Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, in a midsize city environment. It is a mid-sized university with around 6,523 undergraduate students. Admissions are very competitive, with an acceptance rate of around 4.8%. Some of the most popular majors are Social Sciences, Engineering, Biology, Psychology, and Economics. The six-year graduation rate is 96%, and Duke graduates have a median starting income of around ?80,36,000 (converted from the $97,800 median earnings ten years post-graduation).
University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte) is a public research university located in Charlotte, North Carolina, within a large city environment. It is large with around 24,868 undergraduate students and an overall enrollment of over 31,000. The admissions are moderately competitive with an acceptance rate of around 80%. The most sought-after majors are Business, Engineering, Computer Science, Social Sciences, and Health Professions. The six-year graduation rate is 65%, and UNC Charlotte graduates have a median starting salary of about ?47,41,000 (from $57,289 median earnings ten years post-graduation).
| Duke University | University of North Carolina | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 6.9 Out of 10 | 4.1 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 28 Times Higher Education 2026 # 62 QS World University 2026 # 21 Center for World University Rankings 2025 | # 601 Times Higher Education 2026 # 1001 QS World University 2026 # 601 Times Higher Education 2025 |
| Subject Strength | # 20 for Engineering by US News 2025 # 16 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 # 6 for Law by US News 2025 | # 149 for Engineering by US News 2025 # 701 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 # 201 for Law by Academy Ranking of World Universities 2021 |
| Programs | UG Programs -93 PG Programs -50 Doctorate Programs -4 | UG Programs -138 PG Programs -38 |
| Acceptance Rate | 0.0 % | 80.0 % |
| Exam Score | Duolingo-125 IELTS-7 TOEFL-90 | Duolingo-115 IELTS-6.5 SAT-1110 TOEFL-83 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 60594 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 28950 [For PG Program] | Average Tuition Fees 18120 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 26400 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 12896 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | Duke University is one of the top private universities in Durham, United States. It is ranked #=50 in QS World University Rankings 2023. Base salaries by degree are given below:
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| Campuses and B-Schools | The Fuqua School of Business | NA |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 8.3/10 Read 11 reviews | 6.6/10 Read 12 reviews |
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | # 13 for Business by US News 2025 # 15 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 # 50 for Business by QS World University 2025 | # 501 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 |
| exam scores | Duolingo - 125/160IELTS - 7/9TOEFL - 90/120 | Duolingo - 115/160IELTS - 6.5/9TOEFL - 83/120 |
| cost to study | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -110258 | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -64245 |
| documents required | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose |
| application dates | Jan 8, 2026 (Round 2 Application Deadline For 2026 Intake) Feb 20, 2026 (Round 2 Deposit Deadline For 2026 Intake) | Oct 1, 2025 (Priority Application Deadline For Spring 2026 Intake) Dec 1, 2025 (Final Application Deadline For Spring 2026 Intake) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | Duke University | University of North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1838 | 1946 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 4.4:1 | 21:1:1 |
| Male:Female | 45% Male, 0% Female | 53% Male, 47% Female |
| Location Facts | The campus moved to Durham in 1892. Located near the center of North Carolina the campus is divided into 4 areas- West, East, and Central campuses and the Medical centers | It has three campuses: Charlotte Research Institute Campus, Centre City Campus, and the main campus, located in University City. The main campus sits on 1,000 wooded acres with approximately 85 buildings about 8 miles (13 km) from Uptown Charlotte |
| Library | Top 10 private research library systems in USA. It has a total volume count of over 7 million with an operating budget of around 41 million USD. Consists of Perkins, Bostock & Rubenstein Libraries on West Campus; Lilly and Music Libraries on East Campus and Pearse Memorial Library at Duke Marine Laboratory with several other schools and department libraries | It offers over 3 million volumes, including 1.4 million e-books, over 450 databases, and approximately 212,000 journals, the vast majority available electronically. The building has 285,000 square feet with 1,928 seats and 324 computers available for student use. |
| Campus Life | Over 400 student clubs and organizations, the other campus attractions include Duke Chapel, Duke Garden, Nasher Museum of Arts, Duke Hospital, Duke Cancer Center, Ronald McDonald House, Duke Lemur Center, Duke Marine Laboratory. |
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| Hostel | - | #Housing - $9000 |
