Everything You Need to Know About Duke University

So you want to go to Duke University? You’re not the first and you definitely won’t be the last. With an acceptance rate of 9%, your chances aren’t great. So let’s make sure you really want to go to this school before you take the time to apply and, yes, write the essays.

• Undergraduate tuition is $51,720, but half of Duke’s undergrads receive financial aid.
• Undergraduate tuition rises to $68,298 when you account for room and board and additional fees. That doesn’t include books.
• There are 14, 832 total students taking classes, most of which are seeking graduate and professional degrees.
• The top five majors are Public Policy, Economics, Biology, Biomedical Engineering, and Psychology.
• The Ivy League was known as Trinity College (sound familiar?) until James Buchanan Duke came along in 1924.
• The men’s and women’s undergraduate colleges didn’t merge until 1972.
• 97% of students return after their first year.
• 95% of students graduate in four years (which is most of them!).
• Duke University sits on 8,691 acres of land, with over 7,000 of those acres occupied by Duke Forest.
• Their team is the Blue Devils.
• The school is located in Durham, North Carolina, just 30 minutes northwest of Raleigh.
• Durham has a population of 227,000.
• The closest beach is two and a half hours away.
• All first-year Duke undergraduates live on historic East Campus.
• Duke University has a strong commitment to environmental sustainability with 70% of its dining food waste composted.
• The Ivy League requires students to live on campus for the first three years.
• You can live with students based on common interests, like health or the arts, or instead, try to live with your friends as an upperclassmen.

Still think this is the school for you? Okay! Then let’s make sure you have a solid application to send their way! For starters, Duke University is on the Common Application so make sure you check out our guide for choosing the right prompt. Next, head on over to our Duke Supplemental Essay Guide to make sure you’re properly taking advantage of the opportunity to speak to admissions in your own voice. Did that? Now make sure your college essays pass this test and you’ll be good to go!

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