Chances of getting into Duke University
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance Rate
9.9%| Measure | Difficulty | |
|---|---|---|
| Admission Standards | Elite | |
| Applicant Competition | Extreme |
How hard is it to get into Duke and can I get accepted? The school has a 10% acceptance rate ranking it #1 in North Carolina for lowest rate of acceptance. Last year, 3,261 out of 33,077 applicants were admitted making Duke an extremely competitive school to get into with a very low chance of acceptance - even for applicants with the highest scores and grades. Academically, it has exceptionally high requirements for admission test scores, generally admitting students who score in the top 4 percent. Of those applicants who were admitted, 54% enrolled. With over half of admitted students enrolling, acceptance by Duke University is a prized outcome for many students. Most incoming freshmen graduated in the top ten percent of their high school class.
10% are accepted,
can you get in?
Duke SAT Scores
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
SAT Range
1430-1560Applicants Submitting SAT
31%| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 25th | 690 |
| SAT Math 25th | 740 |
| SAT Composite 25th | 1430 |
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 75th | 760 |
| SAT Math 75th | 800 |
| SAT Composite 75th | 1560 |
| Average SAT Score | 1500 |
SAT Scores you need to get in
What are the SAT requirements for students to be admitted to Duke University?
Duke University typically requires applicants to be in the top 3 percent of SAT test takers. The school consistently takes SAT composite scores down to 1430 on a 1600 scale, below which admission should be considered a reach. We estimate some students could be accepted with SAT's as low as 1360. The estimated average SAT composite for admitted freshman is 1500 out of 1600. The school ranks #1 in North Carolina for highest average SAT composite score. 31 percent of applicants submit SAT scores to the school. Note: SAT scores presented on this page have been adjusted upwards per the College Board's concordance tables for test takers after March 2016.
Estimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score
| SAT Score (1600 scale) | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 1560 and Above | Good | >16% |
| 1495 to 1560 | Avg + | 10%-16% |
| 1430 to 1495 | Avg - | 6%-10% |
| 1365 to 1430 | Reach | 4%-6% |
| Less than 1365 | Low | <4% |
Duke ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
ACT Range
31-35Applicants Submitting ACT
70%| ACT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 25th | 32 |
| ACT Math 25th | 30 |
| ACT Composite 25th | 31 |
| ACT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 75th | 35 |
| ACT Math 75th | 35 |
| ACT Composite 75th | 35 |
| Average ACT Score | 33 |
ACT Scores needed to get accepted
What are the ACT requirements for prospective students to get into Duke?
Admission data indicates that Duke regularly accepts students with ACT's of 31 and above. Successful applicants typically send ACT scores in the top 5 percent nationally. We estimate the school accepting minimum ACT composite scores around 29 in some instances. Prospective students submitting an ACT composite of 33 or higher should be in the upper half of applicants - and students with a 35 and above have very competitive chances. The school ranks #1 in North Carolina for highest average ACT composite score. Scoring well on the ACT is very important as 70 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to Duke University.
Estimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score
| ACT Score | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 35 and Above | Good | >16% |
| 33 to 35 | Avg + | 10%-16% |
| 31 to 33 | Avg - | 6%-10% |
| 29 to 31 | Reach | 4%-6% |
| Less than 29 | Low | <4% |
Estimated GPA Requirements & Average GPA
Duke University has not reported high school GPA data for its accepted students.
High School Class Rank
92% of Duke University freshman were in the top ten percent of their high school graduating class.
| High School Class Rank | Freshmen Within Range |
|---|---|
| Top 10% of class | 92% |
| Top 25% of class | 98% |
| Top 50% of class | 99% |
| Bottom 50% of class | 1% |
| Bottom 25% of class | 0% |
Admission Statistics
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 16,851 | 16,226 | 33,077 |
| Accepted | 1,645 | 1,616 | 3,261 |
| Acceptance Rate | 10% | 10% | 10% |
| Enrolled | 892 | 856 | 1,748 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 54% | 53% | 54% |
Fall 2019 Application Deadline
Applications were Due
Jan 2, 2019Days left to Apply
NoneThe application deadline for Fall 2019 has passed. Applications were due on Jan 2, 2019.
Admission Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to Duke University and what considerations affect admission decisions?
| Test Scores | Required |
| High School GPA | Recommended |
| High School Class Rank | Recommended |
| Completion of College Preparatory Program | Required |
| Recommendations | Required |
| Demonstration of Competencies | Neither required nor recommended |
Credits Accepted
| AP Credit | Yes |
| Dual Credit | No |
| Credit for Life Experiences | No |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=198419 IPEDS survey data for Duke University.
