Duke vs. Stanford

Deciding between Duke University and Stanford University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Duke University
Stanford University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Duke Durham, NC
  • Stanford Stanford, CA
  • Setting
  • Duke Midsize City
  • Stanford Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Duke 17,499
  • Stanford 18,625
  • Type
  • Duke Private 4 Year
  • Stanford Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Duke #2
  • Stanford #3
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Duke United Methodist
  • Stanford -
  • Status
  • Duke Non-profit
  • Stanford Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Duke
  • Stanford

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Duke $68,758
  • Stanford $65,910
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Duke $68,758
  • Stanford $65,910
  • Room & Board
  • Duke $18,128
  • Stanford $21,315
  • Average Net Price
  • Duke $21,981
  • Stanford $25,078
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Duke $65,522
  • Stanford $62,755
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Duke 43%
  • Stanford 61%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Duke 51,795
  • Stanford 57,326
  • Admitted
  • Duke 2,957
  • Stanford 2,067
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Duke 5.7%
  • Stanford 3.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Duke 58.8%
  • Stanford 81.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Duke 1540
  • Stanford 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Duke 34
  • Stanford 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Duke 3.94
  • Stanford 3.96
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Duke A
  • Stanford A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Duke Elite
  • Stanford Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Duke Extreme
  • Stanford Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Duke 34/35
  • Stanford 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Duke 1500/1570
  • Stanford 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Duke Test optional
  • Stanford Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Duke Jan 3, 2027
  • Stanford Jan 2, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Duke 5:1
  • Stanford 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Duke
    • Social Sciences (24%)
    • Engineering (16%)
    • Human Services (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Stanford
    • Social Sciences (21%)
    • General Studies (16%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Duke 94%
  • Stanford 96%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Duke $108,900
  • Stanford $122,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Duke 89%
  • Stanford 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Duke $7,500
  • Stanford $12,475
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Duke $77
  • Stanford $128

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Duke 44%
  • Stanford 52%
  • % Women
  • Duke 56%
  • Stanford 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Duke Very High
  • Stanford Very High
  • HBCU
  • Duke No
  • Stanford No
  • % White
  • Duke 46%
  • Stanford 37%
  • % Asian
  • Duke 22%
  • Stanford 20%
  • % Black
  • Duke 10%
  • Stanford 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Duke 7%
  • Stanford 15%
  • % Native American
  • Duke 1%
  • Stanford 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Duke 0%
  • Stanford 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Duke 2%
  • Stanford 10%
  • % International
  • Duke 10%
  • Stanford 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Duke 2%
  • Stanford 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Duke 15%
  • Stanford 38%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Duke 73%
  • Stanford 45%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Duke Yes
  • Stanford Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Duke Yes
  • Stanford Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • Duke Yes
  • Stanford Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Duke No
  • Stanford No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Duke No
  • Stanford Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Duke University in Durham, NC with Stanford University in Stanford, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Stanford University is larger than Duke based on total student enrollment (18,625 students vs. 17,499 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Duke University is located in Durham, NC (Midsize City setting); Stanford University is in Stanford, CA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Duke University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Stanford University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Duke University 5:1; Stanford University 6:1.

Duke vs. Stanford Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Duke or Stanford? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Duke University than Stanford ($21,981 vs. $25,078).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Duke University are 15% lower than at Stanford University ($18,128 vs. $21,315).
  • Duke University is 4.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Stanford (about $2,848 more per year; $68,758.00 vs. $65,910.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.3% higher at Duke than at Stanford University (about $2,848 more per year; $68,758.00 vs. $65,910.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stanford University than at Duke University (61% vs. 43%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Duke University students is 4.4% larger than aid received by Stanford University students ($65,522 vs. $62,755).

Duke vs. Stanford Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Duke or Stanford? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Stanford and Duke.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Stanford University (1550) is 10 points higher than at Duke (1540).
  • Incoming Duke students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Stanford (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Duke University 1500/1570; Stanford University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Duke University 34/35; Stanford University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Duke - Test optional; Stanford - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Duke Jan 3, 2027; Stanford Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Stanford students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at Duke (3.94).
  • Duke has a higher acceptance rate (5.7%) than Stanford (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 58.8% at Duke vs. 81.9% at Stanford.

Duke vs. Stanford Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Duke and Stanford? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Stanford University's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Duke University's (94%).
  • Graduates from Stanford University earn a median of about $14,000 more per year than Duke graduates about ten years after starting college ($122,900 vs. $108,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Duke University graduates have a $4,975 lower median loan debt than Stanford graduates ($7,500 vs. $12,475).
  • Among borrowers, Duke graduates have an estimated $51 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Stanford graduates ($77 vs. $128).
  • More Duke graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Stanford students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 88%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.