Duke University
Durham, North Carolina, United States · Established 1924
Official website ↗Total Students
17,325
Intl. Students
26%
Student:Faculty
5:1
Setting
Suburban
Overview
Duke University is a private research university in Durham, North Carolina, founded in 1924 when tobacco and electric-power industrialist James Buchanan Duke endowed the institution as a memorial to his father, Washington Duke. Its academic roots trace back to Trinity College, established in 1838, which was renamed Duke University after the endowment. Today Duke comprises Trinity College of Arts and Sciences alongside professional schools including the Pratt School of Engineering, Fuqua School of Business, School of Law, School of Medicine, School of Nursing, Divinity School, and the Sanford School of Public Policy, spread across a distinctive Gothic-style West Campus and a Georgian-style East Campus connected by a regular bus loop. For international applicants preparing IELTS or TOEFL scores, Duke is notable for being highly selective yet flexible on English-proficiency testing at the undergraduate level, where scores are optional but commonly submitted to strengthen an application. Graduate and professional programs, by contrast, generally require formal proof of English proficiency unless the applicant qualifies for a waiver. Duke's small student body relative to its research output, low student-faculty ratio, and deep ties to the Research Triangle (alongside UNC-Chapel Hill and NC State) make it a magnet for students in STEM, public policy, and business. Duke's undergraduate admissions have become extraordinarily competitive in recent cycles, with acceptance rates falling into the low single digits as application volume has roughly doubled over the past decade. Duke's graduate enterprise is much broader and more fragmented: The Graduate School alone spans more than 80 PhD and master's programs across Trinity, Pratt, Nicholas, Nursing, and other divisions, while professional schools like Fuqua (MBA), the School of Law (JD), and the School of Medicine (MD) run entirely separate admissions processes with their own acceptance rates, deadlines, and testing requirements. Prospective graduate applicants should research their specific program/department rather than assume a single university-wide standard.
Rankings
US News National Universities
#7 (2026)
US News Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs · Engineering
#23 (2026)
US News Best Business Schools (Fuqua) · Business (Graduate)
#12 (2026)
QS World University Rankings by Subject · Nursing
#5 (2026)
US News Best Graduate Schools (Duke Graduate School, overall) · Graduate (Overall)
#22 (2026)
Admissions, Requirements & Costs
Requirements, deadlines, and test-score cutoffs differ significantly between undergraduate and graduate/Master's programs — shown separately below.
Undergraduate
Acceptance Rate
4.7%
Application Fee
$85
Documents required: Common Application or Coalition Application, Duke-specific supplemental essays, Official high school transcript, Two teacher recommendations, One counselor recommendation, Midyear grade report, Optional standardized test scores (SAT/ACT), English proficiency test scores (recommended for non-native speakers)
| Term | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | November 2 | Early Decision |
| Fall | January 4 | Regular Decision |
Test Scores
SAT Range
1500–1570
ACT Range
34–35
PTE Minimum
68
Accepted tests: IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, Duolingo, Cambridge C1 Advanced/C2 Proficiency
Waiver: Undergraduate applicants are not required to submit English proficiency test scores at all; scores are optional but recommended for non-native English speakers to strengthen the application. Applicants who have studied full-time for two or more years at an institution where the sole language of instruction is English, in a country where English is the primary spoken language, are also considered to have demonstrated proficiency.
Tuition (Intl.)
$70,265
Tuition (Domestic)
$70,265
Living Expenses/yr
$22,820
Total Cost of Attendance
$93,085
Scholarships
Robertson Scholars Leadership Program
Full tuition, fees, room, and board
A highly competitive full-ride merit scholarship shared between Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill, including a mandatory residential semester at the partner campus and funded summer enrichment experiences.
Eligibility: Exceptional leadership and academic record; separate competitive application required
Karsh International Scholars Program
Full tuition, fees, room, and board
A merit-based full-ride scholarship specifically for admitted international undergraduate students, covering tuition and funding three summers of research or internship experience.
Eligibility: Selected automatically from the admitted international applicant pool; no separate application
Reginaldo Howard Leadership Program
Varies, typically substantial award toward cost of attendance
A merit scholarship honoring service, scholarship, and leadership, awarded to incoming students who demonstrate strong community impact.
Eligibility: Selected from the general applicant pool based on the admissions application
A.B. Duke Scholarship
Varies, up to full cost of attendance
One of Duke's oldest and most prestigious merit scholarship programs recognizing outstanding academic and personal achievement.
Eligibility: Selected automatically from admitted applicants; no separate application
Popular Programs
Gabble Prep Insights
Where applicants lose points: Speaking tends to be the section international applicants underperform on relative to reading and listening, since interview-style spontaneous response is rarely practiced in classroom-based English instruction outside English-medium systems.
Applicants often post strong Reading and Listening band scores but lose ground on Writing due to unfamiliarity with argumentative, evidence-based essay structures expected in US academic writing.
Because Duke's undergraduate program treats English test scores as optional-but-recommended, applicants should think of IELTS/TOEFL less as a gatekeeping hurdle and more as a credibility signal alongside grades and essays. A score in the IELTS 7.5+ / TOEFL 100+ range helps offset any concerns admissions committees might have about classroom readiness, even though no hard minimum is enforced.
