Duke vs Virginia - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Duke admits 5.7% of applicants, while Virginia admits 16.8%.
The larger international cohort belongs to Duke: 10.6% of students against 4.9% (Virginia).
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), Virginia does not.
The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Duke starts at $92,955 against $80,859 and ends at $20,518 against $43,736 (Virginia).
None of these figures decides on its own; what decides is which course you want to be on, and on what budget.
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 16.81% acceptance). Duke ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#39 vs #201-300). Duke graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($98K vs $87K). Virginia has lower sticker-price tuition ($62,923 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 Virginia 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 16.81% acceptance); Duke has a higher median SAT (1548 vs 1470).
Duke graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($98K vs $87K); Duke has a higher 6-year graduation rate (96.8% vs 95.6%).
Virginia has lower sticker-price tuition ($62,923 vs $73,172); Duke offers a larger average aid package ($72,437 vs $37,123).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Duke | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #39 | #201-300 |
| Rank · THE | #27 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 5.71% | 16.81% |
| Yield rate | 58.8% | 40% |
| Median SAT | 1548 | 1470 |
| Avg. GPA | - | - |
| Number of applications | 51,795 | 58,951 |
| International students | 10.6% | 4.9% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $98K | $87K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $66K | $59K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $172K | $130K |
| Graduation rate | 96.8% | 95.6% |
| Retention rate | 98% | 97.9% |
| Median debt | $13,000 | $17,500 |
| Tuition · year | $73,172 | $62,923 |
| Avg. aid package | $72,437 | $37,123 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $27,515 | $25,137 |
| Application fee | - | $75 |
| Enrollment | 17,499 | 26,470 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Duke or Virginia?
It's harder to get into Duke. Duke accepts 5.71% of applicants, while Virginia accepts 16.81%.
Do Duke or Virginia graduates earn more?
Duke graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $98K vs $87K.
How much is tuition at Duke vs Virginia?
Sticker-price tuition is $73,172 per year at Duke and $62,923 per year at Virginia.
What SAT score do you need for Duke or Virginia?
The median admitted SAT score is 1548 at Duke and 1470 at Virginia; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Duke or Virginia?
Duke ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #39 for Duke vs #201-300 for Virginia.
Which university offers more financial aid - Duke or Virginia?
The average aid package is $72,437 at Duke and $37,123 at Virginia.
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