University of Georgia
ATHENS, GA
Duke University
DURHAM, NC
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Georgia vs Duke - US university comparison

University of Georgia
GEORGIA
Athens, GA
World rank · ARWU#401-500
Acceptance37.92%
Median SAT1300
Graduation rate89.7%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$69K
Duke University
DUKE
Durham, NC
World rank · ARWU#39
Acceptance5.71%
Median SAT1548
Graduation rate96.8%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$98K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

University of Georgia Duke University
#401-500 World rank · ARWU #39
- Rank · THE #27
37.92% Acceptance rate 5.71%
1300 Median SAT 1548
89.7% Graduation rate 96.8%
43,146 Enrollment 17,499

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

37.92% Acceptance rate 5.71%
38.3% Yield rate 58.8%
1300 Median SAT 1548
4.15 Avg. GPA -
42,436 Number of applications 51,795
1.1% Int'l students 10.6%
$69K Median earnings · 10 yrs $98K
$45K Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs $66K
$102K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $172K
89.7% Graduation rate 96.8%
94.3% Retention rate 98%
$18,500 Median debt $13,000
$31,678 Tuition · year $73,172
$15,348 Avg. aid package $72,437
73.2% % of need met 100%
$20,890 Avg. graduate debt $27,515
$70 Application fee -
- Avg. int'l aid $90,599
At a glance
Duke leads in 9 of 11 measured metrics
Acceptance37.92% vs 5.71%
Aid$15,348 vs $72,437
Tuition$31,678 vs $73,172

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 (#401-500 vs #39). 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 Georgia for: lower tuition, lower graduate debt.

Choose Duke for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.

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

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Duke is more selective (5.71% vs 37.92% acceptance); Duke has a higher median SAT (1548 vs 1300).

Graduate outcomes

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%).

Cost and aid

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

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Georgia Duke
World rank · ARWU#401-500#39
Rank · THE-#27
Acceptance rate37.92%5.71%
Yield rate38.3%58.8%
Median SAT13001548
Avg. GPA4.15-
Number of applications42,43651,795
International students1.1%10.6%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$69K$98K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs$45K$66K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$102K$172K
Graduation rate89.7%96.8%
Retention rate94.3%98%
Median debt$18,500$13,000
Tuition · year$31,678$73,172
Avg. aid package$15,348$72,437
% of need met73.2%100%
Avg. graduate debt$20,890$27,515
Application fee$70-
Enrollment43,14617,499

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Georgia or Duke?

It's harder to get into Duke. Georgia accepts 37.92% of applicants, while Duke accepts 5.71%.

Do Georgia or Duke graduates earn more?

Duke graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $98K vs $69K.

How much is tuition at Georgia vs Duke?

Sticker-price tuition is $31,678 per year at Georgia and $73,172 per year at Duke.

What SAT score do you need for Georgia or Duke?

The median admitted SAT score is 1300 at Georgia and 1548 at Duke; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher - Georgia or Duke?

Duke ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #401-500 for Georgia vs #39 for Duke.

Which university offers more financial aid - Georgia or Duke?

The average aid package is $15,348 at Georgia and $72,437 at Duke.

Compare Georgia 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.