Recommended prep timeline: 10 weeks
Graduate (Master's & PhD)
Application Fee
$105
Documents required: Online Graduate School application, Official transcripts from all institutions attended, Statement of purpose, Three letters of recommendation (typical; varies by department), CV or resume, English proficiency test scores (TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo, if first language is not English), GRE or GMAT scores (required only for specific programs; most PhD programs treat GRE as optional), Nonrefundable application fee
| Term | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | PhD programs: mostly December 1, ranging Nov 25 - Jan 8 depending on department | Priority |
| Fall | Master's programs: ranges Jan 5 - Jun 1 depending on department, many with earlier priority deadlines | Rolling |
| Fall | Fuqua Daytime MBA: Early Action Sept 2, Round 1 Sept 30, Round 2 Jan 5, Round 3 Mar 25 (fee $225; international applicants encouraged to apply by Round 2) | Rolling |
Test Scores
GRE Range
307–328
GMAT Range
680–770
IELTS Minimum
7
TOEFL Minimum
90 (4.5 new scale)
TOEFL scores shown as: legacy 0–120 scale (new 1.0–6.0 CEFR-aligned scale, effective Jan 2026).
Accepted tests: IELTS, TOEFL, Duolingo
Waiver: Applicants who have studied full-time for two years or more at a college/university where the sole language of instruction is English, in a country where English is the primary spoken language (completed prior to program start), may request a waiver. The Graduate School does not confirm waiver eligibility before extending an admission offer, due to application volume.
Tuition (Intl.)
$75,814
Tuition (Domestic)
$75,814
Living Expenses/yr
$26,182
Total Cost of Attendance
$101,996
Scholarships
PhD Funding Package (The Graduate School)
Stipend of $31,875 (9-month, AY 2025-26) or $42,500 (12-month) plus tuition, fees, and health insurance
Guaranteed funding package for PhD students covering a stipend, full tuition, fees, and health/dental insurance premiums for the first five years, plus continued health insurance coverage through year six.
Eligibility: Automatic for admitted PhD students; funding source (fellowship, research assistantship, or teaching assistantship) varies by department
Thomas F. Keller Scholarship (Fuqua MBA)
100% of tuition for the 2-year MBA program
Full-tuition merit scholarship awarded to incoming Daytime MBA students based on academic excellence and demonstrated leadership/service.
Eligibility: Automatically considered from the Fuqua MBA applicant pool; no separate application
Forte Fellowship (Fuqua MBA)
Varies, partial to substantial tuition award
Competitive merit scholarship for women demonstrating leadership potential and a commitment to advancing women in business.
Eligibility: Women admitted to the Fuqua MBA program; Forte Foundation sponsor member
Fuqua Impact Scholars
Varies, partial to substantial tuition award
Merit scholarship for admitted MBA students with strong interest or experience in energy, social impact, healthcare, or entrepreneurship/innovation.
Eligibility: Selected from the Fuqua MBA applicant pool based on demonstrated impact focus
Popular Programs
Gabble Prep Insights
Where applicants lose points: Writing tends to be the weakest section for graduate applicants, since programs expect a statement of purpose and, later, research writing at a level well above general conversational fluency.
Applicants often meet the TOEFL 90 / IELTS 7.0 floor comfortably on Reading and Listening but need targeted practice on Speaking if pursuing a program with teaching assistant duties, and on Writing if applying to research-heavy PhD tracks.
Duke's Graduate School does not publish a single university-wide acceptance rate; admission is decentralized across 80+ departments plus separately-admitting professional schools. Known reference points: Fuqua's Daytime MBA admitted about 19.5% of applicants for the Class of 2026, while Pratt's on-campus engineering master's programs (MEng/MS) run closer to 42%. GRE requirements are similarly fragmented: mandatory for about a dozen programs (e.g. PhD/MA Economics, PhD/MA Political Science, MS/PhD Statistical Science, MS Computer Science), optional for 50+ others (most STEM PhDs), and replaced by the GMAT (or accepted as an alternative) for the Fuqua MBA, where the middle-80% range for the Class of 2026 was GMAT 660-760 / GRE (combined) 305-330. PTE Academic is notably NOT accepted by the Graduate School, unlike undergraduate admissions.
Recommended prep timeline: 12 weeks
Programs Offered
Computer Science (BS)
Undergraduate · 4 yr · $70,265/yr
Economics (BA)
Undergraduate · 4 yr · $70,265/yr
Public Policy Studies (BA)
Undergraduate · 4 yr · $70,265/yr
Biomedical Engineering (BSE)
Undergraduate · 4 yr · $70,265/yr
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Masters · 2 yr · $83,700/yr
Master of Engineering Management (MEM)
Masters · 1 yr · $69,600/yr
Master of Science in Computer Science
Masters · 1 yr · $67,724/yr
Juris Doctor (JD)
Masters · 3 yr
PhD in Computer Science
PhD · 5 yr
Doctor of Medicine (MD)
Masters · 4 yr
Campus Life
Campus life at Duke centers on a strong sense of school spirit anchored by its nationally renowned men's basketball program and the Cameron Crazies student fan section, but extends well beyond athletics into a dense ecosystem of over 600 student organizations spanning cultural, academic, service, and creative interests. International students typically find a robust support system through the Duke International Association and international-student-specific orientation programming, while the university's location in the Research Triangle offers easy access to internships and research partnerships with nearby UNC-Chapel Hill and NC State.
