UD vs. Duke

Deciding between University of Delaware 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.

University of Delaware
Duke University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UD Newark, DE
  • Duke Durham, NC
  • Setting
  • UD Large Suburban
  • Duke Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • UD 24,412
  • Duke 17,499
  • Type
  • UD Public 4 Year
  • Duke Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UD #150
  • Duke #2
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UD -
  • Duke United Methodist
  • Status
  • UD Non-profit
  • Duke Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UD
  • Duke

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UD $16,810
  • Duke $68,758
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UD $41,400
  • Duke $68,758
  • Room & Board
  • UD $15,386
  • Duke $18,128
  • Average Net Price
  • UD $19,139
  • Duke $21,981
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UD $13,302
  • Duke $65,522
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UD 91%
  • Duke 43%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UD 39,995
  • Duke 51,795
  • Admitted
  • UD 28,238
  • Duke 2,957
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UD 70.6%
  • Duke 5.7%
  • Enrolled
  • UD 15.7%
  • Duke 58.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UD 1280
  • Duke 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • UD 30
  • Duke 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • UD 3.94
  • Duke 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UD A
  • Duke A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UD Very High
  • Duke Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • UD Low
  • Duke Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • UD 28/32
  • Duke 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • UD 1190/1370
  • Duke 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UD Test optional
  • Duke Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UD Jan 15, 2027
  • Duke Jan 3, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UD 16:1
  • Duke 5:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UD
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • Duke
    • Social Sciences (24%)
    • Engineering (16%)
    • Human Services (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UD 78%
  • Duke 94%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UD $61,300
  • Duke $108,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UD 80%
  • Duke 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UD $24,203
  • Duke $7,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UD $250
  • Duke $77

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UD 41%
  • Duke 44%
  • % Women
  • UD 59%
  • Duke 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UD Low
  • Duke Very High
  • HBCU
  • UD No
  • Duke No
  • % White
  • UD 74%
  • Duke 46%
  • % Asian
  • UD 5%
  • Duke 22%
  • % Black
  • UD 6%
  • Duke 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • UD 8%
  • Duke 7%
  • % Native American
  • UD 0%
  • Duke 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UD 0%
  • Duke 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UD 3%
  • Duke 2%
  • % International
  • UD 4%
  • Duke 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UD 1%
  • Duke 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UD 39%
  • Duke 15%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UD 59%
  • Duke 73%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Delaware in Newark, DE with Duke University in Durham, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Delaware is larger than Duke based on total student enrollment (24,412 students vs. 17,499 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Delaware is located in Newark, DE (Large Suburban setting); Duke University is in Durham, NC (Midsize City setting).
  • University of Delaware is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Duke University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Delaware 16:1; Duke University 5:1.

UD vs. Duke Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UD 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 University of Delaware than Duke ($19,139 vs. $21,981).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Delaware are 15.1% lower than at Duke University ($15,386 vs. $18,128).
  • Duke University is 309% more expensive for in-state tuition than UD (about $51,948 more per year; $68,758.00 vs. $16,810.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 66.1% higher at Duke than at University of Delaware (about $27,358 more per year; $68,758.00 vs. $41,400.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Delaware than at Duke University (91% vs. 43%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Duke University students is 392.6% larger than aid received by University of Delaware students ($65,522 vs. $13,302).

UD vs. Duke Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UD 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 UD.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Duke University (1540) is 260 points higher than at UD (1280).
  • Incoming Duke students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at UD).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Delaware 1190/1370; Duke University 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Delaware 28/32; Duke University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UD - Test optional; Duke - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UD Jan 15, 2027; Duke Jan 3, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UD students have the same average high school GPA (3.94) as students at Duke (3.94).
  • UD has a higher acceptance rate (70.6%) than Duke (5.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.7% at UD vs. 58.8% at Duke.

UD vs. Duke Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UD 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 University of Delaware's (78%).
  • Graduates from Duke University earn a median of about $47,600 more per year than UD graduates about ten years after starting college ($108,900 vs. $61,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Duke University graduates have a $16,703 lower median loan debt than UD graduates ($7,500 vs. $24,203).
  • Among borrowers, Duke graduates have an estimated $173 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UD graduates ($77 vs. $250).
  • More Duke graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UD students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 80%)

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.