USC vs. Duke

Deciding between University of Southern California and Duke 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.

University of Southern California
Duke University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • USC Los Angeles, CA
  • Duke Durham, NC
  • Setting
  • USC Large City
  • Duke Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • USC 46,566
  • Duke 17,499
  • Type
  • USC Private 4 Year
  • Duke Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • USC #37
  • Duke #2
  • Religious Affiliation
  • USC -
  • Duke United Methodist
  • Status
  • USC Non-profit
  • Duke Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • USC
  • Duke

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • USC $72,097
  • Duke $68,758
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • USC $72,097
  • Duke $68,758
  • Room & Board
  • USC $19,931
  • Duke $18,128
  • Average Net Price
  • USC $43,412
  • Duke $21,981
  • Average Grant Aid
  • USC $46,897
  • Duke $65,522
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • USC 70%
  • Duke 43%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • USC 82,027
  • Duke 51,795
  • Admitted
  • USC 8,050
  • Duke 2,957
  • Acceptance Rate
  • USC 9.8%
  • Duke 5.7%
  • Enrolled
  • USC 43.3%
  • Duke 58.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • USC 1500
  • Duke 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • USC 33
  • Duke 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • USC 3.83
  • Duke 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • USC A-
  • Duke A
  • Admissions Standards
  • USC Elite
  • Duke Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • USC Very High
  • Duke Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • USC 32/35
  • Duke 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • USC 1450/1550
  • Duke 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • USC Test optional
  • Duke Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • USC
  • Duke Jan 3, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • USC 9:1
  • Duke 5:1
  • Popular Majors
  • USC
    • Business (25%)
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (13%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • Duke
    • Social Sciences (24%)
    • Engineering (16%)
    • Human Services (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • USC 90%
  • Duke 94%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • USC $85,500
  • Duke $108,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • USC 81%
  • Duke 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • USC $22,375
  • Duke $7,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • USC $231
  • Duke $77

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • USC 47%
  • Duke 44%
  • % Women
  • USC 53%
  • Duke 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • USC Very High
  • Duke Very High
  • HBCU
  • USC No
  • Duke No
  • % White
  • USC 40%
  • Duke 46%
  • % Asian
  • USC 22%
  • Duke 22%
  • % Black
  • USC 4%
  • Duke 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • USC 14%
  • Duke 7%
  • % Native American
  • USC 0%
  • Duke 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • USC 0%
  • Duke 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • USC 5%
  • Duke 2%
  • % International
  • USC 13%
  • Duke 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • USC 1%
  • Duke 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • USC 42%
  • Duke 15%
  • % Out-of-State
  • USC 39%
  • Duke 73%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Southern California in Los Angeles, CA with Duke University in Durham, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Southern California is larger than Duke based on total student enrollment (46,566 students vs. 17,499 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Southern California is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); Duke University is in Durham, NC (Midsize City setting).
  • University of Southern California is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Duke University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Southern California 9:1; Duke University 5:1.

USC vs. Duke Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, USC or Duke? 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 USC ($21,981 vs. $43,412).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Duke University are 9% lower than at University of Southern California ($18,128 vs. $19,931).
  • University of Southern California is 4.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Duke (about $3,339 more per year; $72,097.00 vs. $68,758.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.9% higher at USC than at Duke University (about $3,339 more per year; $72,097.00 vs. $68,758.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Southern California than at Duke University (70% vs. 43%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Duke University students is 39.7% larger than aid received by University of Southern California students ($65,522 vs. $46,897).

USC vs. Duke Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, USC or Duke? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Duke and USC.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Duke University (1540) is 40 points higher than at USC (1500).
  • Incoming Duke students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (34 vs. 33 at USC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of Southern California 1450/1550; Duke University 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of Southern California 32/35; Duke University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: USC - Test optional; Duke - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Duke Jan 3, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman Duke students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at USC (3.83).
  • USC has a higher acceptance rate (9.8%) than Duke (5.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43.3% at USC vs. 58.8% at Duke.

USC vs. Duke Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for USC and Duke? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Duke University's six-year graduation rate (94%) is higher than University of Southern California's (90%).
  • Graduates from Duke University earn a median of about $23,400 more per year than USC graduates about ten years after starting college ($108,900 vs. $85,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Duke University graduates have a $14,875 lower median loan debt than USC graduates ($7,500 vs. $22,375).
  • Among borrowers, Duke graduates have an estimated $154 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than USC graduates ($77 vs. $231).
  • More Duke graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former USC students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 81%)

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.