Notable clubs: Duke Student Government, Duke International Association, Duke Entrepreneurship Club, Cru at Duke, Duke Model United Nations
Outcomes
Undergraduate
Graduation Rate
96.8%
Employed within 6mo
90%
Avg. Starting Salary
$89,800
Graduate
Employed within 6mo
82.2%
Avg. Starting Salary
$160,000
Notable Alumni
Tim Cook — CEO of Apple (earned MBA at Duke's Fuqua School of Business)
Melinda French Gates — Co-founder of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Richard Nixon — 37th President of the United States
Adam Silver — Commissioner of the National Basketball Association (NBA)
Jayson Tatum — NBA All-Star, Boston Celtics
Visa Interview Prep
Duke's International House and the Graduate School's International Student office issue I-20s and guide admitted students through SEVIS fee payment and visa interview preparation; students should apply for their F-1 visa as soon as the I-20 is issued given typical embassy wait times.
- Clarity on why Duke and the specific program
- Financial sufficiency and funding source documentation
- Ties to home country and intent to return after studies
- Academic preparedness and coherent study plan
FAQs
Do I need to submit IELTS or TOEFL scores to apply to Duke as an undergraduate?Undergrad
No, English proficiency test scores are not required for undergraduate applicants, but Duke recommends non-native English speakers submit them (commonly IELTS 7.5+ or TOEFL 100+) to help the admissions committee assess readiness for coursework taught entirely in English.
What IELTS or TOEFL score do I need for Duke's graduate programs?Grad
The Graduate School generally requires a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 90 or IELTS Academic score of 7.0, though individual departments may set higher expectations, and scores must be no more than two years old at the time of application.
Can I get a waiver for the English proficiency requirement?
Yes, if you have studied full-time for at least two years at an institution where English was the sole language of instruction, in a country where English is the primary spoken language, you may request a waiver, though Duke only reviews waiver requests after an offer of admission is extended.
Is Duke need-blind for international applicants?Undergrad
No. International undergraduate applicants who indicate they need financial aid are reviewed in a separate, need-aware admission pool, though Duke commits to meeting 100% of demonstrated need for admitted international students who apply for aid at the time of admission.
How selective is Duke for international students?
Extremely selective at the undergraduate level; Duke's overall acceptance rate has fallen to roughly 4-5% in recent cycles. Selectivity for graduate and professional programs varies enormously by department and school (e.g. Fuqua's Daytime MBA admits roughly 1 in 5 applicants, while Pratt's on-campus engineering master's programs admit closer to 2 in 5).
Does Duke offer conditional admission if my English scores are below the minimum?
Duke does not have a widely publicized conditional or pathway admission track at either the undergraduate or graduate level. Applicants below the recommended English proficiency thresholds should focus on retesting rather than expecting a bridge program, particularly for graduate applications where scores are formally required.
How many weeks should I prepare for IELTS or TOEFL before applying to Duke?
A realistic timeline is 8 to 12 weeks of structured preparation, particularly focused on Writing and Speaking, which are the sections where applicants from non-English-medium backgrounds most commonly underperform relative to Reading and Listening.
What documents do I need besides English test scores to apply to Duke?Undergrad
Undergraduate applicants need the Common Application or Coalition Application, Duke-specific supplemental essays, an official high school transcript, two teacher recommendations, one counselor recommendation, and optionally SAT/ACT scores, since Duke is test-optional.
Is the GRE required for Duke's graduate programs?Grad
It depends on the program. The Graduate School requires GRE scores for about a dozen programs (including PhD/MA Economics, PhD/MA Political Science, and MS/PhD Statistical Science), treats it as optional for 50+ others (most STEM PhDs, including Computer Science, Biology, and Engineering disciplines), and the Fuqua MBA accepts GMAT, GRE, or the Executive Assessment instead. Always check your specific department's page rather than assuming a university-wide policy.
Is PTE Academic accepted for Duke's Master's or PhD programs?Grad
No. Unlike undergraduate admissions, which accepts PTE Academic, The Graduate School's English proficiency policy only lists TOEFL, IELTS Academic, and the Duolingo English Test as accepted options for master's and PhD applicants.
How is Duke's PhD program funded, and does that extend to international students?Grad
The Graduate School guarantees admitted PhD students a funding package covering a stipend (about $31,875 for a 9-month appointment in 2025-26), full tuition, fees, and health/dental insurance for the first five years, regardless of citizenship. Master's students, by contrast, receive far less centralized funding and should expect to self-fund or seek departmental assistantships, as international master's students are not eligible for the U.S. federal Direct Loan Program that domestic master's students can access.