Duke University Tuition and Fees

By Kelly Boyer Sagert

(Last Updated – 08/2026)

Duke is a prestigious university with outstanding academics and an interdisciplinary approach to learning. It’s also well known for its athletic programs: Duke’s basketball team (the Blue Devils) is one of the most successful in the country.

Total Cost of Attendance

Duke tuition, housing, and fees were as follows in 2026-27:

•  Duke University tuition: $73,740, 5% higher than the previous year

•  Books and supplies: $536, the same as the previous year

•  Double room and board: $22,029, 9.5% more than the previous year

•  Miscellaneous personal expenses: $3,274, the same as the previous year

•  Estimated cost of attendance: $103,180, 4.4.7% higher than the previous year

Financial Aid

Duke University meets 100% of the demonstrated need for undergraduates, providing $171 million last year in grant and scholarship aid.

According to the most recent data, 58% of first-time, full-time undergraduates received some sort of financial aid. More specifically:

•  Grant or scholarship aid: 43% of students received this type of funding with the average award being $65,522

•  Federal grants: 17% of students received this type of funding with an average award of $7,816

•  Pell grants: 17% of students received this type of funding with the average award being $7,816

•  Other federal grants: 14% of students received this type of funding with an average award of $2,484

•  State/local: 3% of students received this type of funding with the average award being $6,308

•  Institutional: 43% of students received this type of funding with an average award of $62,691

•  Student loan aid: 14% of students received this type of funding with the average award being $11,454

•  Federal student loans: 13% of students received this type of funding with an average award of $4,387

•  Other student loans: 3% of students received this type of funding with the average award being $39,760

Generally, financial aid is monetary assistance awarded to students based on personal need and merit. Students who qualify for financial aid can use it to pay for college costs, such as tuition, books, and living expenses.

The federal government is the largest provider of student financial aid. However, aid can also be given by state governments, colleges and universities, private companies, and nonprofits. The different types include:

•  Scholarships: These can be awarded by schools and other organizations based on students’ academic excellence, athletic achievement, community involvement, job experience, field of study, or financial need.

•  Grants: Generally based on financial need, these can come from federal, state, private, or nonprofit organizations.

•  Work-Study: This federal program provides students with financial need with part-time employment to earn money for expenses while in school.

•  Federal student loans: This is money borrowed directly from the U.S. Department of Education (ED). Federal student loans have fixed interest rates that are typically lower than private loans.

Colleges, universities, and state agencies use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) to determine financial aid eligibility. The FAFSA can be completed online, but note that state, federal, and school deadlines may differ.

You can find other financial aid opportunities on databases such as:

•  U.S. Department of Education :— Search for grants from colleges and universities by state

•  College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS Profile) :— A global college scholarship application used by select institutions to award financial aid

Recommended: The Differences Between Grants, Scholarships, and Loans

Private Student Loans

From the 2025 undergraduate graduating class, 4.9% of students received private student loans, with the average award being $67,054. Duke University provides a resource for students wishing to explore private loans.

Private loans are funded by private organizations, such as banks, online lenders, credit unions, some schools, and state-based or state-affiliated organizations. While federal student loans have interest rates that are regulated by Congress, private lenders follow a different set of regulations, so their qualifications and interest rates can vary widely.

What’s more, private loans have variable or fixed interest rates that may be higher than federal loan interest rates, which are always fixed. Private lenders may (but don’t always) require you to make payments on your loans while you are still in school, compared to federal student loans, which you don’t have to start paying back until after you graduate, leave school, or change your enrollment status to less than half-time.

Private loans don’t have a single application window and can be applied for on an as-needed basis. However, if you think you may need to take out a private loan, it’s a good idea to submit your FAFSA first to see what federal aid you may qualify for, as it generally may have better rates and terms.

If you’ve missed the FAFSA deadline or you’re struggling to pay for school during the year, private loans can potentially help you make your payments. Just keep in mind that you will need enough lead time for your loan to process and for your lender to send money to your school.

Recommended: Guide to Private Student Loans

Projected 4-Year-Degree Price

Duke’s cost of attendance for 2026-27 is $103,180. Over a four-year period, this would equal $412,720 not accounting for cost increases.

Here’s some North Carolina Student Loan and Scholarship Information for you.

