Harvard vs. Duke

Deciding between Harvard University 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.

Harvard University
Duke University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Duke Durham, NC
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Duke Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Duke 17,499
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • Duke Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • Duke #2
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • Duke United Methodist
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Duke Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • Duke

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Duke $68,758
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Duke $68,758
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Duke $18,128
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Duke $21,981
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • Duke $65,522
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • Duke 43%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Duke 51,795
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Duke 2,957
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Duke 5.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Duke 58.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • Duke 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • Duke 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Duke 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Duke A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • Duke Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • Duke Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • Duke 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Duke 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • Duke Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • Duke Jan 3, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Duke 5:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • Duke
    • Social Sciences (24%)
    • Engineering (16%)
    • Human Services (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • Duke 94%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Duke $108,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • Duke 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Duke $7,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • Duke $77

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • Duke 44%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • Duke 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • Duke Very High
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • Duke No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • Duke 46%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • Duke 22%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • Duke 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • Duke 7%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • Duke 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • Duke 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • Duke 2%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • Duke 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • Duke 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • Duke 15%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • Duke 73%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Harvard University in Cambridge, MA with Duke University in Durham, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Harvard University is larger than Duke based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 17,499 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Duke University is in Durham, NC (Midsize City setting).
  • Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Duke University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvard University 7:1; Duke University 5:1.

Harvard vs. Duke Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard 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 Harvard University than Duke ($17,525 vs. $21,981).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Duke University are 14.5% lower than at Harvard University ($18,128 vs. $21,190).
  • Duke University is 11.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harvard (about $7,082 more per year; $68,758.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 11.5% higher at Duke than at Harvard University (about $7,082 more per year; $68,758.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Harvard University than at Duke University (56% vs. 43%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 3.8% larger than aid received by Duke University students ($68,015 vs. $65,522).

Harvard vs. Duke Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Harvard 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 Harvard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 10 points higher than at Duke (1540).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 34 at Duke).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; Duke University 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; Duke University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; Duke - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; Duke Jan 3, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Duke (3.94).
  • Duke has a higher acceptance rate (5.7%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 58.8% at Duke.

Harvard vs. Duke Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard 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).

  • Harvard University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Duke University's (94%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $27,800 more per year than Duke graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $108,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Duke graduates ($6,500 vs. $7,500).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Duke graduates ($67 vs. $77).
  • More Duke graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 70%)

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.