Duke University is one of the most selective private research universities in the United States, consistently ranked in the global top 25. Its undergraduate acceptance rate has fallen below 6% in recent cycles, placing it firmly among Ivy-League-adjacent selectivity — while its graduate and professional schools (Fuqua MBA, Duke Law, Pratt School of Engineering) each run distinct, highly competitive admissions processes.
Duke Overall Acceptance Rate (2025–2026)
| Admissions Cycle | Applications | Admitted | Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 entry (Fall 2024) | ~49,500 | ~2,700 | ~5.5% |
| 2023 entry | ~47,900 | ~2,800 | ~5.8% |
| 2022 entry | ~49,500 | ~2,900 | ~6.0% |
| 2020 entry | ~35,000 | ~3,000 | ~8.6% |
Duke's applicant pool has grown sharply while its admitted class size has stayed roughly flat — compressing acceptance rates from around 9% to under 6% in five years.
Duke Acceptance Rate by School (Undergraduate)
Duke undergraduates apply through Trinity College of Arts & Sciences or the Pratt School of Engineering:
| School | Approx. Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|
| Trinity College of Arts & Sciences | ~5–6% |
| Pratt School of Engineering (undergraduate) | ~4–5% |
Early Decision applicants are admitted at a meaningfully higher rate (typically 3–4x Regular Decision) and make up close to half of Duke's incoming class — a key strategic consideration for applicants confident Duke is their first choice.
Duke Graduate and Professional School Acceptance Rates
| Programme | Est. Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|
| Fuqua School of Business (Full-Time MBA) | ~20–25% |
| Duke Law (JD) | ~15–20% |
| Duke Law (LLM) | ~30–40% |
| Pratt School of Engineering (MS) | ~20–30%, varies by department |
| Pratt School of Engineering (PhD) | ~10–15% |
| Sanford School of Public Policy (MPP) | ~35–45% |
| Duke Medical School (MD) | ~2–3% |
| Fuqua MBA (Weekend/Executive formats) | ~40–55% |
Duke's Pratt School of Engineering PhD programmes are considerably more selective than the MS programmes in the same departments, reflecting funded-slot constraints typical of US doctoral admissions.
What Admitted Duke Students Look Like
Academic Profile (Freshmen)
| Metric | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| GPA (unweighted) | 3.85 – 4.0 |
| SAT | 1490 – 1570 (middle 50%) |
| ACT | 34 – 35 (middle 50%) |
| Class rank | Top 5–10% of graduating class |
Duke's admissions process is holistic — academic rigor (AP/IB course load) is a baseline expectation, and essays, recommendations, and extracurricular depth carry substantial weight beyond that threshold.
For Pratt School of Engineering Specifically
| Metric | Typical for Admitted Engineering Students |
|---|---|
| GPA (unweighted) | 3.90+ |
| SAT Math | 780 – 800 |
| AP Calculus BC / Physics C | 5 |
| Demonstrated interest | Research, robotics/engineering competitions, personal projects |
International Students at Duke
International students make up roughly 10–12% of Duke's undergraduate class and a substantially larger share of graduate and professional programmes — particularly in Engineering and the Fuqua MBA. Duke does not publish a hard minimum TOEFL/IELTS score for undergraduate admission but requires proficiency documentation from all applicants whose first language is not English.
TOEFL and IELTS for Duke
| Programme | TOEFL Min | IELTS Min | Competitive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | No formal minimum | No formal minimum | 105–120 TOEFL / 7.5–9.0 IELTS |
| Pratt School (Graduate) | 90 iBT | 7.0 | 100–115 TOEFL |
| Fuqua MBA | No formal minimum | No formal minimum | 100–115 TOEFL |
| Duke Law (LLM) | 100 iBT | 7.0 | 105–120 TOEFL |
| Sanford School (MPP) | 90 iBT | 7.0 | 100–110 TOEFL |
Duke Law's LLM minimum of 100 iBT is among the highest of any US law school — reflecting the writing- and discussion-heavy nature of the JD-adjacent curriculum international LLM students join.
How to Improve Your Duke Application
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Consider Early Decision if Duke is your clear first choice — Duke's ED acceptance rate is meaningfully higher than Regular Decision, and nearly half the class is admitted this way.
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For Pratt: show sustained engineering engagement — research experience, robotics or engineering competitions, and personal builds/projects distinguish applicants beyond strong grades and test scores.
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Lean into Duke's "showing up" culture in essays — Duke's supplemental essays reward specific, well-researched engagement with Duke's programmes, houses, and campus culture over generic enthusiasm.
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For Fuqua MBA: demonstrate "Team Fuqua" values explicitly — Fuqua's culture places unusually high weight on collaboration and community contribution; recommendations and essays that speak to this directly strengthen applications.
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For Duke Law LLM: target TOEFL 105+ or IELTS 7.5+ — given the 100 iBT minimum, competitive applicants should build meaningful headroom above the floor.
Prepare for TOEFL with Gabble — Duke Law's LLM requires TOEFL 100 minimum; competitive undergraduate and Pratt applications need 105+. Or prepare for IELTS for the equivalent band scores.