Strong graduate outcomes with earnings well above peer institutions.
What graduates earn 10 years after enrollment.
Annual salary at 10 years
Lower quartile earnings
Upper quartile earnings
How graduate earnings grow in the decade after enrollment.
Duke graduates experience steady earnings progression throughout the early career period. Median earnings begin at $85,792 six years after enrollment, increase to $95,882 at eight years, and reach $97,800 at ten years, representing 14.0% growth from the six-year to ten-year mark.
How outcomes compare to similar institutions.
Graduates from this institution significantly outperform peers — earnings are 55% higher than similar schools.
Financial justification for the investment.
Excellent affordability. Median debt of $13,000 is well under annual earnings, enabling comfortable repayment.
Duke graduates carry exceptionally low debt burdens relative to both national averages and peer institutions. Median debt reaches just $13,000, compared to a peer median of $24,181, representing an $11,181 advantage.
Duke ranks at the 98.9th percentile nationally for return on investment, delivering among the highest we track for long-term financial outcomes. Graduates earn $9,917 beyond expectations compared to similar students nationally, placing Duke at the 85.6th percentile for earnings uplift.
Approximately 30.3% of Duke graduates continue to graduate or professional study, with high confidence in this estimate based on program mix analysis....
Program mix explains much of the earnings story.
Duke's highest-earning programs concentrate in technical and quantitative fields that drive overall institutional performance. Computer Science leads with median earnings of $159,845, followed by Applied Economics at $153,139 and Computer Engineering at $137,144.
These three programs alone account for significant portions of Duke's enrollment and contribute substantially to the institution's strong earnings outcomes. Mathematical Statistics and Probability graduates earn $113,854, while Mechanical Engineering and Bioengineering graduates earn over $100,000.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
Earnings outcomes show meaningful variation reflecting diverse career pathways and program choices. The distribution spans from $66,351 at the 25th percentile to $171,770 at the 75th percentile, creating a 2.6:1 ratio between top and bottom quartiles.
