The average acceptance rate at Duke over the past 10 years is 8.12%, and the most recent acceptance rate is 5.71%. Duke maintains an extremely selective admissions process, making it very difficult for applicants to be admitted.
The average yield (enrollment rate) over the period is 54.25%, and the 2025 yield is 58.84%. Overall, the yield has increased by 20.18% from 2015 to 2025.
The number of Duke applicants increased by 11.71% (5,430 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 65.90% overall.
The current acceptance rate for the 2025 admission cycle is 5.71%, representing an increasingly selective admissions process. This indicates that Duke has become more competitive over the past decade, as the institution receives a growing number of applications while maintaining or reducing the number of admitted students.
The admission yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) for the 2025 academic year is 58.84%. This rising yield trend demonstrates that Duke is increasingly successful at converting admitted students into enrolled students. An increasing yield rate suggests stronger student preference for Duke and indicates that the institution's admitted class quality and perceived value continue to improve.
For the 2025 admission cycle, Duke received approximately 51,795 applications, admitted 2,957 students, and enrolled 1,740 students. The rising application volume trend indicates that Duke is attracting an increasing number of prospective students over time. This growth in applications typically reflects enhanced institutional visibility, improved marketing initiatives, or increasing perceived value in the higher education market.
Duke 10-Year Admission Rate Summary: The acceptance rate trends at Duke over the past decade show a relatively stable trend, with fluctuations in both directions. The average acceptance rate over this period is 8.12%, while the most recent rate stands at 5.71%. This data reflects the institution's evolving competitiveness in the higher education admissions landscape.
For the most recent admission cycle (2025), the acceptance rate is 5.71%. By gender, the average acceptance rate for men is 8.18% and for women is 8.08%.
The following table and chart show how acceptance rates at Duke have changed over the past 10 years (2015-2025).
| Year | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 11.42% | 11.72% | 11.13% |
| 2016-17 | 10.83% -0.59% |
10.64% -1.07% |
11.01% -0.12% |
| 2017-18 | 9.86% -0.97% |
9.96% -0.68% |
9.76% -1.25% |
| 2018-19 | 8.91% -0.95% |
9.13% -0.83% |
8.71% -1.06% |
| 2019-20 | 7.60% -1.31% |
7.94% -1.19% |
7.44% -1.27% |
| 2020-21 | 7.74% 0.14% |
7.72% -0.22% |
7.76% 0.32% |
| 2021-22 | 6.00% -1.74% |
6.00% -1.72% |
6.00% -1.76% |
| 2022-23 | 6.35% 0.35% |
6.19% 0.19% |
6.48% 0.48% |
| 2023-24 | 6.78% 0.44% |
6.79% 0.60% |
6.78% 0.30% |
| 2024-25 | 5.71% -1.07% |
5.71% -1.08% |
5.71% -1.07% |
| Average | 8.12% | 8.18% | 8.08% |
Duke has demonstrated an improvement in admission yield over the past 10 years. The institution's yield rate has increased from 48.96% in 2015 to 58.84% in 2025, representing a 20.18% increase. The 10-year average yield stands at 54.25%, reflecting strengthening enrollment performance.
The following table and chart illustrate the changes in yield at Duke from 2015 to 2025. The admission yield has increased by 20.18% over this period.
| Year | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 48.96% | 49.29% | 48.62% |
| 2016-17 | 50.23% 1.27% |
50.24% 0.95% |
50.23% 1.60% |
| 2017-18 | 53.60% 3.37% |
52.97% 2.73% |
54.22% 4.00% |
| 2018-19 | 54.72% 1.12% |
52.98% 0.01% |
56.42% 2.20% |
| 2019-20 | 54.31% -0.40% |
54.74% 1.77% |
53.88% -2.54% |
| 2020-21 | 51.50% -2.82% |
51.67% -3.08% |
51.32% -2.56% |
| 2021-22 | 59.99% 8.49% |
59.02% 7.35% |
60.03% 8.70% |
| 2022-23 | 54.98% -5.02% |
55.18% -3.83% |
54.81% -5.22% |
| 2023-24 | 55.39% 0.41% |
54.07% -1.12% |
56.54% 1.73% |
| 2024-25 | 58.84% 3.45% |
59.37% 5.30% |
58.38% 1.84% |
| Average | 54.25% | 53.95% | 54.45% |
Over the past 10 years, The average number of applicants is 41,122, the average number of admitted is 3,196, and the average number of first-year enrolled students is 1,729.
The number of Duke applicants increased by 11.71% (5,430 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 65.90% overall.
The following table and chart show the changes of applicants, admitted, and enrolled headcount at Duke University from 2015 to 2025.
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 31,220 | 3,566 | 1,746 |
| 2016-17 | 31,671 1.44% |
3,430 -3.81% |
1,723 -1.32% |
| 2017-18 | 33,077 4.44% |
3,261 -4.93% |
1,748 1.45% |
| 2018-19 | 35,786 8.19% |
3,189 -2.21% |
1,745 -0.17% |
| 2019-20 | 41,947 17.22% |
3,187 -0.06% |
1,731 -0.80% |
| 2020-21 | 39,639 -5.50% |
3,068 -3.73% |
1,580 -8.72% |
| 2021-22 | 49,703 25.39% |
2,982 -2.80% |
1,789 13.23% |
| 2022-23 | 50,016 0.63% |
3,174 6.44% |
1,745 -2.46% |
| 2023-24 | 46,365 -7.30% |
3,145 -0.91% |
1,742 -0.17% |
| 2024-25 | 51,795 11.71% |
2,957 -5.98% |
1,740 -0.11% |
| Average | 41,122 | 3,196 | 1,729 |
The following table compares Duke University' acceptance rate to similar schools.
| 2024 | 2025 | Change % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duke University | 6.78% | 5.71% | -15.78% |
| University of Louisville | 79.41% | 80.54% | -1.40% |
| Syracuse University | 45.92% | 41.69% | 10.15% |
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | 15.64% | 17.94% | -12.82% |
| University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus | 58.08% | 49.70% | 16.86% |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | 15.34% | 18.74% | -18.14% |
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