Undergraduate Tuition and Fees

In 2026-2027, Duke University tuition is $73,740, 4.9% higher than the previous year. Total cost of attendance is approximately $103,180. In the same year, the average total cost for a private four-year university was $65,470.

Recommended: Scholarship Search — College Scholarships Finder Tool

Graduate Tuition and Fees

In 2026-27, the average Duke University tuition for graduate students was $69,880 with fees of $2,578 for a total of $72,458. In the U.S., the average cost of a master’s degree is $62,820.

Cost per Credit Hour

Using the current Duke tuition of $73,740 and assuming two semesters at 15 hours each, the cost per credit hour at Duke is $2,458. Students who register for no more than 2.5 courses in a semester are considered part-time students. Part-time students pay a tuition rate of $8,784. A half course costs $4,392, and a quarter course costs $2,197.

Campus Housing Expenses

In 2026-27, room and board cost $22,029, which was 9.5% more than the previous year. Duke provides guidance for finding off-campus housing with a sampling of current listings. Note that apartment leases may require you to sign for a full year rather than just the academic year.

Duke University Acceptance Rate

In fall 2025, 58,712 people applied to the university. The Duke University acceptance rate is just 5%, meaning the school is highly competitive.

Admission Requirements

Early Decision applications are due on November 2 of the previous year, and Regular Decision applications are due on January 4 of the academic year.

Duke University is test-optional for 2026-27. When applying, you should provide:

•  Transcripts

•  Three letters of recommendation: one from a school counselor and two from teachers in major academic courses

•  Extracurricular activities (up to 10), with sustained commitment seen as more impressive than a long list

•  Essay and writing prompt answers

What’s optional:

•  One personal recommendation letter from a mentor, employer, or other person who knows you well

•  An interview with a Duke alumnus, if offered to you

SAT and ACT Scores

Duke is a test-optional university for 2026-27. In fall 2025, 48% of applicants submitted SAT scores and 27% submitted ACT scores with the following 25th and 75th percentile numbers:

Popular Majors at Duke University

According to the most recent data, Duke awarded 2,258 undergraduate degrees in a couple of dozen areas of study. Here are some of the popular majors.

1. Computer Science

Duke is well known for its computer science program, with graduates pursuing careers in a wide range of sectors: technology, business, healthcare, science, and more.

Undergraduate degrees: 238

2. Registered Nursing

U.S. News & World Report ranks Duke’s School of Nursing master’s program as the third-best in the nation. Duke now offers a prelicensure Master of Nursing program for students who hold a nonnursing bachelor’s degree.

Undergraduate degrees: 138

3. Econometrics and Quantitative Economics

Economics focuses on resource allocation and management, with econometrics taking a mathematically based approach. Undergraduates learn how this field provides an understanding of human behavior.

Undergraduate degrees: 190

4. Biology

Undergraduates benefit from a wide range of classroom and hands-on field experiences. This degree can assist students in biological research careers, education, health professions, and more.

Undergraduate degrees: 156

5. Public Policy Analysis

Students take classes in social policy, environment and energy, global governance, and more. They become prepared to analyze political and economic issues and make ethical decisions.

Undergraduate degrees: 151

6. Experimental Psychology

Psychology students learn about human and animal behavior — its origins, processes, and consequences — with graduates applying their knowledge in a wide range of professional fields.

Undergraduate degrees: 133

7. Electrical and Computer Engineering

Five concentration areas in this major are computing engineering and digital systems; signal processing and communications, solid-state devices and integrated circuits, engineering physics, and photonics.

Undergraduate degrees: 106

8. Bioengineering

U.S. News & World Report ranked Duke’s undergraduate Biomedical Engineering program as third in the nation. Students learn about data science, entrepreneurship, hands-on design, computing, and more.

Undergraduate degrees: 92

9. Political Science and Government

This program provides a systematic understanding of politics: from local to international and from authoritarian to democratic. Political scientists use data, human psychology, and more in their field.

Undergraduate degrees: 81

10. Mechanical Engineering

Undergraduates study mathematics, basic sciences, engineering sciences, and more. Students are taught to think critically when managing tasks, communicating, and solving problems.

Undergraduate degrees: 114

Graduation Rate

Duke University reports a 91% four-year graduation rate and a 96% six-year graduation rate.

Post-Graduation Median Earnings

Graduates of the university earn a median salary of $104,271 five years after graduation compared to a national average for college graduates of $45,519, making Duke graduate salaries 129% higher.