How this school serves students from different economic backgrounds, including Pell students, first-generation pathways, and long-term mobility outcomes.
Duke ranks at the 77.9th percentile for access, reflecting well above average enrollment of students from diverse economic backgrounds despite highly selective admissions. The institution enrolls 12.7% Pell-eligible students and 13.5% first-generation students, while maintaining a 6.8% admission rate that places it in the Most Selective tier. Transfer students comprise just 3.1% of enrollment, indicating limited pathways for non-traditional access. Duke's SAT scores at the 99.9th percentile demonstrate that accessibility coexists with exceptional academic preparation, indicating the institution successfully identifies and enrolls academically talented students from varied economic circumstances.
Duke's combination of selective admissions and strong mobility outcomes reflects its ability to identify academically talented students from diverse backgrounds and support their career advancement. The earnings distribution from $66,351 to $171,770 provides substantial mobility potential for students across economic backgrounds. Net price structure ranging from $3,295 for lowest-income families to $54,375 for highest-income families demonstrates commitment to affordability for students most in need of educational opportunity.
Duke achieves strong mobility outcomes at the 84.4th percentile, demonstrating well above average success in supporting economic advancement for enrolled students. As a Selective Achievers institution, Duke serves fewer low-income students relative to peers while delivering strong post-graduation outcomes for all student populations. Low-income graduates earn $121,600, ranking among the top 5% nationally for this critical mobility measure. Graduates earn $9,917 beyond expectations relative to similar student populations, indicating substantial uplift in career outcomes. Pell-eligible students graduate at 91.4% compared to the overall rate of 95.8%, creating a modest 4.4 percentage point gap that suggests effective support systems for lower-income students who gain admission.
Pell-eligible students at Duke graduate at 91.4% compared to the overall completion rate of 95.8%, creating a 4.4 percentage point gap. This relatively modest gap indicates strong institutional support for lower-income students, with Pell recipients achieving graduation rates that exceed national averages for all students at most institutions.
