Duke University Scholarships (2026–2027)

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Last Updated on September 15, 2026
What This Page Covers:
  • Tuition, housing, and average family net price
  • Automatic merit ranges and qualifier benchmarks
  • Flagship and hidden-gem awards
  • Honors and stacking strategy

📊 Admissions Snapshot

  • Acceptance Rate: ~5%
  • Middle 50% ACT: 34-35
  • Middle 50% SAT: 1510-1570
  • Average GPA: N/A

Duke is one of the few schools where the sticker price and the actual price have almost nothing to do with each other. The published bill for 2026-2027 is $98,788. The average family pays about $34,454. That gap is not a marketing trick. Duke meets 100% of demonstrated financial need without loans, and the average need-based grant for a first-year student last cycle was over $76,000.

One thing that looks like a glitch below but is not: the in-state and out-of-state columns are identical. Duke is private, so a family in Durham and a family in Seattle see the same tuition line. There is no residency discount and no regional reciprocity to chase.

Comparing multiple schools? Try the Scholarship Tool to search by GPA, test scores, and state →

📌 Duke University at a Glance

🏆 Full-ride merit available, about 43 awards a year
Average Net Price
$34,454/year
Average paid.
Automatic Merit
None (no stats-based awards)
No separate application.
Scholarships Tracked
17 opportunities
8 competitive · 9 hidden gem
Merit Evaluation
Holistic Review / Varies
Merit depends on profile rigor.
Testing Policy
Test-optional
Superscores ACT/SAT.
Key Deadlines
Priority: Nov 2 • FAFSA: Feb 1
Full-Tuition / Full-Ride
Six programs, each covering tuition, fees, housing and meals
Financial Aid Forms
FAFSA & CSS Profile
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at Duke (Read This First)

  • “Automatically considered” does not mean automatic. Every admitted student is considered for merit with no extra application. But there is no GPA or test score that triggers money. Duke gave out 43 merit awards to a class of roughly 1,749. That is about one in forty.
  • There is no honors college and no honors program. Duke does not report one on its Common Data Set. If your student is chasing honors perks, Duke’s version is the merit scholar programs, and those are far harder to get into than a typical honors college.
  • There is no undergraduate business major. Fuqua is graduate only. Students headed toward finance or consulting usually major in economics, sometimes with the Markets and Management certificate. Families are regularly surprised by this in the spring of senior year.
  • Test-optional here actually means test-optional. Unlike a lot of merit-heavy schools, Duke’s test-optional policy explicitly extends to scholarship consideration. Duke also superscores both the ACT and the SAT.
  • Outside scholarships can shrink your Duke award. Duke caps your total aid at your cost of attendance. Anything above that line reduces the Duke merit award dollar for dollar. Win a big outside scholarship and you may not be any better off.
  • North and South Carolina families should read section two first. Duke has a separate commitment for you, and for a lot of households it is the single biggest number on this page.

FAQ

Is this college test-optional? Yes — Duke University is test-optional.

What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 34-35; SAT: 1510-1570.

Average net price? About $34,454/year after aid.

Does this school use waivers/reciprocity? No — private school; same rate for all.

Sources:
Duke Merit Scholarships for Incoming First-Year Students: https://ousf.duke.edu/merit-scholarships/merit-scholarships-incoming-first-year-students/
University financial aid initiative page: https://financialaid.duke.edu/initiative-students-carolinas/
QuestBridge Duke University partner page: https://www.questbridge.org/college-partners/duke-university
Duke Office of University Scholars and Fellows: https://ousf.duke.edu/merit-scholarships/nakayama-public-service-scholars-program
Duke Karsh International Scholars Program: https://ousf.duke.edu/merit-scholarships/karsh-international-scholars-program/
Robertson Scholars Leadership Program, Applying: https://robertsonscholars.org/applying/
Duke Bass Connections, Student Research Awards: https://bassconnections.duke.edu/get-involved/students/funding-opportunities/student-research-awards/
Duke Office of University Scholars and Fellows: https://ousf.duke.edu/merit-scholarships/david-m-rubenstein-scholarship/
University program page: https://dukeengage.duke.edu/learn-more/
Duke Undergraduate Research Support Office: https://undergraduateresearch.duke.edu/urs-academic-term-grants
Duke Office of University Scholars and Fellows, opportunities for current undergraduates: https://ousf.duke.edu/merit-scholarships/opportunities-current-duke-undergraduates/
CollegeScorecard / Admissions: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/

💰 Cost of Attendance at Duke University 2026-2027

📅 2027–2028 Planning Note: The costs below reflect the most recently published figures (2026–2027). Universities typically finalize the next year’s rates in the spring, and we’ll update this page once official 2027–2028 numbers are released.

Planning tip: At large public universities, tuition, fees, and housing usually increase modestly each year (often in the 2–5% range). For early budgeting, families may want to plan for roughly $1,000–$1,500 more in-state or $2,000–$3,000 more out-of-state in total direct costs once new rates are published.

Category (2026–2027) In-State Out-of-State
Tuition & Mandatory Fees (2 semesters) $76,759 $76,759
Housing & Meals (typical) $22,029 $22,029
Total (Direct Costs) $98,788 $98,788

Average Federal Net Price: $34,454 — this is what families actually paid after grants and scholarships (no loans), based on the most recent federal data. Your specific cost could be significantly lower or higher depending on your financial aid eligibility and merit scholarships. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.

