Duke University Acceptance Rate
Durham, North Carolina · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 46,365
- Admitted
- 3,145
- Yield
- 55.4%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Duke University's acceptance rate has fallen from 11.4% in 2014–15 to 6.8% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 31,523 to 46,365 (+47%) over that period.
Its 6.8% rate makes Duke University more selective than about 99% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 53 tracked North Carolina schools, it is more selective than about 98%.
Duke University has been test-optional since 2022–23. Of admitted students, 55.4% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 31,523 | 3,596 | 11.4% | 1,721 |
| 2015–16 | 31,220 | 3,566 | 11.4% | 1,746 |
| 2016–17 | 31,671 | 3,430 | 10.8% | 1,723 |
| 2017–18 | 33,077 | 3,261 | 9.9% | 1,748 |
| 2018–19 | 35,786 | 3,189 | 8.9% | 1,745 |
| 2019–20 | 41,947 | 3,187 | 7.6% | 1,731 |
| 2020–21 | 39,639 | 3,068 | 7.7% | 1,580 |
| 2021–22 | 49,703 | 2,927 | 5.9% | 1,744 |
| 2022–23 | 50,016 | 3,174 | 6.3% | 1,745 |
| 2023–24 | 46,365 | 3,145 | 6.8% | 1,742 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 24,815 | 1,682 | 6.8% |
| Men | 21,550 | 1,463 | 6.8% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 740–770 | 50% |
| SAT Math | 770–800 | |
| ACT Composite | 34–35 | 31% |
How Duke University compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Duke University's acceptance rate?
Duke University's acceptance rate is 6.8% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (3,145 admitted of 46,365 applicants).
Is Duke University test optional?
Duke University is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Duke University?
Duke University received 46,365 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 3,145.
What SAT score do you need for Duke University?
Admitted students at Duke University typically scored 740–770 on SAT Reading/Writing and 770–800 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Duke University getting harder to get into?
Duke University has become harder to get into: its acceptance rate went from 11.4% in 2014–15 to 6.8% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.duke.edu/.