Duke University
Data sourced from Common Data Set (Institutional), Institutional Website · Last verified 2026-09-15. This provenance applies to the record as a whole — figures marked with a star are sourced separately, as noted at the bottom of the page.
Preparation
This is helpful preparation, not a formal admission requirement.
Admissions
How admission works here
- Where you apply
- The Common App. Common App requirements grid
- Test scores
- Submitting SAT or ACT scores is optional. Duke admissions
- Essays
- The Common App personal essay is required. Common App requirements grid
- Recommendations
- 2 teacher recommendations, a counselor recommendation, a mid-year report. Common App requirements grid
- Portfolio
- Portfolios go through SlideRoom. Common App requirements grid
- Application fee
- $85. The Common App fee waiver is accepted. Common App requirements grid
- Deadlines
- Early Decision (binding) November 2, Regular Decision January 4. Duke admissions
My Fit uses this overall rate to classify your chances here.
No internally-impacted majors reported.
Applying
Applying through the Common App
- Application fee
- $85
- Common App fee waiver
- Accepted
- Common App personal essay
- Required
- Portfolios collected through
- SlideRoom
- Recommendations
- 2 teacher recommendations, counselor recommendation, mid-year report
Source: Common App requirements grid, updated 2026-09-18. Anything not listed here wasn't stated in the grid, which is not the same as not required.
College-specific prompts can change each application cycle. Check the school's official application page for the latest requirements.
View official application requirementsAcademics
Flagship Programs
Career & Major Pathways
Cost
This is the full yearly cost before any financial aid. What your family would actually pay is in the Financial Aid section. Cost figures are approximate, so confirm current numbers on the college's website.
Financial Aid
What families actually paid, by household income
Average for students who received federal aid. Your own figure depends on your family's finances and the aid this school offers you.
- Under $30,000
- $735
- $30,001 – $48,000
- -$361
- $48,001 – $75,000
- $5,706
- $75,001 – $110,000
- $17,100
- Over $110,000
- $54,230
A negative figure means the average aid package was larger than the school's full cost of attendance — those families were paid the difference rather than billed.
College Scorecard (latest.cost.net_price.private.by_income_level.*), 2024
Every school is required to publish a net price calculator. It asks about your family's finances and returns an estimate for you specifically, which is worth more than any average on this page. Your school counselor and the college's financial aid office can also help.
Scholarships and merit aid
Duke is need-blind for domestic applicants and meets 100% of demonstrated need with no loans for most families; it does not offer traditional merit scholarships outside of a small number of highly selective named programs (e.g., the joint Robertson Scholars program with UNC).
Campus
Campus Fit
*College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education) · 2024
†Duke admissions · 2026-27 · accessed Sep 20, 2026
‡Duke admissions · 2026-27 · accessed Sep 22, 2026