🌲 If You Live in North or South Carolina, Start Here

Duke runs a standing commitment for students from the Carolinas, and it is not a competition. If your family income is $150,000 or less with typical assets, Duke covers full tuition. If your family income is $65,000 or less, Duke covers tuition, housing, meals and some course materials with no required loans. It applies to first-years and transfers. You do not apply for it separately. You file the aid forms and Duke applies it. Read Duke’s page on it.

Why There Is No Out-of-State Column Worth Reading

Duke is private, so tuition is the same regardless of where you live. There is no residency waiver, no Academic Common Market pathway, and no regional reciprocity program to apply to. The lever at Duke is need-based aid, not residency. A family from Oregon and a family from Raleigh with identical finances get the same package, except that the Raleigh family also gets the Carolinas commitment above.

FAQ, Cost of Attendance at Duke University

The bill says $98,788 but the net price says $34,454. Which one is real?
Both, for different families. The $98,788 is what a family paying full freight is billed. The $34,454 is the federal average net price across everyone who received aid, after grants and scholarships and before loans. Duke meets 100% of demonstrated need, so the spread between those two numbers is wider here than at most schools. Last cycle the average need-based grant for a first-year was $76,455 and the average total aid package was $83,513.

Why are the in-state and out-of-state numbers identical?
Because Duke is a private university. State residency changes nothing about tuition. Families coming from public flagship shopping are used to seeing a 2x gap between those columns, so the matching figures can look like an error. They are not.

I have seen Duke’s fee number listed two different ways. Which is right?
Both are Duke’s, and they count different things. Duke’s financial aid office lists estimated fees at $3,019 for a first-year, which folds in the mailbox fee, the one-time registration fee and the residential programming fee. Duke’s Common Data Set lists $2,635, which counts only the four standing semester fees. We use the financial aid office figure because it is closer to what actually shows up on the bursar bill.

Does Duke require the CSS Profile?
Yes, and more than that. Duke wants the FAFSA, the CSS Profile, a noncustodial parent Profile when parents are separated or divorced, and signed tax documents. Start earlier than you think you need to. The noncustodial piece is the one that derails families.

When are the aid deadlines?
If your student applies Early Decision, financial aid materials are due November 2. Regular Decision families have until February 1. Those are different dates by three months, which catches people every year.

Will the cost climb every year?
Historically yes, in the low single digits. The useful thing about Duke is that if you qualify for need-based aid, the aid is recalculated annually against the new cost. A family whose finances stay flat generally sees their net price stay roughly flat too, rather than absorbing the full increase.

Can we get a real number before applying?
Yes, and you should. Duke has both a quick estimator and a full net price calculator on the same page. Run it in the fall of junior year, not after acceptances. Duke’s estimator is here. Note that the tools may still be running on last year’s cost figures for part of the cycle.

Sources:
https://financialaid.duke.edu/how-aid-calculated/cost-attendance/
https://finance.duke.edu/bursar/TuitionFees/tuition/
https://ir.provost.duke.edu/duke-numbers/common-data-sets/
https://financialaid.duke.edu/initiative-students-carolinas/

📅 Duke Scholarship Timeline (Simple Version)

  • August 15: Robertson Scholars application opens. This is the one big award with its own separate application.
  • October 1: QuestBridge National College Match application closes.
  • October 15: Robertson early window. November 15: Robertson regular deadline.
  • November 2: Duke Early Decision, plus ED financial aid materials. Applying ED puts you in the merit pool.
  • January 4: Duke Regular Decision. This is the last date to be considered for any Duke merit scholarship.
  • February 1: Regular Decision financial aid deadline.
  • February: Internal deadlines for current students, including Bass Connections research awards and Nakayama invitations.

Parent rule of thumb: at Duke the admission deadline is the scholarship deadline for almost everything. There is no second bite in March.

Automatic Merit Scholarships, Duke University

Duke has no automatic merit scholarships. Not a small program, not a hidden tier. None. There is no GPA, ACT or SAT number that guarantees a dollar of Duke money.

This is the part that trips families up, so it is worth slowing down on. Duke’s admissions office says every applicant is automatically considered for merit scholarships with no separate application. That sentence gets read as “automatic merit” and it is not the same thing at all.

“Automatically considered” means you do not have to fill out an extra form. It does not mean a formula pays out. Duke runs six merit programs, and for the Class of 2030 they awarded 43 scholarships total across all six, to an entering class of roughly 1,749 students. Those awards are read by committee, and they are looking at the whole application rather than a benchmark.

So if you have been comparing Duke against a public flagship where a 33 ACT and a 3.9 GPA produce a published dollar amount, the comparison does not transfer. At Duke, the money that actually reaches most families is need-based, and there is a lot of it. Duke meets 100% of demonstrated need with no loans required. For a majority of admitted families, the need-based package is the real financial story and the merit scholarships are a lottery ticket you are entered in for free.

This institution does not offer designated Automatic Merit scholarships at this time.

Where to look instead: jump to the competitive scholarships for the six merit programs and Robertson, and the hidden gems for the Carolinas commitment, QuestBridge, ROTC and the research funding that actually moves money for current students.

Automatic Merit, FAQs (Duke University)

Is there any test score that guarantees money at Duke?
No. Duke’s middle 50% is a 34 to 35 ACT and a 1510 to 1570 SAT, and plenty of students in that range receive no merit award at all. Test scores get you considered for admission. They do not trigger a scholarship.

Does applying test-optional hurt my scholarship chances?
Duke says no. The test-optional policy explicitly covers merit scholarship consideration, which is unusual and worth noting. At a lot of merit-heavy schools, going test-optional quietly takes you out of the money. Not here.

Does Duke superscore?
Yes, for both the ACT and the SAT. Duke also says it will look at your best science section on the ACT. Since there is no automatic award to qualify for, superscoring here helps your admission read rather than unlocking a tier.

