Duke vs. Pitt

Deciding between Duke University and University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,500 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Duke University
University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Duke Durham, NC
  • Pitt Pittsburgh, PA
  • Setting
  • Duke Midsize City
  • Pitt Large City
  • Enrollment
  • Duke 17,499
  • Pitt 35,724
  • Type
  • Duke Private 4 Year
  • Pitt Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Duke #2
  • Pitt #138
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Duke United Methodist
  • Pitt -
  • Status
  • Duke Non-profit
  • Pitt Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Duke
  • Pitt

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Duke $68,758
  • Pitt $21,926
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Duke $68,758
  • Pitt $41,430
  • Room & Board
  • Duke $18,128
  • Pitt $13,620
  • Average Net Price
  • Duke $21,981
  • Pitt $25,223
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Duke $65,522
  • Pitt $16,494
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Duke 43%
  • Pitt 53%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Duke 51,795
  • Pitt 60,898
  • Admitted
  • Duke 2,957
  • Pitt 35,372
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Duke 5.7%
  • Pitt 58.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Duke 58.8%
  • Pitt 13%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Duke 1540
  • Pitt 1370
  • Typical ACT score
  • Duke 34
  • Pitt 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Duke 3.94
  • Pitt 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Duke A-
  • Pitt A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Duke Elite
  • Pitt Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Duke Extreme
  • Pitt Low
  • ACT Range
  • Duke 34/35
  • Pitt 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • Duke 1500/1570
  • Pitt 1280/1460
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Duke Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Pitt Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Duke Jan 3, 2027
  • Pitt

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Duke 5:1
  • Pitt 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Duke
    • Social Sciences (24%)
    • Engineering (16%)
    • Human Services (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Pitt
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Duke 94%
  • Pitt 79%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Duke $108,900
  • Pitt $58,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Duke 89%
  • Pitt 75%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Duke $7,500
  • Pitt $26,909
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Duke $77
  • Pitt $278

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Duke 27%
  • Pitt 11%
  • % Women
  • Duke 36%
  • Pitt 16%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Duke Very High
  • Pitt Low
  • HBCU
  • Duke No
  • Pitt No
  • % White
  • Duke 46%
  • Pitt 74%
  • % Asian
  • Duke 22%
  • Pitt 9%
  • % Black
  • Duke 10%
  • Pitt 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Duke 7%
  • Pitt 3%
  • % Native American
  • Duke 1%
  • Pitt 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Duke 0%
  • Pitt 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Duke 2%
  • Pitt 3%
  • % International
  • Duke 10%
  • Pitt 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Duke 2%
  • Pitt 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Duke 15%
  • Pitt 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Duke 73%
  • Pitt 33%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Duke University in Durham, NC with University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in Pittsburgh, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is larger than Duke based on total student enrollment (35,724 students vs. 17,499 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Duke University is located in Durham, NC (Midsize City setting); University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting).
  • Duke University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Duke University 5:1; University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 13:1.

Duke vs. Pitt Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Duke or Pitt? 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 Pitt ($21,981 vs. $25,223).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus are 24.9% lower than at Duke University ($13,620 vs. $18,128).
  • Duke University is 213.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pitt (about $46,832 more per year; $68,758.00 vs. $21,926.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 66% higher at Duke than at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus (about $27,328 more per year; $68,758.00 vs. $41,430.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus than at Duke University (53% vs. 43%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Duke University students is 297.2% larger than aid received by University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus students ($65,522 vs. $16,494).

Duke vs. Pitt Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Duke or Pitt? 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 Pitt and Duke.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Duke University (1540) is 170 points higher than at Pitt (1370).
  • Incoming Duke students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 31 at Pitt).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Duke University 1500/1570; University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 1280/1460.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Duke University 34/35; University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Duke - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Pitt - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: Duke Jan 3, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Duke students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Pitt (3.79).
  • Pitt has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than Duke (5.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 58.8% at Duke vs. 13% at Pitt.

Duke vs. Pitt Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Duke and Pitt? 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 Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus's (79%).
  • Graduates from Duke University earn a median of about $50,900 more per year than Pitt graduates about ten years after starting college ($108,900 vs. $58,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Duke University graduates have a $19,409 lower median loan debt than Pitt graduates ($7,500 vs. $26,909).
  • Among borrowers, Duke graduates have an estimated $201 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pitt graduates ($77 vs. $278).
  • More Duke graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pitt students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 75%)

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.