Duke vs Brandeis - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Duke admits 5.7% of applicants, while Brandeis admits 40.5%.
The share of international students differs sharply: 19.3% (Brandeis) against 10.6% (Duke).
Real money goes to international students at Duke ($90,599 on average), while Brandeis stops at $56,730.
The higher median salary ten years after enrolment belongs to Duke: $98K against $77K.
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 40.47% acceptance). Duke ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#39 vs #301-400). Duke graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($98K vs $77K). Brandeis has lower sticker-price tuition ($70,957 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 Duke for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
Choose Brandeis for: lower tuition, lower graduate debt.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Duke is more selective (5.71% vs 40.47% acceptance); Duke has a higher median SAT (1548 vs 1460).
Duke graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($98K vs $77K); Duke has a higher 6-year graduation rate (96.8% vs 86%).
Brandeis has lower sticker-price tuition ($70,957 vs $73,172); Duke offers a larger average aid package ($72,437 vs $57,507).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Duke | Brandeis |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #39 | #301-400 |
| Rank · THE | #27 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 5.71% | 40.47% |
| Yield rate | 58.8% | 17.5% |
| Median SAT | 1548 | 1460 |
| Avg. GPA | - | 3.90 |
| Number of applications | 51,795 | 10,462 |
| International students | 10.6% | 19.3% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $98K | $77K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $66K | $52K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $172K | $117K |
| Graduation rate | 96.8% | 86% |
| Retention rate | 98% | 87% |
| Median debt | $13,000 | $25,648 |
| Tuition · year | $73,172 | $70,957 |
| Avg. aid package | $72,437 | $57,507 |
| % of need met | 100% | 94.5% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $27,515 | $27,004 |
| Application fee | - | $80 |
| Enrollment | 17,499 | 5,205 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Duke or Brandeis?
It's harder to get into Duke. Duke accepts 5.71% of applicants, while Brandeis accepts 40.47%.
Do Duke or Brandeis graduates earn more?
Duke graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $98K vs $77K.
How much is tuition at Duke vs Brandeis?
Sticker-price tuition is $73,172 per year at Duke and $70,957 per year at Brandeis.
What SAT score do you need for Duke or Brandeis?
The median admitted SAT score is 1548 at Duke and 1460 at Brandeis; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Duke or Brandeis?
Duke ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #39 for Duke vs #301-400 for Brandeis.
Which university offers more financial aid - Duke or Brandeis?
The average aid package is $72,437 at Duke and $57,507 at Brandeis.
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