ASU vs. Duke

Should I go to Appalachian State University or Duke University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if ASU or Duke is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Appalachian State University vs. Duke University comparison
Appalachian State University Duke University College 3 College 4
Appalachian State University Duke University
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Overview

 ASU Duke
Location Boone, NC Durham, NC
Setting Distant Town Midsize City
Enrollment 21,253 17,112
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #597 #3
Religious Affiliation - United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website appstate.edu duke.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 ASU Duke
Tuition (In State) $4,242 $63,450
Tuition (Out of State) $21,238 $63,450
Room & Board $12,258 $17,458
Avg Net Price $14,712 $23,422
Avg Grant Aid $7,677 $59,327
% Receiving Grant Aid 47% 41%

Admission

 ASU Duke
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 24,001 46,365
Admitted 21,275 3,145
Acceptance Rate 88.6% 6.8%
Enrolled % 19.9% 55.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.96 3.94
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Average Elite
Applicant Competition Extreme
ACT Range 21/27 34/35
SAT Range 1100/1280 1510/1570
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Feb 1, 2026 Jan 3, 2026

Academics

 ASU Duke
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 6:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Social Sciences (24%)
  • Engineering (16%)
  • Human Services (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

 ASU Duke
Graduation Rate 65% 94%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,600 $108,900
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 89%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,500 $7,500
Median Loan Payment $211 $77

Diversity

 ASU Duke
% Men 3% 27%
% Women 6% 35%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 85% 46%
% Black 3% 10%
% Hispanic 4% 7%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 1% 10%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

 ASU Duke
% In-State 87% 12%
% Out-of-State 13% 74%

Campus

 ASU Duke
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Appalachian State University is larger than than Duke based on total student enrollment (21,253 students vs. 17,112 students)

ASU vs. Duke Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ASU or Duke?

  • Duke University is 1,395.8% more expensive to attend than ASU for in-state tuition ($63,450.00 vs. $4,242.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 198.8% higher at Duke than Appalachian State University ($63,450.00 vs. $21,238.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Appalachian State University than Duke ($14,712 vs. $23,422)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Appalachian State University are 42.4% lower than costs at Duke University ($12,258 vs. $17,458)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Appalachian State University than Duke University (47% vs. 41%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Duke University students is 672.8% larger than aid received Appalachian State University ($59,327 vs. $7,677)

ASU vs. Duke Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ASU or Duke? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Duke or ASU .

  • The average SAT score at Duke University (1450) is 293 points higher than at ASU (1157)
  • Incoming Duke students have a 7 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at ASU (26)
  • Accepted freshman ASU students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at Duke (3.94)
  • ASU has a higher acceptance rate (88.6%) than Duke (6.8%)

ASU vs. Duke Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, ASU or Duke? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Duke and ASU.

  • The graduation rate at Duke is higher than Appalachian State University (94% vs. 65%)
  • Graduates from Duke University earn on average $67,300 more per year than ASU graduates after ten years. ($108,900 vs. $41,600)
  • Duke University students graduate with a $13,000 lower median federal student loan debt than ASU graduates. ($7,500 vs. $20,500)
  • Duke graduates are paying $134 less per month on federal student loans than ASU graduates. ($77 vs. $211)
  • More Duke graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ASU students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 74%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/