Yale vs Duke - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The data does not settle this one; the gaps on the axes that matter are too small to build anything on.
Both universities turn away more than nine applicants in ten (4.7% and 5.7%), so the outcome rests on how well your profile fits, not on the admission rate itself.
On SAT scores this is the same calibre of applicant: 1540 and 1548.
Tuition is practically the same ($72,500 against $73,172), so financial aid, not the sticker price, will decide the cost.
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
Yale is the more selective of the two (4.7% vs 5.71% acceptance). Yale ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#11 vs #39). Median earnings 10 years after enrollment are effectively tied ($101K vs $98K). Yale has lower sticker-price tuition ($72,500 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 Yale for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
Choose Duke for: a higher graduation rate.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Yale is more selective (4.7% vs 5.71% acceptance); Duke has a higher median SAT (1548 vs 1540).
Yale graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($101K vs $98K); Duke has a higher 6-year graduation rate (96.8% vs 95.7%).
Yale has lower sticker-price tuition ($72,500 vs $73,172); Yale offers a larger average aid package ($74,353 vs $72,437).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Yale | Duke |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #11 | #39 |
| Rank · THE | #10 | #27 |
| Acceptance rate | 4.7% | 5.71% |
| Yield rate | 68.4% | 58.8% |
| Median SAT | 1540 | 1548 |
| Avg. GPA | - | - |
| Number of applications | 50,264 | 51,795 |
| International students | 10.6% | 10.6% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $101K | $98K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $66K | $66K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $194K | $172K |
| Graduation rate | 95.7% | 96.8% |
| Retention rate | 99.4% | 98% |
| Median debt | $12,975 | $13,000 |
| Tuition · year | $72,500 | $73,172 |
| Avg. aid package | $74,353 | $72,437 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $22,185 | $27,515 |
| Application fee | $80 | - |
| Enrollment | 15,657 | 17,499 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Yale or Duke?
It's harder to get into Yale. Yale accepts 4.7% of applicants, while Duke accepts 5.71%.
Do Yale or Duke graduates earn more?
Earnings are practically equal - 10 years after enrollment, the median is $101K at Yale and $98K at Duke.
How much is tuition at Yale vs Duke?
Sticker-price tuition is $72,500 per year at Yale and $73,172 per year at Duke.
What SAT score do you need for Yale or Duke?
The median admitted SAT score is 1540 at Yale and 1548 at Duke; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Yale or Duke?
Yale ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #11 for Yale vs #39 for Duke.
Which university offers more financial aid - Yale or Duke?
The average aid package is $74,353 at Yale and $72,437 at Duke.
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