Vanderbilt vs. Rice vs. Duke

Vanderbilt University, Rice University, and Duke University side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Vanderbilt University
Rice University
Duke University

At a glance

  • Lowest net price: Duke ($21,981 a year). Next is Rice at $23,589, about $1,608 more.
  • Hardest to get into: Duke (5.7% admitted, typical SAT 1540). Vanderbilt is close behind (5.9%, SAT 1540); Rice 8.0%.
  • Highest graduation rate: Duke (94%). Then Vanderbilt 92%, Rice 92%.
  • Highest median earnings: Duke ($108,900 ten years after starting college). Then Rice $86,400, Vanderbilt $83,100.
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Key differences

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Measure Vanderbilt Rice Duke
Acceptance rateDuke most selective 5.9% 8% 5.7%
SAT range (middle 50%)Rice highest 1500-1570 1510-1570 1500-1570
Average net priceDuke lowest $25,186 $23,589 $21,981
In-state tuitionRice lowest $67,498 $64,144 $68,758
Out-of-state tuitionRice lowest $67,498 $64,144 $68,758
Graduation rateDuke highest 92% 92% 94%
Median earnings (10 years)Duke highest $83,100 $86,400 $108,900

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Vanderbilt 45,409
  • Rice 32,473
  • Duke 51,795
  • Admitted
  • Vanderbilt 2,662
  • Rice 2,597
  • Duke 2,957
  • Acceptance rate
  • Vanderbilt 5.9%
  • Rice 8%
  • Duke 5.7%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Vanderbilt 61.2%
  • Rice 44.2%
  • Duke 58.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Vanderbilt 1540
  • Rice 1540
  • Duke 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • Vanderbilt 34
  • Rice 34
  • Duke 34
  • Average high school GPA
  • Vanderbilt 3.89
  • Rice 3.96
  • Duke 3.94
  • Typical high school grades
  • Vanderbilt A
  • Rice A
  • Duke A
  • Admissions standards
  • Vanderbilt Elite
  • Rice Elite
  • Duke Elite
  • Applicant competition
  • Vanderbilt Extreme
  • Rice Extreme
  • Duke Extreme
  • SAT range
  • Vanderbilt 1500-1570
  • Rice 1510-1570
  • Duke 1500-1570
  • ACT range
  • Vanderbilt 34-35
  • Rice 34-35
  • Duke 34-35
  • Submit test scores
  • Vanderbilt Test optional
  • Rice Test optional
  • Duke Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Vanderbilt Jan 1, 2027
  • Rice Jan 1, 2027
  • Duke Jan 3, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Vanderbilt $67,498
  • Rice $64,144
  • Duke $68,758
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Vanderbilt $67,498
  • Rice $64,144
  • Duke $68,758
  • Room & board
  • Vanderbilt $22,054
  • Rice $18,100
  • Duke $18,128
  • Average net price
  • Vanderbilt $25,186
  • Rice $23,589
  • Duke $21,981
  • Average grant aid
  • Vanderbilt $64,404
  • Rice $56,199
  • Duke $65,522
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Vanderbilt 67%
  • Rice 56%
  • Duke 43%
  • Graduation rate
  • Vanderbilt 92%
  • Rice 92%
  • Duke 94%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Vanderbilt $83,100
  • Rice $86,400
  • Duke $108,900
  • Making student loan payments
  • Vanderbilt 83%
  • Rice 87%
  • Duke 89%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Vanderbilt $14,000
  • Rice $10,227
  • Duke $7,500
  • Median loan payment
  • Vanderbilt $144
  • Rice $105
  • Duke $77
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Vanderbilt 8:1
  • Rice 6:1
  • Duke 5:1
  • Popular majors
  • Vanderbilt
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Engineering (13%)
    • General Studies (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (6%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • Rice
    • Social Sciences (18%)
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Duke
    • Social Sciences (24%)
    • Engineering (16%)
    • Human Services (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Location
  • Vanderbilt Nashville, TN
  • Rice Houston, TX
  • Duke Durham, NC
  • Setting
  • Vanderbilt Large City
  • Rice Large City
  • Duke Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Vanderbilt 13,575
  • Rice 8,961
  • Duke 17,499
  • Type
  • Vanderbilt Private 4 Year
  • Rice Private 4 Year
  • Duke Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Vanderbilt #16
  • Rice #9
  • Duke #2

Comparable Facts

Compare Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN, Rice University in Houston, TX, and Duke University in Durham, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

By total student enrollment, Duke University is the largest of the three (17,499 students), followed by Vanderbilt (13,575) and Rice (8,961).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Settings: Nashville, TN (Large City); Houston, TX (Large City); Durham, NC (Midsize City).
  • Vanderbilt University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Rice University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Duke University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Vanderbilt 8:1; Rice 6:1; Duke 5:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are lowest at Rice ($18,100) and highest at Vanderbilt ($22,054); Duke $18,128.
  • The largest share of students receiving grant aid is at Vanderbilt (67%), then Rice (56%) and Duke (43%).
  • Average grant aid: Duke $65,522; Vanderbilt $64,404; Rice $56,199.

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate): Vanderbilt 34; Rice 34; Duke 34.
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at Vanderbilt, Rice, and Duke.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Vanderbilt Jan 1, 2027; Rice Jan 1, 2027; Duke Jan 3, 2027.
  • Average high school GPA of enrolled freshmen: Rice 3.96; Duke 3.94; Vanderbilt 3.89.
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield): Vanderbilt 61.2%; Duke 58.8%; Rice 44.2%.

Loans and repayment

  • Median federal loan debt among borrowers: Duke $7,500; Rice $10,227; Vanderbilt $14,000.
  • Median monthly federal loan payment: Duke $77; Rice $105; Vanderbilt $144.
  • Share of former students actively paying back federal loans three years after graduation: Duke 89%; Rice 87%; Vanderbilt 83%.

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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