Duke admits record low 16.5% of Early Decision applicants to Class of 2027

Duke admitted 800 students to the Class of 2027 through its Early Decision application cycle, according to Dean of Undergraduate Admissions Christoph Guttentag.

There were 4,855 Early Decision applicants, the second highest number in Duke's history, which brought the Early Decision acceptance rate to a record low 16.5%. This represents a 4.5% decrease from the 21% acceptance rate for the Class of 2026. The Class of 2025 had an Early Decision acceptance rate of 17%, the second lowest in University history. 

This is also Duke’s third-year of being test-optional, after first becoming test-optional for the 2020-21 admissions cycle as a result of the pandemic. 

All students admitted through the Early Decision cycle are required to enroll at Duke upon being admitted. Of those accepted in this cycle, 55 were admitted through the QuestBridge National College Match Program, the highest number in Duke’s history. The remaining 745 applied as Early Decision applicants.

Of the admitted students, 634 students plan to enroll in Trinity College of Arts and Sciences and 166 plan to enroll in the Pratt School of Engineering. In addition, 10% are international students, 52% identify as students of color, and 57.5% are female. 

“We were struck in particular by the personal qualities and commitments of the students admitted Early Decision this year,” Guttentag said. “They are community-minded, eager to make a difference, and committed to the environment and sustainability.”

North Carolina, New York, California, Texas and Florida are the states most represented among the Class of 2027’s Early Decision admits.

Guttentag did not respond to multiple requests for comment from The Chronicle about trends in applications, standardized testing and legacy admissions.  

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