Duke University
DURHAM, NC
New Jersey Institute of Technology
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Duke vs NJIT - US university comparison

Duke University
DUKE
Durham, NC
World rank · ARWU#39
Acceptance5.71%
Median SAT1548
Graduation rate96.8%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$98K
New Jersey Institute of Technology
NJIT
Newark, New Jersey
World rank · ARWU#701-800
Acceptance65.08%
Median SAT1340
Graduation rate72.8%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$84K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

Duke University New Jersey Institute of Technology
#39 World rank · ARWU #701-800
#27 Rank · THE -
5.71% Acceptance rate 65.08%
1548 Median SAT 1340
96.8% Graduation rate 72.8%
17,499 Enrollment 13,247

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

5.71% Acceptance rate 65.08%
58.8% Yield rate 17.2%
1548 Median SAT 1340
- Avg. GPA 3.73
51,795 Number of applications 15,607
10.6% Int'l students 6.2%
$98K Median earnings · 10 yrs $84K
$66K Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs $56K
$172K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $113K
96.8% Graduation rate 72.8%
98% Retention rate 90%
$13,000 Median debt $21,000
$73,172 Tuition · year $37,664
$72,437 Avg. aid package $18,661
100% % of need met 56.8%
$27,515 Avg. graduate debt $32,459
- Application fee $75
$90,599 Avg. int'l aid $28,025
At a glance
Duke leads in 10 of 11 measured metrics
Acceptance5.71% vs 65.08%
Aid$72,437 vs $18,661
Yield58.8% vs 17.2%

The verdict, from the data

These are two different admissions games: Duke admits 5.7% of applications, NJIT admits 65.1%.

For an applicant from outside the US the difference is financial: Duke awards international students $90,599 on average, NJIT awards $28,025.

The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Duke starts at $92,955 against $62,714 and ends at $20,518 against $44,053 (NJIT).

The gap in median earnings after a decade favours Duke: $98K against $84K.

These numbers describe the cohorts already enrolled, not your chances; treat them as a starting point rather than a forecast.

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 65.08% acceptance). Duke ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#39 vs #701-800). Duke graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($98K vs $84K). NJIT has lower sticker-price tuition ($37,664 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 NJIT for: lower tuition.

College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Duke is more selective (5.71% vs 65.08% acceptance); Duke has a higher median SAT (1548 vs 1340).

Graduate outcomes

Duke graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($98K vs $84K); Duke has a higher 6-year graduation rate (96.8% vs 72.8%).

Cost and aid

NJIT has lower sticker-price tuition ($37,664 vs $73,172); Duke offers a larger average aid package ($72,437 vs $18,661).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

$35k$76k$117k$158k$11k$35k$59k$83kDukeNJIT TUITION · YEAR → MEDIAN EARNINGS · 10 YRS →
Each dot is a comparable US university; Duke and NJIT highlighted. Up and to the left = better value ratio.

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Duke NJIT
World rank · ARWU#39#701-800
Rank · THE#27-
Acceptance rate5.71%65.08%
Yield rate58.8%17.2%
Median SAT15481340
Avg. GPA-3.73
Number of applications51,79515,607
International students10.6%6.2%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$98K$84K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs$66K$56K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$172K$113K
Graduation rate96.8%72.8%
Retention rate98%90%
Median debt$13,000$21,000
Tuition · year$73,172$37,664
Avg. aid package$72,437$18,661
% of need met100%56.8%
Avg. graduate debt$27,515$32,459
Application fee-$75
Enrollment17,49913,247

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Duke or NJIT?

It's harder to get into Duke. Duke accepts 5.71% of applicants, while NJIT accepts 65.08%.

Do Duke or NJIT graduates earn more?

Duke graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $98K vs $84K.

How much is tuition at Duke vs NJIT?

Sticker-price tuition is $73,172 per year at Duke and $37,664 per year at NJIT.

What SAT score do you need for Duke or NJIT?

The median admitted SAT score is 1548 at Duke and 1340 at NJIT; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher - Duke or NJIT?

Duke ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #39 for Duke vs #701-800 for NJIT.

Which university offers more financial aid - Duke or NJIT?

The average aid package is $72,437 at Duke and $18,661 at NJIT.

Compare Duke with
Highest-ranked in ARWU. Click "↻ Change university" in the cards above to choose from all 47 universities (+35).
All metrics come 100% from College Council Atlas (canonical) - admissions, SAT, GPA, graduate outcomes, financial aid and costs from IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25; rankings from ARWU 2024 and THE 2025. Zero manual fields. "-" = not yet in canonical.