Duke Acceptance Rate: Class of 2030 Admissions Statistics

Duke admitted 2,930 students out of 61,935 applicants for the Class of 2030, yielding a 4.73% acceptance rate, the lowest in the university’s history.

For Early Decision (ED), 847 students were admitted to the Class of 2030, reflecting a 13.75% acceptance rate. Regular Decision (RD) received 55,776 applicants with 2,083 students admitted, for a 3.73% acceptance rate.

In this blog, we’ll walk through Duke’s latest available overall, early, regular, waitlist, and transfer acceptance rates and see how they’ve changed over time.

• Duke Acceptance Rates
• Duke Early Decision Acceptance Rate
• Duke Regular Decision Acceptance Rate
• Duke Transfer Acceptance Rate
• Duke Waitlist Acceptance Rate
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

Duke Acceptance Rates

Duke’s overall acceptance rate for the Class of 2030 dropped to 4.73%, down from 5.20% for the Class of 2029. This decline came due to a significant surge in applications, up from 58,712 to 61,935, while the number of admitted students fell to 2,930.

Duke’s overall acceptance rate has fallen considerably over the past decade, dropping from over 9% to just above 4% in recent years. Here’s the complete picture:

Note: All data has been compiled from Duke’s Common Data Set.

Applications grew roughly 79% from 34,516 for the Class of 2021 to a peak of 61,935 for the Class of 2030, a surge driven in part by test-optional policies and Duke’s rising national profile. Duke has not seen a post-affirmative action dip in applications, as volumes have been in an overall upward trend year over year.

Meanwhile, the number of admitted students has fallen sharply, dropping from 2,911 to 3,190 across earlier years down to 2,930 for the Class of 2030. That combination of sharply rising applications and a shrinking admit pool drove the acceptance rate from 9.03% for the Class of 2021 down to 4.73% for the Class of 2030, nearly cutting the rate in halves over the decade.

Duke Early Decision Acceptance Rate

The most recent Early Decision figures are from the Class of 2030, when Duke received 6,159 early applications and admitted 847 students for an acceptance rate of 13.75%, up slightly from the record-low 12.81% recorded for the Class of 2029.

Duke Early Decision acceptance rate trends

Duke’s ED acceptance rates have declined sharply over the past decade, dropping from roughly 24% to almost 14%. Here’s a breakdown:

Note: All data has been sourced from Duke’s official announcement pages and Common Data Sets.

ED applications have grown considerably, rising from 3,516 for the Class of 2021 to 6,627 for the Class of 2029, reflecting Duke’s growing popularity among early applicants. However, the number of admitted students has not kept pace, fluctuating between 702 and 1,042 across the same period.

That gap between rising applications and a relatively fixed admit pool pushed the ED acceptance rate from a high of 24.49% for the Class of 2021 down to a low of 12.81% for the Class of 2029.

Duke Regular Decision Acceptance Rate

The Class of 2030 gives us the latest RD data: 55,776 applications yielded 2,083 acceptances for a 3.73% rate, down sharply from 4.23% for the Class of 2029.

Duke Regular Decision acceptance rate trends

Duke’s RD acceptance rates have declined steadily over the past decade, falling from over 7% to just above 3%. Here’s how Duke’s RD statistics have evolved:

Note: RD figures are estimates derived by subtracting Early Decision data from overall totals in Duke’s official admissions announcements and Common Data Set.

Duke’s RD applications grew significantly, rising from 31,000 for the Class of 2021 to a peak of 55,776 for the Class of 2030.

Admits, however, have fallen sharply, dropping from a range of 1,915 to 2,488 in earlier years down to 2,083 for the Class of 2030. That imbalance between growing applications and a shrinking admit pool pushed the RD acceptance rate from a high of 7.29% for the Class of 2022 down to a new low of 3.73% for the Class of 2030.

Duke Transfer Acceptance Rate

The most recent available Duke transfer data comes from Fall 2025, with an acceptance rate of 8.66%. Here’s the breakdown:

Note: Fall 2025 transfer data is from Duke’s Common Data Set for 2025-2026, the same reporting year that includes Class of 2029 first-year admissions data.

Duke’s transfer acceptance rate of 8.66% is higher than the 4.73% first-year acceptance rate for the Class of 2030, giving transfer applicants a somewhat better chance of admission than students applying straight out of high school. Even so, transfer admission at Duke remains exceptionally competitive by national standards.

Duke Waitlist Acceptance Rate

The most recent Duke waitlist data comes from the Class of 2029, with 50 confirmed admitted students. Here’s the breakdown:

Note: Duke does not publish waitlist data in its Common Data Set. The waitlist figures above are drawn from reporting by the Duke Chronicle.

Because the total number of students waitlisted and those who confirmed their spot were not disclosed, an overall waitlist acceptance rate cannot be calculated for this cycle.

However, the waitlist is generally unpredictable since admission from the list depends heavily on first-year yield rates, making it difficult for waitlisted applicants to gauge their chances. If you find yourself on Duke’s waitlist, read our Duke waitlist guide to learn the strategic steps you can take to maximize your chances.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Duke’s current acceptance rate?

The most recent confirmed acceptance rate is 4.73% for the Class of 2030. Duke received 61,935 applications and admitted 2,930 students.

2. Is it easier to get into Duke through Early Decision or Regular Decision?

It is statistically easier to get in through ED. For the Class of 2030, the ED rate was 13.75% compared to 3.73% for RD, roughly four times higher. However, ED applicants tend to have the most competitive profiles in the pool.

3. How hard is it to transfer to Duke?

Quite competitive. For Fall 2025, 157 out of 1,812 applicants were admitted for an 8.66% transfer rate, slightly higher than the first-year acceptance rate.

4. What are my chances of getting off Duke’s waitlist?

It varies by year. For the Class of 2029, Duke admitted 50 waitlisted students, though total waitlist figures were not disclosed. The process can also be unpredictable.

5. Why is Duke’s acceptance rate so low?

Applications have nearly doubled over the past decade, from 34,516 for the Class of 2021 to 61,935 for the Class of 2030, while the admitted class size has actually shrunk, pushing the acceptance rate steadily downward.

Takeaways

• Duke’s acceptance rate has fallen from 9.03% for the Class of 2021 to a record low of 4.73% for the Class of 2030, as applications have nearly doubled while the admitted class size has shrunk.
• ED offers a notable advantage. For the Class of 2030, the ED rate was 13.75% versus 3.73% for RD, though ED is binding and early applicants tend to be highly competitive.
• Transfer admissions are slightly more accessible at 8.66% for Fall 2025, but still selective.
• Waitlist outcomes are unpredictable. Duke admitted 50 students for the Class of 2029 but does not disclose full waitlist figures.
• With acceptance rates at historic lows, working with a college admissions expert can give you a real edge. The right guidance can strengthen your profile and improve your chances when every detail counts.