Do I need to fill out a scholarship application?
For the six Duke merit programs, no. Submitting the Duke application by November 2 or January 4 is the whole process. The exceptions are the Robertson Scholars Leadership Program, which has its own application due November 15, and the Nakayama scholarship, which is only open to current juniors.

Is there any merit money for transfer students?
No. Duke states plainly that it does not offer merit scholarships to transfer applicants. Transfers are eligible for need-based aid only.

If we will not qualify for need-based aid, is Duke just full price?
For most full-pay families, realistically yes. Duke’s own data shows nine first-year students with no financial need received an institutional non-need scholarship last cycle, averaging about $91,953. Nine. Plan on the full number and treat merit as upside.

Sources:
https://admissions.duke.edu/apply/
https://ousf.duke.edu/merit-scholarships/merit-scholarships-incoming-first-year-students/
https://ir.provost.duke.edu/duke-numbers/common-data-sets/

🏆 Flagship Scholarships (Competitive Scholarships)

This is where all the Duke money lives. Every single one of Duke’s merit scholarships covers the same thing: tuition, mandatory fees, your exact housing charge and a standard meal plan, for four years. There is no partial tier. You either get a full package or you get nothing.

That all-or-nothing structure is unusual and it changes how you should think about Duke. At most schools, competitive scholarships are a layer you stack on top of a base award. At Duke there is no base. The six programs below plus Robertson are the entire merit picture, and together they went to about 43 students in the most recent entering class.

📊 How Rare Are These, Really?

Program Awarded to Class of 2030 Parent Translation
Angier B. Duke Memorial 12 The largest and oldest program. Adds a summer at Oxford.
Karsh International 10 International students only. Not an option for U.S. applicants.
Benjamin N. Duke Memorial 8 Weighted toward students from the Carolinas with a service record.
University Scholarship 8 Built around interdisciplinary work across Duke’s schools.
Alumni Endowed Undergraduate 3 Three per year, nationally. Treat it as a long shot.
Trinity Scholarship 2 The smallest of the six.
Robertson Scholars Separate application Full ride across both Duke and UNC. The only one you actively apply for.

✅ Can You Stack Scholarships at Duke?

Aid Type Stacks with Duke Merit? Duke Parent Translation
A second Duke merit award No You get one. They already cover everything, so there is nothing to add.
Duke need-based grant Replaces Merit generally takes the place of need-based grant rather than sitting on top. If your need package was already close to full, a merit award may change less than you expect.
Outside scholarships Up to a ceiling Allowed until total aid hits your cost of attendance. Above that line, Duke reduces its own award dollar for dollar. Duke’s own example uses a $75,000 cost against a $71,000 award, leaving about $4,000 of headroom.
ROTC Usually ROTC money typically hits tuition first. Get the interaction with your Duke package in writing before you sign anything.
Research and summer grants Yes Bass Connections awards, URS grants and DukeEngage funding are project money. They do not touch your tuition package.

The practical version: report every outside award to the financial aid office as soon as you get it, so your bill is adjusted before a late fee shows up. And do not spend a year chasing $2,000 in local scholarships expecting it to reduce your Duke bill if you already have a full merit or full need package. It will not.

