Trajecta score
-0.5 since '20Ranked #15 of 2,375
5-year trend
83.0 · #13
2020
81.2 · #29
2021
81.6 · #32
2022
80.3 · #41
2023
82.5 · #30
2024
Academic Profile
96/ 100
Career Outcomes
91/ 100
Student Success
97/ 100
Affordability
63/ 100
Academic Investment
99/ 100
Access & Equity
44/ 100
Academic Profile
96
Career Outcomes
91
Student Success
97
Affordability
63
Academic Investment
99
Access & Equity
44
AI Fit Analysis
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See how your profile stacks up at Duke University — predicted chances, program fit, and a personalized application strategy.
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Cost / Net Price
$87k / $30k
SAT Avg
1,548
Retention
98%
Grad Rate
96%
Admissions
Test Scores
Scores represent the midpoint of enrolled students, not a cutoff.
Finances
Tuition
In-State Tuition
$68,758
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$68,758
per year
Aid & Debt
Pell Grant Share
14%
undergraduates receiving Pell
Federal Loan Share
14%
students borrowing
Median Debt
among completers
$13,000
Admissions Factors
Self-reported by the school in its Common Data Set (section C7) — the school's own statement of which application factors matter in its admissions decisions.
Source: Common Data Set 2024-2025, what Duke University reports weighing in admissions.
| Factor | Very Important | Important | Considered | Not Considered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rigor of secondary school record | Rigor of secondary school record: Very Important | |||
| Class rank | Class rank: Important | |||
| Academic GPA | Academic GPA: Very Important | |||
| Standardized test scores | Standardized test scores: Considered | |||
| Application essay | Application essay: Considered | |||
| Recommendation(s) | Recommendation(s): Very Important | |||
| Interview | Interview: Considered | |||
| Extracurricular activities | Extracurricular activities: Very Important | |||
| Talent/ability | Talent/ability: Very Important | |||
| Character/personal qualities | Character/personal qualities: Very Important | |||
| First generation | First generation: Considered | |||
| Alumni/ae relation | Alumni/ae relation: Considered | |||
| Geographical residence | Geographical residence: Considered | |||
| State residency | State residency: Considered | |||
| Religious affiliation/commitment | Religious affiliation/commitment: Not Considered | |||
| Volunteer work | Volunteer work: Considered | |||
| Work experience | Work experience: Considered | |||
| Level of applicant's interest | Level of applicant's interest: Considered |
Supplemental Essays · 2025-26
school's admissions site ↗Required Short Essay — Why Duke
Required250 wordsWhat is your impression of Duke as a university and community, and why do you believe it is a good match for your goals, values, and interests? If there is something specific that attracts you to our academic offerings in Trinity College of Arts and Sciences or the Pratt School of Engineering, or to our co-curricular opportunities, feel free to include that, too.
Optional Essay — Viewpoints and Experiences
OptionalChoose 1250 wordsWe believe a wide range of viewpoints and experiences is essential to maintaining Duke's vibrant living and learning community. Please share anything in this context that might help us better understand you and your potential contributions to Duke.
Optional Essay — Respectful Disagreement
OptionalChoose 1250 wordsMeaningful dialogue often involves respectful disagreement. Provide an example of a difference of opinion you've had with someone you care about. What did you learn from it?
Optional Essay — Recent Excitement
OptionalChoose 1250 wordsWhat's the last thing that you've been really excited about?
Optional Essay — Artificial Intelligence
OptionalChoose 1250 wordsDuke recently launched an initiative "to bring together Duke experts across all disciplines who are advancing artificial intelligence (AI) research, addressing the most pressing ethical challenges posed by AI, and shaping the future of AI in the classroom" (ai.duke.edu). Tell us about a situation when you would or would not choose to use AI (when possible and permitted). What shapes your thinking?
Drafting these? Write them with AI feedback in Trajecta →
Methodology
The Trajecta Score (0–100) blends six dimensions of public college data into one comparable number, then nudges it by how much data each school reports. Selectivity tiers are separate — they’re based purely on a school’s admission rate.
Read the full methodologyMedian earnings 10 years out, earnings vs. a high-school grad, and loan repayment.
Admission selectivity and the incoming class’s SAT / ACT scores.
Average net price after aid and the typical debt of graduates.
Graduation rate and first-year retention.
Instructional spending and faculty salaries per student.
Share of Pell-grant students and reliance on federal loans.
Data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and IPEDS. Figures are the most recent reported and may lag a year or two. This tool is read-only and not personalized — inside the Trajecta app, scores are tailored to your profile as a fit score.
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Neighbors in North Carolina, plus the closest schools nationally by Trajecta Score.
Davidson College
Davidson, NC
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Raleigh, NC
Elon University
Elon, NC
Cabarrus College of Health Sciences
Concord, NC
Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY
Brown University
Providence, RI
University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA
