Yale University is a selective private Ivy League research university located in New Haven, Connecticut, in the New Haven metropolitan area. It is a medium-sized institution with around 6,818 full-time undergraduate students. Admissions is extremely competitive with an acceptance rate of around 4.6% (Class of 2028). Some of the most popular majors are Social Sciences, History, Biology, Humanities, and Ethnic/Area Studies. The six-year graduation rate is ~96%, and Yale graduates make a median beginning salary of about INR 83,35,000 (converted from ~$100,500 median earnings ten years after entry, U.S. Dept. of Education).
Duke University is a highly regarded private research university in Durham, North Carolina, situated in a midsize city environment in the Research Triangle area. It is a mid-sized school with about 6,542 undergraduate students. Admissions is highly competitive, with an acceptance rate of approximately 4.8% (Class of 2028). Popular majors include Social Sciences, Engineering, Biology, Psychology, and Public Policy/Human Services. The six-year graduation rate is ~95%, and Duke graduates earn a median starting income of approximately INR 81,00,000 (converted from ~$97,800 median earnings ten years after enrollment, U.S. Dept. of Education).
| Yale University | Duke University | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 8.1 Out of 10 | 6.9 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 10 Times Higher Education 2026 # 21 QS World University 2026 # 9 Center for World University Rankings 2025 | # 28 Times Higher Education 2026 # 62 QS World University 2026 # 21 Center for World University Rankings 2025 |
| Subject Strength | # 18 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2025 # 9 for Data Science and Analytics by QS World University 2025 # 10 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 | # 20 for Engineering by US News 2025 # 16 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 # 6 for Law by US News 2025 |
| Programs | UG Programs -33 PG Programs -56 Doctorate Programs -12 | UG Programs -93 PG Programs -50 Doctorate Programs -4 |
| Acceptance Rate | 4.6 % | 0.0 % |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 67250 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 44500 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 19900 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 60594 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 28950 [For PG Program] |
| placement (average package) | Top recruiters include Yale University, Microsoft Corp, Deloitte Consulting LLP, Harvard University, Kaiser Permanente, etc.
| 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:
|
| application requirements | Translated documents in English; Scores of standardized exams; 3-Recommendations; Writing Samples; Supplementary documents (such as audio recordings, art samples, portfolios, etc.) Mid-year reports are also required along applications. | Transcripts, Standardized scores, 3 LORs, SOP (1-2 pages), Resume, Other supplemental documents (such as writing samples, research papers, etc.) |
| Campuses and B-Schools | Yale School of Management | The Fuqua School of Business |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 7.6/10 Read 3 reviews | 8.3/10 Read 11 reviews |
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | # 10 for Business by US News 2025 # 11 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 # 16 for Business by QS World University 2025 | # 13 for Business by US News 2025 # 15 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 # 50 for Business by QS World University 2025 |
| application | #2156 Applicants # 345 Admissions # 16 % Acceptance Rate | - |
| exam scores | - | Duolingo - 125/160IELTS - 7/9TOEFL - 90/120 |
| cost to study | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) - | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -110258 |
| documents required | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose |
| application dates | Sep 10, 2025 (Round 1 Application Deadline For 2026 Intake) Dec 4, 2025 (Round 1 Decision date for 2026 Intake) Jan 6, 2026 (Round 2 Application Deadline For 2026 Intake) Mar 19, 2026 (Round 2 Decision date for 2026 Intake) Apr 14, 2026 (Round 3 Application Deadline For 2026 Intake) May 14, 2026 (Round 3 Decision date for 2026 Intake) | Jan 8, 2026 (Round 2 Application Deadline For 2026 Intake) Feb 20, 2026 (Round 2 Deposit Deadline For 2026 Intake) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | Yale University | Duke University |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1701 | 1838 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 6:1 | 4.4:1 |
| Male:Female | 49% Male, 51% Female | 45% Male, 0% Female |
| Location Facts | A 1015 acre campus at the heart of downtown New Haven, Connecticut. Closest airports including Tweed New Haven Regional Airport and Bradley International Airport. Located not too far from New York, Boston, etc. A number of restaurants, clubs, etc. located near campus. Connecticut has an unemployment rate of 4.6 | 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 |
| Library | 3rd largest academic library in USA with over 15 million volumes including print and electronic resources housed in 15 libraries that include Sterling Memorial, Beibecke, Bass Libraries, Max Science and Social Science Library and other school and department libraries. | 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 |
| Campus Life | Campus includes Vanderbilt Hall, Nathan Hall, Connecticut Hall, Battell Chapel, Payne Whitney Gymnasium, Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale Center for British Art, Yale Bowl, and other renowned research centers, labs, institutes, museums, etc. There are over 50 students clubs and societies. There are 10 museums and galleries for students to visit and exhibit with. You can enjoy and indulge in various athletic and recreational activities. | 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. |
| Hostel | #Housing and Food - $19900 | - |
| Famous Alumni | 62 Nobel laureates, 5 field medalists, 3 Turning Award winners, 5 US Presidents, 31 living billionaires, 19 US Supreme Court Justices, 78 Mac Arthur Fellows, Rhodes Scholars, 119 Marshall Scholars, Meryl Streep (Actress), Hillary Clinton (former US Secretary of State), George W. Bush (43rd US President), Indra Nooti (Pepsico). | 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) |
| City Life | A coastal city in Connecticut- New Haven. First planned city in the USA. An economy based on education and health care. Yale is the 2nd largest employer and the best-known feature in the city. The city has a lot of ethnically diverse restaurants, museums, art galleries, live music, and other places to be at. The unemployment rate was around 3.7% | 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. |
| Weather |
Yale University vs Duke University
Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)
Both Yale and Duke are among the world's best institutions, with Yale consistently higher overall. In the QS World University Rankings 2026, Yale is ranked ~23rd (Yale ranking closer to 21st–23rd), and Duke is ranked ~62nd. In the Times Higher Education 2025 rankings, Yale is ranked 10th, and Duke is ranked 27th. Yale is exceptional in Arts & Humanities (2nd in QS 2025), Law (4th in U.S. News 2025), and Social Sciences, with global top 10 positions across various fields. Duke performs well in Medicine (16th in QS 2025), Engineering (20th in U.S. News 2025), and Business (12th in U.S. News 2025), and commonly appears in the global top 20 in these fields.
General Information
Yale has an overall enrollment of approximately 15,081 versus Duke's ~17,000, although their undergraduate enrollments are roughly the same size. Yale provides ~80 undergraduate majors and 2,000+ courses through Yale College, the Graduate School, and 14 professional schools with a strong liberal arts core. Duke offers 93 undergraduate and 50 graduate programs based on interdisciplinary education and professional schools such as the Fuqua School of Business, Pratt School of Engineering, and the School of Medicine. Yale's New Haven campus is urban and historic, whereas Duke's Durham campus is a mix of collegiate Gothic charm and contemporary research facilities with strong connections to the Research Triangle.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Both universities are very selective, Yale having an acceptance rate of 3.9% and Duke having one of 5.1%. Yale's SAT range is 1460–1580 (730–780 EBRW, 740–790 Math) and ACT is 33–35, and Duke's SAT range is 1500–1570 and ACT is 34–35. Both universities are test-optional/flexible, considering high school GPA (Yale: ~3.95, Duke: ~3.94), essays, and extracurriculars. Yale's applicant pool is larger (57,000+ versus Duke's 54,000+), with a greater yield rate (Yale ~70% versus Duke ~55%). Yale prioritizes intellectual curiosity, whereas Duke places a strong emphasis on leadership, service, and interdisciplinary investigation.
Research Impact & Facilities
Both are R1 research universities with rich facilities and faculty. Yale's research is strongest in Humanities, Law, Medicine, and Social Sciences, with ~4,400 faculty and one of the world's largest academic library systems (13.7 million volumes). Strengths of Duke are in Medicine, Engineering, and Social Sciences, with ~4,200 faculty and a 9-million-volume library system. Yale's traditional libraries and international research networks provide a slight advantage in humanities, while Duke's interdisciplinary emphasis and access to the Research Triangle provide an edge in its STEM and medical research.
Cost & Financial Aid
Yale's undergraduate cost of attendance for 2025–26 is around $91,630, including room/board. The average net cost after aid is ~$26,000, with 55% of students receiving an average grant of $63,500. Duke's cost is comparable ($90,000+), and 50% of students receive an average aid package of $59,000. Both schools meet 100% of demonstrated financial need, but Yale's larger endowment ($41 billion vs. Duke's ~$13 billion) allows for more extensive aid coverage, particularly for international students.
Career Outcomes & Alumni Success
Yale graduates have slightly higher median salaries ($100,500 vs. Duke's $97,800 ten years after graduation) and a higher six-year graduation rate (96% vs. 95%). Yale's alumni network of 190,000+ consists of leaders in law, politics, arts, and academia with worldwide influence. Duke's 170,000+ alumni flourish in business, medicine, engineering, and technology, helped along by effective professional networks. Yale's reputation fuels top-tier results in a wide array of fields, whereas Duke's multidisciplinary nature bolsters especially robust professional trajectories in healthcare, STEM, and business.
