Duke University vs Notre Dame
Duke University and the University of Notre Dame stand as two of the most prestigious private research universities in the United States, each offering a unique educational experience. While both institutions share a commitment to academic excellence, they differ in several key aspects. Duke boasts a slightly higher acceptance rate, a more diverse student body, and a wider range of undergraduate majors, including engineering and computer science. Notre Dame, on the other hand, has a stronger focus on the liberal arts and offers a renowned business program. Both universities have impressive graduation rates, with Duke slightly edging out Notre Dame. To help you make an informed decision about which university is the right fit for you, we have compiled a comprehensive comparison table that delves into these differences in greater detail.
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![]() Duke University |
![]() University of Notre Dame |
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Overview |
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Location | Durham, North Carolina | Notre Dame, Indiana |
Campus setting | City: Large | Suburb: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 98.0% | 98.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Methodism | Catholic |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 5.9% | 15.1% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$85
Graduate:
$95
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Undergraduate:
$75
Graduate:
$75
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SAT range | 1468 - 1558 | 1410 - 1550 |
ACT range | 33 - 35 | 32 - 35 |
Students submitting SAT score | 47.0% | 33.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 46.0% | 36.0% |
Total number of applicants | 49,703 | 23,642 |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,927 | 3,562 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,744 | 2,059 |
Yield rate | 59.6% | 57.8% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $79,860 | $78,347 |
Average net price | $27,297 | $30,513 |
Tuition | $58,085 | $58,336 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$9,164
Meal plan:
$6,862
|
$16,304 |
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
46.0%
Average amount $50,731 |
57.0%
Average amount $46,306 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
20.0%
Average amount $4,537 |
30.0%
Average amount $4,134 |
Students taking out private loans |
3.0%
Average amount $22,957 |
12.0%
Average amount $8,564 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
6,883
Men 48.4% Women 51.6% |
8,973
Men 51.6% Women 48.4% |
Graduate students |
10,737
Men 45.5% Women 54.5% |
4,166
Men 56.5% Women 43.5% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Low
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Out-of-state students | N/A | 93.1% |
International students | 21.4% | 12.1% |
Campus local/setting | City: Large | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 5,718 | 6,919 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | Yes | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | Illinois California Texas Indiana New York |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 6:1 | 9:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 95.9% | 95.9% |
Dropout rate | 4.0% | 3.9% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
International Business (Master's Degrees)
Law (Doctoral Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
Economics (Master's Degrees)
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Business Administration, Management and Operations (First Professional Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (First Professional Degrees)
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (First Professional Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mathematics and Statistics, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
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