Full RideAutomatic
Angier B. Duke Memorial Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Duke application deadlines; no separate scholarship deadline  ·  📢 Results: Finalists are contacted in spring; awards are made before May 1
✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Ride
full ride merit scholarship
✔ Stackable
👥 ~12 awarded to the Class of 2030 winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Outside scholarships are allowed, but Duke caps total awards at your full cost of attendance and reduces the Duke merit award dollar for dollar above that line. Duke's own example: on a $75,000 cost with a $71,000 merit award, you have about $4,000 of room before the Duke award starts shrinking. Merit awards generally replace Duke need-based grant aid rather than sitting on top of it. Report outside awards to the financial aid office so your bill is adjusted before late fees hit.
💡
Strategic Detail
The A.B. Duke Scholarship recognizes students with exceptional intellectual accomplishment and academic leadership potential. Families should think of this as a highly selective Duke merit scholarship, not a predictable award tied to GPA or test-score cutoffs.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
This is a reach-level scholarship even for excellent students. Realistic winners are usually among the strongest students in Duke's admitted pool, with exceptional academics, deep intellectual curiosity, leadership, and accomplishments that stand out beyond the normal high-achiever profile.
Full RideAutomatic
Benjamin N. Duke Memorial Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Duke application deadlines; no separate scholarship deadline  ·  📢 Results: Finalists are contacted in spring; awards are made before May 1
✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Ride
full ride regional merit scholarship
✔ Stackable
👥 ~8 awarded to the Class of 2030 winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Outside scholarships are allowed, but Duke caps total awards at your full cost of attendance and reduces the Duke merit award dollar for dollar above that line. Duke's own example: on a $75,000 cost with a $71,000 merit award, you have about $4,000 of room before the Duke award starts shrinking. Merit awards generally replace Duke need-based grant aid rather than sitting on top of it. Report outside awards to the financial aid office so your bill is adjusted before late fees hit.
💡
Strategic Detail
The Benjamin N. Duke Scholarship is region-limited. It focuses on students from North and South Carolina who show academic excellence, leadership, and community engagement.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
This is for top students from eligible North Carolina and South Carolina regions. The strongest candidates usually have outstanding academics, rigorous courses, leadership, service, and a long record of meaningful community involvement.
Full RideAutomaticgeographicidentity based
Karsh International Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Follow Duke's financial aid deadlines for international applicants  ·  📢 Results: Finalists are notified in spring; final decisions are issued before May 1
✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Ride
full ride international scholarship with summer funding
✔ Stackable
⚠  International Students only. Requires demonstrated financial need plus exceptional merit.
👥 ~10 awarded to the Class of 2030 winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Outside scholarships are allowed, but Duke caps total awards at your full cost of attendance and reduces the Duke merit award dollar for dollar above that line. Duke's own example: on a $75,000 cost with a $71,000 merit award, you have about $4,000 of room before the Duke award starts shrinking. Merit awards generally replace Duke need-based grant aid rather than sitting on top of it. Report outside awards to the financial aid office so your bill is adjusted before late fees hit.
💡
Strategic Detail
The Karsh Scholarship includes funding for three summers of research, unpaid internships, or other academic opportunities, in addition to covering demonstrated financial need.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
This is for international students with both exceptional merit and real financial need. Strong candidates usually have outstanding academics, leadership, civic engagement, and a clear record of potential global impact.
Full RideApp Required
Robertson Scholars Leadership Program
📅 Deadline: Oct 15  ·  📢 Results: Finalists usually interview in March-April; final decisions are released before May 1
✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Ride
full ride leadership scholarship
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Outside scholarships are allowed, but Duke caps total awards at your full cost of attendance and reduces the Duke merit award dollar for dollar above that line. Duke's own example: on a $75,000 cost with a $71,000 merit award, you have about $4,000 of room before the Duke award starts shrinking. Merit awards generally replace Duke need-based grant aid rather than sitting on top of it. Report outside awards to the financial aid office so your bill is adjusted before late fees hit.
📄
How to Apply
Students submit a separate Robertson Scholars online application by the annual deadline, usually in mid-November, in addition to applying for admission to Duke or UNC-Chapel Hill.
Selection criteria: Highly selective holistic process emphasizing academic excellence, intellectual curiosity, strength of character, and demonstrated leadership. Selection includes multi-stage interviews and events.
✎ Essays🎤 Interview🌟 Finalist Event
💡
Strategic Detail
The Robertson Scholars Leadership Program is open to applicants to Duke or UNC-Chapel Hill and includes funding for summer experiences, conferences, and study abroad.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Robertson is for students with rare leadership strength. Strong grades are expected, but the real separator is purposeful leadership, character, initiative, and evidence that the student has already made an impact.
Full RideAutomatic
Trinity Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Duke application deadlines; no separate scholarship deadline  ·  📢 Results: Finalists are contacted in spring; awards are announced before May 1
✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Ride
tuition, mandatory fees, housing and standard meal plan for four years, plus enrichment funding
✔ Stackable
👥 ~2 awarded to the Class of 2030 winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Outside scholarships are allowed, but Duke caps total awards at your full cost of attendance and reduces the Duke merit award dollar for dollar above that line. Duke's own example: on a $75,000 cost with a $71,000 merit award, you have about $4,000 of room before the Duke award starts shrinking. Merit awards generally replace Duke need-based grant aid rather than sitting on top of it. Report outside awards to the financial aid office so your bill is adjusted before late fees hit.
💡
Strategic Detail
Trinity Scholarships recognize outstanding students from designated regions in North and South Carolina. Some awards in the Trinity group may also require demonstrated financial need.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
This is most realistic for students from eligible North Carolina or South Carolina regions who have top academics, strong course rigor, leadership, and meaningful service or community engagement.
Full RideAutomatic
Alumni Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Duke admission and financial aid deadlines; no separate scholarship deadline  ·  📢 Results: Recipients are usually notified in spring with their aid package
✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Ride
tuition, mandatory fees, housing and standard meal plan for four years, plus enrichment funding
✔ Stackable
👥 ~3 awarded to the Class of 2030 winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Outside scholarships are allowed, but Duke caps total awards at your full cost of attendance and reduces the Duke merit award dollar for dollar above that line. Duke's own example: on a $75,000 cost with a $71,000 merit award, you have about $4,000 of room before the Duke award starts shrinking. Merit awards generally replace Duke need-based grant aid rather than sitting on top of it. Report outside awards to the financial aid office so your bill is adjusted before late fees hit.
💡
Strategic Detail
The Alumni Endowed Scholarship recognizes strong legacy applicants with demonstrated financial need. Families should not treat legacy status alone as enough.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
This is not a general Duke merit scholarship. It is for academically strong students who are children or grandchildren of Duke alumni and who also show some financial need.
Full RideAutomatic
University Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Duke admission and financial aid deadlines; no separate scholarship deadline  ·  📢 Results: Finalists are contacted in spring; awards are usually announced before May 1
✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Ride
tuition, mandatory fees, housing and standard meal plan for four years, plus enrichment funding
✔ Stackable
👥 ~8 awarded to the Class of 2030 winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Outside scholarships are allowed, but Duke caps total awards at your full cost of attendance and reduces the Duke merit award dollar for dollar above that line. Duke's own example: on a $75,000 cost with a $71,000 merit award, you have about $4,000 of room before the Duke award starts shrinking. Merit awards generally replace Duke need-based grant aid rather than sitting on top of it. Report outside awards to the financial aid office so your bill is adjusted before late fees hit.
💡
Strategic Detail
The University Scholarship is tied to Duke's University Scholars Program and recognizes students interested in interdisciplinary research and collaboration. Demonstrated financial need is required.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
This is for students who bring strong academics, financial need, and a clear interest in interdisciplinary thinking, research, and collaboration. It is not a simple GPA award.
Full RideAutomaticfirst generationneed based
David M. Rubenstein Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Duke application deadlines; no separate scholarship application
✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Ride
full cost of a Duke education plus enrichment funding
✔ Stackable
⚠  First-generation college students with demonstrated financial need.
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Coordinated with Duke need-based aid rather than layered on top of it. Outside scholarships follow Duke's standard cap at total cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
Named for David Rubenstein, a Duke alumnus who was the first in his family to attend college and endowed the program in 2017. It covers the full cost of a Duke education without loans and adds a summer transition experience plus faculty and peer mentoring. Worth knowing before you count on it: Rubenstein was not among the six programs represented in Duke's Class of 2030 merit cohort and does not appear on the current incoming-first-year scholarship list, though it remains on the financial aid office's aid pages and has its own OUSF program page. Ask the Office of University Scholars and Fellows whether it is being awarded in your cycle.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
First-generation students with strong academics and real financial need, identified by Duke rather than self-nominated. Not something you can apply your way into.
Data last verified Sep 15, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.

