Boston University vs Duke - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
A place is harder to win where the bar sits higher: Duke admits 5.7%, Boston University admits 12.8%.
The share of international students differs sharply: 20.1% (Boston University) against 10.6% (Duke).
Real money goes to international students at Duke ($90,599 on average), while Boston University stops at $56,639.
The gap in median earnings after a decade favours Duke: $98K against $83K.
The indicators describe a university as a whole, and your own course can sit a long way from that average.
Every sentence above comes from a field we hold in canonical. Where the data is missing, or the gap is small enough to be noise, the sentence simply does not appear.
EXPERT TAKE
Duke is the more selective of the two (5.71% vs 12.83% acceptance). Duke ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#101-150 vs #39). Duke graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($98K vs $83K). Boston University has lower sticker-price tuition ($71,372 vs $73,172 per year).
Both universities have complete, comparable data in canonical - the choice should come down to fit (campus culture, major, aid package) alongside the differences visible in the numbers below.
Choose Boston University for: lower tuition.
Choose Duke for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Duke is more selective (5.71% vs 12.83% acceptance); Duke has a higher median SAT (1548 vs 1470).
Duke graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($98K vs $83K); Duke has a higher 6-year graduation rate (96.8% vs 88.7%).
Boston University has lower sticker-price tuition ($71,372 vs $73,172); Duke offers a larger average aid package ($72,437 vs $69,396).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Boston University | Duke |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #101-150 | #39 |
| Rank · THE | #75 | #27 |
| Acceptance rate | 12.83% | 5.71% |
| Yield rate | 35% | 58.8% |
| Median SAT | 1470 | 1548 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.86 | - |
| Number of applications | 76,776 | 51,795 |
| International students | 20.1% | 10.6% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $83K | $98K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $57K | $66K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $122K | $172K |
| Graduation rate | 88.7% | 96.8% |
| Retention rate | 94.2% | 98% |
| Median debt | $23,250 | $13,000 |
| Tuition · year | $71,372 | $73,172 |
| Avg. aid package | $69,396 | $72,437 |
| % of need met | 92% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $36,774 | $27,515 |
| Application fee | $80 | - |
| Enrollment | 36,977 | 17,499 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Boston University or Duke?
It's harder to get into Duke. Boston University accepts 12.83% of applicants, while Duke accepts 5.71%.
Do Boston University or Duke graduates earn more?
Duke graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $98K vs $83K.
How much is tuition at Boston University vs Duke?
Sticker-price tuition is $71,372 per year at Boston University and $73,172 per year at Duke.
What SAT score do you need for Boston University or Duke?
The median admitted SAT score is 1470 at Boston University and 1548 at Duke; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Boston University or Duke?
Duke ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #101-150 for Boston University vs #39 for Duke.
Which university offers more financial aid - Boston University or Duke?
The average aid package is $69,396 at Boston University and $72,437 at Duke.
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