‘Unfortunately not surprising’: Students react with frustration to Duke’s cost of attendance surpassing $90,000

Many students reacted with surprise and frustration following Duke’s announcement that it would be increasing the undergraduate cost of attendance to over $90,000 for the 2025-26 academic year.

Late February, the Board of Trustees approved a 5.93% increase in the total cost of attendance for the University’s undergraduate students, bringing the total price tag to $92,042. The $5,156 bump from the previous academic year marks Duke’s largest addition in the 21st century.

“I think it’s embarrassing, quite frankly,” senior Sofia Hletko said. “… [Duke] is one of the very few [universities] that are over the $90,000 threshold. I don’t think that’s something to be proud of; I think it’s a bad thing.”

In the 2024-25 academic year, Boston University, Northwestern University, Tufts University and Yale University were among the shortlist of universities with a total cost of attendance exceeding $90,000.

Similarly to Hletko, many students reacted negatively to the increase. Junior Carson Lender noted that Duke is likely charging more because “they know that there are families that can pay th[at] much.”

The University faced criticism in a September 2023 New York Times Magazine article, which stated that among select elite institutions, Duke’s student body fell behind in socioeconomic diversity. While Duke has since increased its percentage of Pell Grant-eligible students by twofold from the Class of 2026 to the Class of 2028, some students suggested that the rise in the cost of attendance may be correlated to many Duke students being able to afford a larger price tag.

First-year Diana Zheng further questioned where the money from the 5.93% increase funds goes — noting that while she assumes it may fund Duke Student Government’s free laundry initiative, that by itself does not justify the nearly 6% increase.

While some students were surprised by the cost increase, first-year Or Bruchim said that the higher price tag was expected to adjust to inflation.

Additionally, Hletko and Zheng both emphasized that the additional funds should go towards increasing faculty wages, with Hletko also noting that it should also go towards “paying graduate students a living wage.”

Other students expressed a desire for money to enhance student services, including housing, free laundry, mental health services and housing upgrades. Bruchim further mentioned directing spending towards student health, but noted that he thinks Duke does a “pretty good job” in that area already.

Grossman, however, thought it was unlikely that the increased cost of attendance would improve the student experience.

Bruchim, Hletko and Grossman also expressed their main concern that students who need financial assistance but don’t qualify for financial aid would struggle to afford Duke’s price tag.

While the Board of Trustees affirmed that cost increases are covered for students receiving need-based financial aid, students expressed that their peers who fall in the “middle class” and are not eligible for financial aid may struggle the most.

“It's kind of hard for someone who isn't able to pay $90,000 a year and doesn't get enough financial aid to come to Duke,” Grossman said.

First-year Charles Mada also shared his concern that the increase in Duke’s cost, combined with Trump’s efforts to roll back diversity, equity and inclusion efforts could lead to Duke becoming “less and less diverse” in the coming years.