Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
Duke University is a private national university located in Durham, North Carolina. Duke University is extremely selective in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at Duke University is in the top 10% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $93,115 10 years after enrolling, 1st in North Carolina, and in the top 5% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Duke University bachelor students earn 34% more than the national average. Duke University is ranked 2nd in North Carolina.
Duke University’s median net annual cost of $32,459 and average years to graduate of 4.2 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Duke University sorted by number of graduates - Computer Science, Public Policy Analysis, Biology, Economics, Registered Nursing, Poli Sci/Government - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$32,459
Average years to graduate
4.2
Computer Engineering
Rank: #32
Economic score: 0.98
Mathematics
Rank: #25
Economic score: 1.37
Mechanical Engineering
Rank: #126
Economic score: 1.69
Statistics
Rank: #15
Economic score: 1.73
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
Rank: #40
Economic score: 1.93
Neurobiology & Neurosciences
Rank: #5
Economic score: 2.85
Natural Resource Conservation
Rank: #45
Economic score: 3.91
Sociology
Rank: #96
Economic score: 4.48
International and Comparative Education.
Rank: #1
Economic score: 4.89
Chemistry
Rank: #212
Economic score: 73.86
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 6 graduate programs at Duke University - Business Administration, Registered Nursing, Theological Studies, Natural Resource Conservation, Engineering Fields, Biomedical/Medical Engineering - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
International Business
Rank: #1
Economic score: 0.34
Medical informatics
Rank: #4
Economic score: 0.34
Economics
Rank: #8
Economic score: 0.47
Public Policy Analysis
Rank: #18
Economic score: 0.7
Bioethics
Rank: #1
Economic score: 1.07
Physics
Rank: #4
Economic score: 1.16
Diagnostic, Intervention & Treatment
Rank: #121
Economic score: 1.17
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Rank: #26
Economic score: 1.2
Public Health
Rank: #164
Economic score: 1.94
Biology
Rank: #52
Economic score: 6.86
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.2 years. 95% of all students graduate within 8 years. The graduation rate at Duke University is 38% higher than the state average, and 27% above the average for all national universities in the country.
At Duke University, Pell Grant recipients represent 13% of the measured graduating class, 22% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Duke University graduates within 4.3 years.
Duke University is in the bottom 25% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Duke University’s economic mobility score of 12.95 is calculated by adjusting the 0.01 economic score of lower-income students by the 13% pell grant recipients within the student body. Duke University’s EMS of 12.95 ranks in the bottom 50% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Bottom 50%
The average Title IV recipient at Duke University pays $32,459 a year, $44,610 less than the $77,069 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $32,459
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Duke University, 46% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $32,459 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 20% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $7,590. This is 34% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$4,537
Pell grants
$4,866
State grants
$5,519
Institutional grants
$48,634
Duke University's extremely selective admissions are indicated by their 6% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 49,703 applicants, of which 2,927 were admitted and 1,744 enrolled. Duke University doesn't have a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed after a hard admissions deadline.
Full time
100%
83%
Female
55%
59%
First time
99%
59%
In-state
13%
68%
1st generation
13%
35%
White
41%
52%
Black
9%
14%
Hispanic
10%
15%
Asian
21%
5%
American Indian
1%
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
19%
12%