❓ Flagship / Competitive Scholarship FAQs

What is the deadline for Duke’s merit scholarships?
For the six Duke-run programs, the Duke application deadline is the scholarship deadline: November 2 for Early Decision or January 4 for Regular Decision. There is no separate form. Robertson is the exception, with its own application opening August 15 and closing November 15, with an early window on October 15.

How much are these worth in dollars?
Tuition, mandatory fees, your actual housing charge and a standard meal plan, for four years. Against the 2026-2027 published figures, that is roughly $98,788 a year of covered cost, or close to $400,000 over four years. Most also include enrichment funding for research or a summer program.

Should I apply Early Decision to improve my scholarship odds?
Duke considers ED and RD applicants for the same merit programs. ED is binding, which matters a lot if you need to compare aid offers. If merit is the only way Duke works financially for your family, a binding commitment before you know the answer is a real risk. Talk it through before November.

My student is a U.S. citizen. Are ten of these already off the table?
Yes. Karsh International is for international students, so the practical pool for a domestic applicant in the Class of 2030 was 33 awards, not 43.

Does Duke offer a National Merit package?
No. Duke is not a National Merit sponsor and offers no Finalist award. If you are comparing against schools that do, that is a real difference in your spreadsheet.

Is Duke a Stamps Scholarship partner?
No.

What should students prepare?
Since committees read the whole file, the essays and activity record carry the weight. Our Essay Toolkit and Brag Sheet Builder help organize that before it becomes a December scramble.

Sources:
https://ousf.duke.edu/merit-scholarships/merit-scholarships-incoming-first-year-students/
https://financialaid.duke.edu/types-aid/merit-scholarships/merit-scholars/
https://admissions.duke.edu/apply/
https://robertsonscholars.org/applying/

🧠 Parent Strategy: Duke’s Money Arrives in Two Waves

At most schools, the scholarship question is settled in April of senior year. At Duke it is settled twice.

  1. Wave one, before enrollment: need-based aid, the Carolinas commitment, QuestBridge, ROTC and the six merit programs. This is the wave that determines whether Duke is affordable at all.
  2. Wave two, once enrolled: research funding, summer stipends, DukeEngage, Bass Connections grants and the Nakayama scholarship. None of this reduces tuition, but it is the reason Duke students do funded summers instead of unpaid internships.

Parent translation: budget for four years of tuition using wave one only. Treat wave two as the thing that keeps the summers from costing you another $8,000 a year.

💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships

These are the awards families miss because they are not on the admissions brochure. Some are worth more than the merit scholarships. The Carolinas commitment in particular is not a scholarship you win, it is a policy you qualify for, and a lot of eligible families never read the page.

