Duke combines highly selective admissions with exceptional return on investment. Graduates earn $34,734 more annually than peer institution medians while carrying significantly less debt, positioning Duke among the strongest performers for long-term financial outcomes in higher education.
The university's exceptional ability to generate strong earnings relative to educational investment
Higher net costs relative to peer institutions despite generous aid for lower-income families
Above-average enrollment of Pell-eligible and first-generation students despite highly selective admissions
Showing strong outcomes for students from diverse economic backgrounds who gain admission
Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Full AnalysisDuke delivers exceptional earnings outcomes with notably low student debt burdens. Graduates earn a median of $97,800 ten years after enrollment, ranking at the 98.0th percentile nationally.
Earnings span from $66,351 at the 25th percentile to $171,770 at the 75th percentile, indicating varied career trajectories across disciplines. The institution generates $9,917 in earnings beyond expectations, placing it at the 85.6th percentile nationally on this measure.
Students seeking top-tier post-graduation earnings in competitive fields like Computer Science, Economics, and Engineering. Well-suited for academically exceptional students who can navigate highly selective admissions (6.8% acceptance) and benefit from Duke's strong alumni networks in business, technology, and public policy.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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This is the Duke University hub overview page. For comprehensive institutional data including detailed charts and metrics, visit the full analysis at /school/duke-university/analysis.
Top 5% nationally for graduate earnings
Duke University ranks #94 nationally in Azimuth's analysis, with return performance at the 98.9th percentile. Located in Durham, North Carolina, this medium-sized private research university maintains highly selective admission standards with a 6.8% acceptance rate while delivering exceptional post-graduation outcomes.
Duke enrolls 12.7% Pell-eligible students and 13.5% first-generation students, reflecting limited access for lower-income students relative to national averages. Graduates earn $9,917 beyond expectations relative to similar students, ranking at the 85.6th percentile nationally.
Median earnings reach $97,800 ten years after enrollment, placing Duke at the 98.0th percentile for long-term earnings. This combination of highly selective admissions, limited economic diversity, and strong financial outcomes places Duke within the Selective Achievers quadrant, where institutions serve fewer low-income students while delivering strong career advancement for enrolled students.
Duke admits approximately 6.8% of applicants, meaning roughly 1 in 15 applicants receives an offer of admission. This places Duke among the most selective universities in the United States, in the Most Selective category reserved for institutions admitting fewer than 10% of applicants.
The peer median admission rate of 70.6% highlights the stark difference between Duke's selectivity and typical four-year institutions. Even among elite private research universities, Duke's acceptance rate falls at the lower end of the spectrum.
This level of selectivity means that even exceptionally qualified students—those with near-perfect test scores and outstanding academic records—face significant uncertainty in the admission process. Many students who would thrive at Duke do not receive admission simply due to the volume of highly qualified applicants.
For this reason, students considering Duke should build comprehensive college lists that include schools with higher acceptance rates but comparable academic quality and career outcomes. The sections below provide guidance on similar institutions with more accessible admission pathways.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Duke's published cost of attendance reaches $82,749 per year, including $65,805 in tuition, $17,458 for room and board, and $1,602 for books and supplies. However, the average student pays $34,454 after financial aid, representing savings of $48,295 through institutional aid, federal grants, and state assistance.
Duke's net price exceeds the peer median of $27,143 by $7,311, reflecting the premium associated with highly selective private education. Net costs vary dramatically by family income, ranging from $3,295 for families earning under $30,000 to $54,375 for families earning over $110,000.
This $51,080 spread between lowest and highest income tiers demonstrates Duke's progressive aid structure, which concentrates resources on students from lower-income backgrounds while maintaining higher costs for affluent families. The substantial gap between sticker price and average net cost indicates that most families receive meaningful financial assistance, though middle and upper-middle income families often face significant out-of-pocket expenses that exceed costs at public institutions.
Duke graduates demonstrate steady earnings growth throughout the early career period. Median earnings rise from $85,792 six years after enrollment to $95,882 at eight years and $97,800 at ten years, representing 14.0% growth from the six-year mark.
These outcomes reflect a ten-year cohort of 1,071 graduates, providing high confidence in reported figures. Graduates earn $9,917 beyond expectations compared to similar students nationally, placing Duke at the 85.6th percentile for earnings uplift.
Low-income graduates earn $121,600, ranking among the top 5% nationally for this measure. The earnings distribution shows meaningful variation, with outcomes ranging from $66,351 at the 25th percentile to $171,770 at the 75th percentile, reflecting differences in program choice and career trajectory.
Approximately 30.3% of graduates continue to graduate or professional study, indicating strong preparation for both advanced education and immediate workforce entry. Duke's peer median earnings of $63,066 highlight the institution's $34,734 advantage in graduate outcomes.
Computer Science.
339 graduates
Applied Economics.
219 graduates
Computer Engineering, General.
107 graduates
Mathematical Statistics and Probability.
46 graduates
Mechanical Engineering.
91 graduates
Duke offers 20 bachelor's degree programs with federal earnings data for ranking analysis. Computer Science ranks #12 nationally and #1 in North Carolina, producing 339 graduates with median earnings of $159,845 and a value score of 94.0.
Applied Economics ranks #1 nationally, graduating 219 students with median earnings of $153,139 and a perfect value score of 100.0. Education Policy Analysis also ranks #1 nationally, graduating 233 students with median earnings of $97,427.
Computer Engineering ranks #4 nationally with 107 graduates earning $137,144. Biology, General ranks #25 nationally with 165 graduates earning $62,963.
Duke's program portfolio demonstrates particular strength in Economics, Engineering, and Computer Science, with multiple programs achieving top-10 national rankings and state leadership positions across diverse disciplines.
Consider these schools with similar outcomes but higher acceptance rates:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
George Washington University Higher acceptance rate (36.8 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | DC | 44% | $90,873 | Compare |
Bucknell University Higher acceptance rate (25.2 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | PA | 32% | $93,807 | Compare |
Davidson College Same state (earnings difference: 16.8%) and similar program focus; same institution type | NC | 14% | $81,400 | Compare |
Vanderbilt University Same region with similar earnings and similar program focus; same institution type | TN | 6% | $91,565 | Compare |
Princeton University Similar admission rate (2.3 percentage points difference) and similar test scores (4 point difference) with similar program focus | NJ | 5% | $110,066 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Notre Dame Similar quality tier (#91 ranked) | IN | 12% | $99,980 | #91 | Compare |
Rice University Similar quality tier (#88 ranked) | TX | 8% | $89,718 | #88 | Compare |
Northwestern University Similar quality tier (#101 ranked) | IL | 7% | $89,363 | #101 | Compare |
Carnegie Mellon University Similar quality tier (#102 ranked) | PA | 11% | $114,862 | #102 | Compare |
Washington University In St Louis Similar quality tier (#104 ranked) | MO | 12% | $86,182 | #104 | Compare |