Duke vs Georgia - 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%, Georgia admits 37.9%.
The larger international cohort belongs to Duke: 10.6% of students against 1.1% (Georgia).
Georgia reports no financial aid for international students, while Duke awards them $90,599 on average. For an applicant from outside the US that is usually the most important difference on this page.
The one that looks dearer ends up cheaper: Duke lists $92,955 against $49,100 (Georgia), but after average aid what remains is $20,518 against $33,752.
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 37.92% acceptance). Duke ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#39 vs #401-500). Duke graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($98K vs $69K). Georgia has lower sticker-price tuition ($31,678 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 Georgia 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 37.92% acceptance); Duke has a higher median SAT (1548 vs 1300).
Duke graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($98K vs $69K); Duke has a higher 6-year graduation rate (96.8% vs 89.7%).
Georgia has lower sticker-price tuition ($31,678 vs $73,172); Duke offers a larger average aid package ($72,437 vs $15,348).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Duke | Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #39 | #401-500 |
| Rank · THE | #27 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 5.71% | 37.92% |
| Yield rate | 58.8% | 38.3% |
| Median SAT | 1548 | 1300 |
| Avg. GPA | - | 4.15 |
| Number of applications | 51,795 | 42,436 |
| International students | 10.6% | 1.1% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $98K | $69K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $66K | $45K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $172K | $102K |
| Graduation rate | 96.8% | 89.7% |
| Retention rate | 98% | 94.3% |
| Median debt | $13,000 | $18,500 |
| Tuition · year | $73,172 | $31,678 |
| Avg. aid package | $72,437 | $15,348 |
| % of need met | 100% | 73.2% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $27,515 | $20,890 |
| Application fee | - | $70 |
| Enrollment | 17,499 | 43,146 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Duke or Georgia?
It's harder to get into Duke. Duke accepts 5.71% of applicants, while Georgia accepts 37.92%.
Do Duke or Georgia graduates earn more?
Duke graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $98K vs $69K.
How much is tuition at Duke vs Georgia?
Sticker-price tuition is $73,172 per year at Duke and $31,678 per year at Georgia.
What SAT score do you need for Duke or Georgia?
The median admitted SAT score is 1548 at Duke and 1300 at Georgia; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Duke or Georgia?
Duke ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #39 for Duke vs #401-500 for Georgia.
Which university offers more financial aid - Duke or Georgia?
The average aid package is $72,437 at Duke and $15,348 at Georgia.
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