Full TuitionAutomatic⚠ All Undergrad Onlygeographicneed based
Initiative for Students from the Carolinas
📅 Deadline: Jan 2 (recommended completion of financial aid forms for NC/SC initiative consideration)
✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Tuition
tuition and need-based grants for housing, meals, and other expenses
✔ Stackable
⚠  NC/SC residents with family income ≤$150k get full tuition; if family income is ≤$65k, Duke also covers housing, meals, and some other costs with grants and no required student loans.
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Eligible NC and SC residents with family incomes at or below $150,000 receive full tuition grant assistance without loans; those with family incomes at or below $65,000 also receive grant aid for housing, meals, and some course materials, coordinated within Duke’s overall need-based aid package.
💡
Strategic Detail
Program provides full tuition grants for admitted undergraduates from North and South Carolina with family incomes of $150,000 or less, and extends coverage to housing, meals, and some course materials for those with family incomes of $65,000 or less, all without required student loans.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Admitted Duke undergraduates whose legal residence is in North or South Carolina and whose family incomes meet the initiative’s thresholds, with complete financial aid applications.
Full RideApp Requiredneed basedexternal
QuestBridge National College Match
📅 Deadline: Oct 1 (National College Match application); Nov 1 (materials to Duke for Finalists who ranked Duke); Feb 1 (Duke Regular Decision financial aid deadline if not matched)  ·  📢 Results: QuestBridge Match results released in early December; Duke need-based aid decisions for non-matched finalists follow regular timelines.
✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Ride
full cost of attendance (tuition, fees, housing, meals) for four years based on need
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
A matched QuestBridge Scholar gets a four-year, loan-free package covering tuition, mandatory fees, housing and meals. Outside scholarships may shift which components the package pays for, but they do not push the total value below full demonstrated need.
📄
How to Apply
Complete the QuestBridge National College Match application, rank Duke as a partner school, and submit all required financial aid documents by QuestBridge and Duke deadlines; matched finalists receive a four-year financial aid offer from Duke.
Selection criteria: QuestBridge and Duke conduct holistic review focused on academic achievement, intellectual potential, significant financial need, and personal background.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
Duke is a QuestBridge partner school and provides a full-ride, loan-free financial aid package to matched QuestBridge Scholars; non-matched finalists are also considered for generous need-based aid through regular admission rounds.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
High-achieving U.S. students from low-income backgrounds selected as QuestBridge Finalists who rank Duke and successfully match in the National College Match process.
App Required⚠ Senior Only
Nakayama Public Service Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Invitations go out each February to second-semester juniors
Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 Senior
✚
Stacking & Combining
Coordinated with your existing aid package. Because it lands in senior year, it typically reduces what you or your family owe rather than replacing four years of planning.
📄
How to Apply
You cannot volunteer for this one. The Office of University Scholars and Fellows emails eligible second-semester juniors each February with an invitation to apply, based on academics, leadership and a demonstrated commitment to public service.
Selection criteria: Selection weighs academic record, leadership, and a credible path into public service work. The endowment carries a minimum GPA requirement.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
This is the only Duke-funded merit scholarship a currently enrolled student can apply for directly. It covers half of senior-year tuition and adds a year of mentorship from the Nakayama Advisory Board plus programming built around each cohort's career interests. Public service is defined broadly as work at organizations ending in .edu, .gov, .mil or .org. Open to all Duke students regardless of citizenship. Scholars must be in residence at Duke both semesters of senior year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Juniors with strong grades, real leadership, and a public service track record clear enough that Duke notices them without being asked. If you are aiming at this, build the record by sophomore year.
Full TuitionApp Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Army ROTC (Duke/NCCU Battalion)
📅 Deadline: National Army ROTC scholarship boards convene in October, January and March. Duke advises having the packet complete before October of senior year.
✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Tuition
tuition, fees, books, stipend
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Army ROTC scholarships pay either full tuition and fees or room and board and include a book allowance and a monthly stipend; Duke notes that ROTC generally replaces tuition charges, and other aid may offset housing and meals subject to financial aid policies.
📄
How to Apply
Submit a national Army ROTC scholarship application by the stated deadlines and list Duke University as a school of choice; complete medical, fitness, and academic review requirements.
Selection criteria: Merit-based evaluation that considers academic performance, physical fitness, leadership, and potential to serve as a U.S. Army officer.
✎ Essays🎤 Interview💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
Scholarships available for prospective and current students at Duke University or North Carolina Central University; national Army ROTC materials specify a $420 monthly stipend and approximately $1,200 per year for books.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: U.S. citizens with solid academics, strong physical fitness, leadership potential, and who meet Army ROTC medical and eligibility standards.
Full TuitionApp Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Naval ROTC (NROTC), Duke Unit
📅 Deadline: Jan 31 (national NROTC scholarship deadline)
✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Tuition
tuition, fees, books, stipend
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
NROTC national scholarships typically cover full tuition and mandatory fees at participating units and provide a book stipend and monthly subsistence allowance; other institutional aid for tuition is usually reduced, while some outside support for housing or meals may still apply subject to Navy and Duke policies.
📄
How to Apply
Submit the national NROTC scholarship application by the stated deadline and designate Duke University’s NROTC unit; complete required academic, fitness, and medical evaluations.
Selection criteria: National selection considers academics, standardized test scores, leadership, physical fitness, and potential to commission as a Naval or Marine Corps officer.
✎ Essays🎤 Interview💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
Duke hosts a Naval ROTC unit; award structure and eligibility follow the U.S. Navy’s national NROTC scholarship guidelines, which emphasize Tier 1 and Tier 2 technical majors.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: U.S. citizens with strong academics, competitive fitness and medical qualifications, and leadership potential; Tier 1 and Tier 2 STEM majors are favored.
Full TuitionApp Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Air Force ROTC (Detachment 585)
📅 Deadline: National AFROTC high school scholarship application typically closes in early winter of senior year; confirm the current cycle date with the detachment
✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Tuition
tuition and fees, book stipend, monthly allowance
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
ROTC money generally offsets tuition charges first. Need-based aid can often still help with housing and meals, subject to Duke financial aid policy and Air Force rules. Get the interaction in writing before you commit.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through the national Air Force ROTC scholarship process and name Duke. Expect a fitness assessment, a medical review and an interview. Detachment 585 is in Trent Hall on Duke's campus, so you can talk to them directly before you apply.
Selection criteria: National selection weighs academics, physical fitness, leadership and potential to commission. Technical and STEM majors are favored in some scholarship categories.
✎ Essays🎤 Interview💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
Duke hosts AFROTC Detachment 585, established in 1951, which serves both Duke and North Carolina Central University under a cross-town agreement dating to 1972. This is a service commitment, not just money, and it is the one path at Duke where your own effort can produce a tuition-level award outside the merit committees.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: U.S. citizens who are genuinely interested in serving as officers, with solid academics and the fitness and medical profile to qualify. Not a back door to a discount.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Bass Connections Student Research Award
📅 Deadline: Mid-February (Feb 16 in the most recent cycle), 5 p.m.
Non-Renewable
$3,000–$5,000
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Roughly 10 to 12 projects funded per year; 22 undergraduates received awards in the 2026 cycle winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
A project grant, not tuition money. It sits alongside your regular financial aid and does not reduce it.
📄
How to Apply
Submit a proposal through the Bass Connections online form by the February deadline, with a faculty mentor lined up. Funds are administered through a Duke fund code, so you work with your advisor on purchases or reimbursement.
Selection criteria: Reviewers weigh the quality and feasibility of the project, the strength of faculty mentorship, and whether the work is genuinely interdisciplinary. Preference goes to students who have not received an award before.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Up to $3,000 for one or two students, up to $5,000 for groups of more than two. Students already on a Bass Connections team can propose a follow-on project; students who have never touched Bass Connections can still apply as long as the project is collaborative and interdisciplinary. You must be an active student for the whole grant period, so graduating seniors are out. Some expenses such as housing are paid as non-compensatory payments and count as taxable income.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with a specific, well-scoped question and a faculty member already willing to mentor it. The proposal does the work here, not your GPA.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
DukeEngage
📅 Deadline: Oct 30 (most program applications); May 15 (DukeEngage Gateway)
Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
DukeEngage funds all program-related travel and living expenses for an eight-week summer; students generally may not accept other funding for the same DukeEngage experience but may still receive regular term-time financial aid.
📄
How to Apply
Submit a DukeEngage application for a specific program or DukeEngage Gateway by the published fall or spring deadlines; selection is based on fit with the program’s civic engagement goals.
Selection criteria: Selection emphasizes commitment to service, maturity, alignment with project goals, and ability to work effectively in community-based settings.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
DukeEngage covers transportation to the program location, visas if needed, housing, meals or meal stipends, and program-related local transportation for approved summer projects.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Undergraduates in good standing who demonstrate strong interest in civic engagement, alignment with a site’s mission, and readiness for an intensive eight-week summer experience.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Trinity Summer Undergraduate Mentored Research (T-SUMR)
📅 Deadline: February
Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
A summer stipend, separate from term-time financial aid. Merit scholarships do not cover summer, so this is one of the ways Duke students fund a research summer.
📄
How to Apply
Apply with a project proposal and a confirmed Duke faculty mentor by the February deadline. Program runs roughly May through August, full time.
Selection criteria: Reviewed on project quality and mentorship fit. Preference goes to senior thesis projects.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Open to all Trinity undergraduates except graduating seniors. Pratt students with a Trinity second major may apply if the project connects to that major. The stipend amount is not published on the program listing, so ask the URS office for the current figure before you plan your summer budget. Location varies with the project and can be domestic or international.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with a thesis or a serious independent project and a faculty member who has already agreed to supervise it. Line the mentor up in the fall, not in February.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Undergraduate Research Support (URS) Grants
📅 Deadline: Rolling by cycle; the portal closes once the semester budget is committed
Non-Renewable
$400–$500
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
URS grants are small awards that can generally be combined with other scholarships, stipends, or research funding subject to program guidelines.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through the Undergraduate Research Support online portal with a project proposal and confirmation of faculty mentorship by the cycle deadline.
Selection criteria: Competitive review based on project quality, feasibility, mentorship, and potential academic impact for the student.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Three separate grants run through this office. Independent Study Grants cover research expenses for students in a faculty-supervised independent study, thesis or research capstone. Conference Grants cover up to $500 toward attending or presenting at a professional meeting. Assistantship Grants pay wages for students helping faculty on a research project that carries no course credit. Heads up on a Duke inconsistency: the office's academic-term-grants page caps the Independent Study Grant at $400 while its dedicated Independent Study page says $500. Confirm the current cap with the URS office before you budget. Apply early in the semester, because the portal closes as soon as the budget is spent.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Duke undergraduates who submit a well-developed, faculty-mentored research proposal aligned with URS priorities and within funding limits.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Onlyidentity based
Alice M. Baldwin Scholars Program
📅 Deadline: Fall of first year; confirm the current date with the program
✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠  Open to female-identified Duke undergraduates.
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Runs alongside your regular aid package and does not reduce it.
📄
How to Apply
First-year students apply during the fall through the Baldwin Scholars program. Selection is by cohort.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
A four-year leadership community administered alongside Duke's merit scholar programs, aimed at female-identified undergraduates. The draw is the seminar, the mentoring and the enrichment funding rather than a tuition discount. Duke does not publish a fixed dollar value for participation, so treat this as a program with funding attached rather than a scholarship with a number.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
First-year students who want a small, sustained cohort and are willing to commit across all four years.
App Required⚠ Sophomore Only
Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship
📅 Deadline: Sophomore year; confirm the current date with the program
✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 Sophomore
✚
Stacking & Combining
Research and summer support that sits alongside your term-time aid package.
📄
How to Apply
Apply as a sophomore with a research interest in the humanities or qualitative social sciences and a faculty mentor.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
A national fellowship administered at Duke through the Office of University Scholars and Fellows, built around mentoring, research support and cohort building for students headed toward doctoral work in the humanities and qualitative social sciences. Duke does not publish the stipend figure on its program listing, so ask the office directly.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Sophomores who already know they want a PhD and can name the questions they want to spend a career on.
Data last verified Sep 15, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Worth knowing but not listed above:
  • Amgen Scholars runs a funded summer biotech research program at Duke for undergraduates in the sciences.
  • Data+ and Story+ are ten-week funded summer research programs, run through Bass Connections, that take students with no prior research experience.
  • Program II lets students design their own major, and carries its own research funds.
  • Individual departments run their own awards. Once your student picks a major, the department office is worth one email in September.

