Duke University logo

Duke University

Durham, NC

What are your chances of getting into Duke University?

Duke University is a highly selective private university in Durham, North Carolina, known for combining a rigorous liberal arts core with strong research opportunities and a notably interdisciplinary culture. Undergraduates move between Trinity College of Arts and Sciences and the Pratt School of Engineering, and the school is especially well known for programs that let students cross boundaries through research, independent study, and custom academic pathways. With an admit rate around 6% and a middle 50% SAT range of 1500 to 1570, Duke attracts students who are academically intense and comfortable in a competitive environment. The campus has a classic collegiate feel but is closely tied to the city of Durham and the broader Research Triangle, giving students access to both a close-knit residential experience and a lively off-campus setting. Student life tends to be active, ambitious, and service-oriented, with many students involved in research, club life, and campus traditions. The students who thrive most at Duke are usually curious, self-directed, collaborative, and eager to take advantage of a fast-paced environment with lots of intellectual and extracurricular options.

Duke University logo

Duke University

Highly selective

0%
Admission rate
1500–1570
SAT
34–35
ACT
#0
US rank

Calculate your chances at Duke University

Enter your GPA and test scores, add other schools, and see where you stand instantly.

Your Academic Profile

Estimates based on admitted-student data. Real decisions also weigh essays, recommendations, and course rigor.

Academic score

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See where you actually fit, free.

Your full school list + a plan to raise your odds.

Duke University logo
Duke University

Admit rate 6% · SAT 1500–1570

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Strengths

  • Exceptional academic reputation across liberal arts, engineering, and research
  • Strong interdisciplinary culture with many ways to build a customized course of study
  • Active campus life with plenty of clubs, service, research, and school spirit
  • Location in Durham offers access to a major university city and the Research Triangle

Things to weigh

  • Extremely competitive admissions make it a tough reach for almost everyone
  • Fast-paced, high-achieving culture can feel intense or pressure-filled
  • Private-university price tag can be a major factor without strong aid
  • Durham is appealing to many students, but some applicants may prefer a larger city or a more remote campus

Frequently asked questions

How hard is it to get into Duke University?+

Duke University admits about 6% of applicants, and the middle 50% of admitted students score between 1500 and 1570 on the SAT. Enter your GPA and test scores above and this calculator estimates your personal chances in seconds, and tells you whether Duke University is a safety, match, or reach for your profile.

Is this the most accurate college admissions calculator?+

Counselly's chances calculator runs on real, current admissions data, the actual admit rates and SAT/ACT ranges colleges report to the U.S. Department of Education, not averages scraped from forums. Our algorithm weighs your GPA, test scores, and extracurricular strength against each school's admitted-student profile the way an admissions reader would begin, which makes it one of the most reliable free tools for seeing where you'll get into college.

How does the calculator predict my chances of getting in?+

It compares your academic profile to each college's real admitted class. We look at where your GPA and test scores fall within a school's 25th to 75th percentile range, combine that with the school's overall admit rate, and factor in your extracurricular strength, then translate it into a clear percentage and a Safety, Match, or Reach label. Everything recalculates instantly as you add schools or adjust your stats.

What counts as a good chance of getting into a college?+

Roughly above 60% is a Safety, you're comfortably ahead of the typical admitted student. Around 30 to 60% is a Match, realistic and worth prioritizing. Below 30% is a Reach, still absolutely worth applying to if it's a dream school. The strongest college lists balance all three, and Counselly helps you build exactly that kind of list.

Which colleges can I check my admission chances for?+

Hundreds of US colleges and universities, from Ivy League schools to large public flagships to smaller private colleges. Just start typing, MIT, UCLA, NYU, Michigan, and pick from the suggestions. We're continuously expanding our data, and your free assessment goes even further, matching you to programs across the country based on your full profile.

Can a calculator really tell me where I will get accepted?+

No tool can promise an outcome, and you should be cautious of any that claims to. What Counselly does exceptionally well is show you, honestly and instantly, exactly where you stand academically at each college, so you can build a smart, balanced list instead of guessing. Your essays, recommendations, and story do the rest, and your free assessment is built to help you strengthen all of them.

Is the college chances calculator free?+

Completely free, and no signup is required to use it. When you're ready to go further, your full assessment, the complete list of colleges where you're a strong fit plus a step-by-step plan to raise your odds, is also free to unlock with an account.

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