Is Duke a hard university to get into?

Each year, Duke receives more than 50,000 applications from prospective students, of which the university admits a mere 2,800-3,000 students. The admission trends for UG students at Duke University over the years can be checked out from the table given below:

Given that all the Duke University admission requirements are met, students from all countries are eligible to apply to this university. In fact, Duke admits students from over 100 countries in the world. 

Applicants must have a valid proof of citizenship from their respective countries. The country-specific restrictions are not there, but an F-1 visa is required by international students to study at Duke University in the USA.

To make it clear, international students are encouraged to apply as long as they meet Duke University eligibility requirements.

There is no specific GPA requirement explicitly stated by Duke University; however, international students need to be academically inclined, along with great extracurricular activities. Many of the competitive applicants typically have a GPA of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale. 

Most of the admitted students were able to meet or surpass this benchmark. Alongside a good GPA, the Duke admissions committee considers other factors like: 

• GRE or GMAT scores (where applicable)

• Letters of recommendation

• Statement of purpose

• Relevant work or research experience

For Duke admissions 2025-26, international students are not required to submit a standardized test score such as the SAT or ACT, although those can significantly raise applicants' chances of receiving an offer from the university. International students can consider taking the SAT or ACT. 

The following are considered ideal for this university:

Duke MBA graduates are currently placed in industries like consulting, finance, technology etc. The top employers for different industries are mentioned below: