Duke vs North Carolina - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Duke admits 5.7% of applicants, while North Carolina admits 15.3%.
If you are applying from outside the US, budget without institutional support where there is none: only Duke reports aid for international students ($90,599 on average), North Carolina does not.
The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Duke starts at $92,955 against $60,888 and ends at $20,518 against $40,183 (North Carolina).
The gap in median earnings after a decade favours Duke: $98K against $72K.
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 15.34% acceptance). North Carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#39 vs #35). Duke graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($98K vs $72K). North Carolina has lower sticker-price tuition ($45,228 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: higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings, a higher graduation rate.
Choose North Carolina for: a higher world ranking, 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 15.34% acceptance); Duke has a higher median SAT (1548 vs 1470).
Duke graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($98K vs $72K); Duke has a higher 6-year graduation rate (96.8% vs 91.2%).
North Carolina has lower sticker-price tuition ($45,228 vs $73,172); Duke offers a larger average aid package ($72,437 vs $20,705).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Duke | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #39 | #35 |
| Rank · THE | #27 | #70 |
| Acceptance rate | 5.71% | 15.34% |
| Yield rate | 58.8% | 45.5% |
| Median SAT | 1548 | 1470 |
| Avg. GPA | - | 4.49 |
| Number of applications | 51,795 | 66,535 |
| International students | 10.6% | 6.4% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $98K | $72K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $66K | $48K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $172K | $112K |
| Graduation rate | 96.8% | 91.2% |
| Retention rate | 98% | 96.6% |
| Median debt | $13,000 | $14,000 |
| Tuition · year | $73,172 | $45,228 |
| Avg. aid package | $72,437 | $20,705 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $27,515 | $20,382 |
| Application fee | - | $85 |
| Enrollment | 17,499 | 32,680 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Duke or North Carolina?
It's harder to get into Duke. Duke accepts 5.71% of applicants, while North Carolina accepts 15.34%.
Do Duke or North Carolina graduates earn more?
Duke graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $98K vs $72K.
How much is tuition at Duke vs North Carolina?
Sticker-price tuition is $73,172 per year at Duke and $45,228 per year at North Carolina.
What SAT score do you need for Duke or North Carolina?
The median admitted SAT score is 1548 at Duke and 1470 at North Carolina; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Duke or North Carolina?
North Carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #39 for Duke vs #35 for North Carolina.
Which university offers more financial aid - Duke or North Carolina?
The average aid package is $72,437 at Duke and $20,705 at North Carolina.
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