| Famous Alumni | Duke alumni consist of over 176,592 living alumni. 15 Nobel laureates, 3 Turning Award winners, 50 Rhodes Scholars, 25 Churchill Scholars. Richard Nixon (37th President of USA); Amit Mitra (Finance Minister of West Bengal); Jared Harris (Actor); Tim Cook (CEO of Apple Inc.); Melinda Gates (Co-founder of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation) | Some of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte notable alumni are as follows:
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| City Life | Durham is the 4th most populous city in North Carolina. The largest employer in the city is Duke University and Duke University Health Systems. Durham is venue for the annual Bull Durham Blues Festival, the OUTsouth Queer Film Festival (2nd largest LGBTQ film festival in Southeast), American Dance Festival, Full Frame Documentary Film Festival. | Charlotte, NC, is one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S. and wondered why. For city dwellers flocking from larger hubs like New York, Charlotte offers the twinkly skyline and surplus of things to do (think: brewery tours, ball games, festivals, and museums) but with blissfully lower rents and real estate prices and even a slightly lower cost of living than the national average. Living in Charlotte, NC, means living in a mid-size southern city known for its financial industry, multiple professional sports teams and stadiums, delicious (and evolving) food scene, abundance of parks, and a total of nearly 200 neighbourhoods — perfect for young singles and families alike. It also means lush, green lawns and beautiful tree-lined streets. |
| Weather |
Duke University versus University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)
Duke greatly surpasses UNC Charlotte internationally because it is an elite private institution. In QS World University Rankings 2026, Duke stands at 62, and UNC Charlotte at the 1001–1200 band. In Times Higher Education 2025, Duke stands at 27, and UNC Charlotte at 601–800. Duke is strong in Engineering, Medicine, and Law, with consistently high national rankings, whereas UNC Charlotte is emerging in Engineering, Computer Science, and Business, with increasing presence in graduate and specialty rankings.
General Information
UNC Charlotte is bigger, with an overall enrollment of 31,091 as opposed to Duke's 17,499. UNC Charlotte has 170+ undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees in 9 colleges with an emphasis on applied research and urban engagement. Duke has approximately 93 undergraduate majors and 50+ graduate programs with a focus on interdisciplinary and professional education through schools such as the Fuqua School of Business and School of Medicine. Duke's Durham campus provides a lively, collegiate environment, whereas UNC Charlotte's urban campus is deeply embedded in Charlotte's financial and technology center.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Duke's admissions are considerably more stringent, with an acceptance rate of 4.8% versus UNC Charlotte's 80%. Duke's SAT range generally lies between 1500–1570 and ACT between 34–35, whereas UNC Charlotte's is 1080–1280 (SAT) and 21–27 (ACT). Both are test-optional, with Duke's average admitted GPA at 3.9 and UNC Charlotte's at 3.55–3.6. Duke's applicant pool is very large (~46,000+) with a yield of ~55%, whereas UNC Charlotte's yield is ~25%. Duke is looking for top academic and leadership profiles, whereas UNC Charlotte values accessibility and regional service, particularly for in-state students.
Research Impact & Facilities
Both are R1 research universities, but Duke’s private funding supports a far more extensive research infrastructure, with over 4,400 faculty, world-class labs, and a 4.2-million-volume library system, excelling in Medicine, Engineering, and Social Sciences. UNC Charlotte’s research focuses on Engineering, Computer Science, and Data Science, with ~1,200 faculty and a 1.1-million-volume library system. Duke has a much stronger research output and citation profile, with UNC Charlotte prioritizing applied research and collaboration with industry in Charlotte's burgeoning tech and finance industries.
Cost & Financial Aid
Duke's projected fees and tuition for 2025–26 are $70,265, and the total cost of attendance (with room/board and fees) is approximately $92,800. Approximately 50% of the undergraduates get financial aid, and Duke covers 100% of demonstrated need, including for international students. Average financial aid packages are quite large, frequently cutting costs significantly for lower-income students.
UNC Charlotte in-state tuition is around $7,214, and out-of-state tuition is around $22,274, with room/board being ~$12,900. Approximately 50% of students get aid and receive on average ~$8,200. UNC Charlotte is more affordable for in-state students and Duke's plentiful aid puts it on a level playing field with families of demonstrated need when its sticker price is higher.
Career Outcomes & Alumni Success
Duke graduates have much higher median salaries ($97,800 compared with UNC Charlotte's $57,289 ten years after graduation) and a higher percentage graduating (96% compared with 65%). Duke alumni are successful in Business, Medicine, Law, and academia with over 170,000 global alumni. UNC Charlotte alumni are successful in Engineering, Business, and technology with a major focus in Charlotte's financial and tech industries. Duke's upper-tier status fuels excellent results in high-paying arenas, and UNC Charlotte's purpose facilitates accessibility and excellent regional employability.
