,555 more per year; $68,758.00 vs. $41,203.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Duke University than at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (43% vs. 38%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Duke University students is 267.8% larger than aid received by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students ($65,522 vs. $17,814).

Duke vs. UNC Chapel Hill Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Duke or UNC Chapel Hill? 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 UNC Chapel Hill and Duke.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Duke University (1540) is 80 points higher than at UNC Chapel Hill (1460).
• Incoming Duke students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 31 at UNC Chapel Hill).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Duke University 1500/1570; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 1390/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Duke University 34/35; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 28/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Duke - Test optional; UNC Chapel Hill - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Duke Jan 3, 2027; UNC Chapel Hill Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Duke students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at UNC Chapel Hill (3.83).
• UNC Chapel Hill has a higher acceptance rate (15.3%) than Duke (5.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 58.8% at Duke vs. 45.5% at UNC Chapel Hill.

Duke vs. UNC Chapel Hill Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Duke and UNC Chapel Hill? 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 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's (89%).
• Graduates from Duke University earn a median of about $42,800 more per year than UNC Chapel Hill graduates about ten years after starting college ($108,900 vs. $66,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Duke University graduates have a $8,979 lower median loan debt than UNC Chapel Hill graduates ($7,500 vs. $16,479).
• Among borrowers, Duke graduates have an estimated $93 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UNC Chapel Hill graduates ($77 vs. $170).
• More Duke graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNC Chapel Hill students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 82%)

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.