At schools with acceptance rates below 10%, nearly every applicant has near-perfect grades and test scores. Admissions decisions are driven by essays, extracurriculars, recommendations, and institutional priorities — factors no stats-based model can predict. Our likelihood labels reflect academic competitiveness only.
Duke University is a leading private research university in Durham, North Carolina, recognized for its strength in biomedical sciences, public policy, and engineering. Its Bass Connections program and proximity to Research Triangle Park provide students with extensive hands-on research opportunities.
Mascot: Blue Devil
Notable Alumni
Tim Cook (CEO of Apple)•Melinda French Gates (philanthropist)•Kyrie Irving (NBA All-Star)
At a Glance
Cost
Published sticker prices for 2025-2026. Actual cost after aid varies.
Top Programs & National Ranking
Approximate national ranking based on departmental rankings, research output, and program reputation.
Highlights
Campus Experience
Duke's identity is inseparable from basketball — tenting in Krzyzewskiville for weeks to get Cameron Indoor seats is a rite of passage, and game days unify the entire campus. Greek life is significant (~37% of undergrads), and fraternities historically dominated the party scene, though the new QuadEx residential system is deliberately trying to shift that. The Southern setting, gorgeous campus, and 'work hard, play hard' ethos attract students who want elite academics without sacrificing a social life.
The towering Gothic Duke Chapel, stone quadrangles of West Campus designed by Julian Abele, and the 55-acre Sarah P. Duke Gardens set among North Carolina pines create one of the most breathtaking campuses in America.
Based on Niche reviews, Princeton Review surveys, student forums, and institutional data.
Safety
Duke Police has approximately 70 officers providing 24/7 patrols across the self-contained, wooded 8,600-acre campus. Electronic access controls, blue-light phones, and late-night transportation keep on-campus crime rates very low.
Durham has higher-than-average city-wide crime rates, but the neighborhoods immediately surrounding Duke are among the safest in the city due to university investment and enhanced police presence.
Based on Clery Act data, student surveys, and local crime statistics.
Plan Your Visit
Schedule: Most weekdays, select special events
Duration: 30-minute info session + 90-minute walking tour
Reservations required online -- no walk-ins, no phone registrations. Free. Waitlist is online only. Duke Admissions Tour app available for self-guided options. Complimentary parking in gravel lot across from Karsh Alumni and Visitors Center, 2080 Duke University Road.
Book a TourDownload the Duke Admissions Tour app (iOS/Android) or pick up a campus map at the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
Tour ResourcesMarch-April (Duke Gardens in full bloom, basketball season winding up) or September-October (beautiful weather, football energy). Avoid summer and winter break. If you visit during basketball season (November-March), try to time it around a home game for maximum campus energy. The best day trip add-on is a meal at The Pit in downtown Durham for legendary NC BBQ.
Free visitor parking in the gravel lot on Duke University Road across from Karsh Alumni Center. Additional paid visitor parking in garages and lots around campus. From RDU airport (~25 miles): I-85 South to US 15/501 South, exit 107 to NC 751, ~30 min. Taxi/rideshare from RDU costs ~$30-40. Durham does not have significant public transit to campus.
Location
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