❓ Hidden Gems FAQ

Do I have to apply for the Carolinas commitment?
No. There is no separate application. You file the FAFSA and CSS Profile and Duke applies it automatically if your family qualifies. That is exactly why people miss it. It is not something you win, so nobody tells you about it.

Is QuestBridge really a better path than applying normally?
If you qualify, it can be. A matched QuestBridge Scholar gets a four-year loan-free package. But the National College Match application closes October 1, a month before Duke’s own Early Decision deadline, and Finalists who rank Duke owe Duke their materials by November 1. Miss October 1 and that door is closed for the year.

My student wants to do research. When does the money start?
Earlier than you would guess. Undergraduate Research Support grants are open to all undergraduates, Bass Connections student research awards go to first-years through seniors, and T-SUMR summer fellowships are open to everyone except graduating seniors. The constraint is never money, it is finding a faculty mentor. Start that in the fall, not in February.

What is the Nakayama scholarship and why can’t my incoming student apply?
It covers half of senior-year tuition and it is the only Duke-funded merit award a currently enrolled student can apply for directly. Invitations go out each February to second-semester juniors, based on academics, leadership and a public service record. You cannot volunteer for it. If it is on your student’s radar, the record has to be built by sophomore year.

Does ROTC actually work at Duke?
Yes, all three branches. Duke hosts Army ROTC, an on-campus Naval ROTC unit, and Air Force ROTC Detachment 585 in Trent Hall, which serves both Duke and North Carolina Central. This is the one path where your student’s own effort can produce a tuition-level award outside the merit committees, at the price of a service commitment.

How much is DukeEngage worth?
Duke covers program costs, travel and living expenses for a funded summer of civic engagement work, domestic or international. Most applications close around the end of October for the following summer. Fewer than half of applicants are placed, and seniors are generally not eligible, so the window is sophomore and junior year.

Can current students still find new money?
Yes, and this is where Duke is genuinely strong. Between URS grants, Bass Connections awards, departmental funds and the Nakayama scholarship, a motivated junior has more to apply for than a high school senior does.

Sources:
https://financialaid.duke.edu/initiative-students-carolinas/
https://ousf.duke.edu/merit-scholarships/nakayama-public-service-scholars-program
https://bassconnections.duke.edu/get-involved/students/funding-opportunities/student-research-awards/
https://undergraduateresearch.duke.edu/urs-academic-term-grants
https://dukeengage.duke.edu/how-to-apply/
https://afrotc.duke.edu/about

Honors Programs at Duke University

Duke does not have an honors college or an honors program. It does not report one on its Common Data Set, and there is no separate honors admission, no honors dorm and no honors scholarship tier.

For families coming from public flagship shopping, this takes a minute to absorb. At a big state school, honors is the mechanism: you apply, you get in, you unlock better advising, priority registration, smaller sections and often a scholarship bump. That mechanism does not exist here.

The honest explanation is that Duke does not need one. The features an honors college exists to deliver at a 30,000-student university are already standard at Duke. The average class is small, faculty teach undergraduates, and the acceptance rate is about 5%, so the whole admitted class is the selective cohort. There is no second gate to pass through.

What Plays the Honors Role at Duke

This institution does not offer designated Honors College scholarships at this time.

The programs that give you an honors-like cohort:
  • The six merit scholar programs. This is the closest equivalent, and the difference in selectivity is enormous. A public flagship honors college might admit several hundred students a year. Duke’s merit programs took 43. Covered in section four.
  • Baldwin Scholars. A four-year leadership cohort for female-identified undergraduates, with a seminar sequence, mentoring and enrichment funding. First-years apply in the fall.
  • Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship. For sophomores headed toward doctoral work in the humanities and qualitative social sciences, with research support and cohort mentoring.
  • Bass Connections. Year-long interdisciplinary project teams mixing undergraduates, graduate students and faculty. Open to anyone who applies, typically in February, with academic credit and summer funding available.
  • Focus Program. A first-semester option that clusters small seminars around a theme with a shared living community. This is probably the single closest experiential match to an honors first year.
  • Program II. Design your own major. For the student who would have been the honors college’s most restless member anyway.
Comparison note: when you are stacking Duke against a flagship honors offer with a large scholarship attached, compare the actual net prices, not the labels. An honors college with a $25,000 award may well beat an unfunded Duke acceptance. That is a legitimate outcome and not a failure of nerve.

Honors, FAQs (Duke University)

Is there an honors application?
No. There is nothing to apply to. The merit scholar programs come with the regular Duke application, and Baldwin, Bass Connections and Mellon Mays are applied to after enrollment.

Can my student graduate with honors?
Yes, but that is departmental Latin honors earned through a senior thesis or distinction track within a major, decided in the junior and senior years. It is a transcript outcome, not an admitted program.

Is there priority registration or honors housing?
Not as an honors benefit. Some individual programs carry their own housing or advising perks, but there is no campus-wide honors tier.

Does the lack of an honors college hurt graduate school placement?
No. Duke sends students to top graduate and professional programs through department distinction tracks, faculty research relationships and the funded research pipeline. Mellon Mays exists specifically to build that path.

Sources:
https://ir.provost.duke.edu/duke-numbers/common-data-sets/
https://ousf.duke.edu/merit-scholarships/opportunities-current-duke-undergraduates/
https://bassconnections.duke.edu/get-involved/students/funding-opportunities/student-research-awards/

⭐ College Specialty

Duke’s reputation rests on something unusual for a school this size: it is genuinely hard to say what Duke is best at, because the answer keeps crossing department lines. The largest share of bachelor’s degrees goes to computer science, and the second largest goes to interdisciplinary studies. That second number is the tell. At most universities, interdisciplinary majors are a rounding error. At Duke, roughly one in seven graduates leaves with one.

Nationally Known Program:
Biomedical Engineering (Pratt School of Engineering) is Duke’s signature undergraduate program and sits consistently near the top of national rankings. It is the classic Duke setup: an engineering degree built next to one of the country’s major academic medical centers, with undergraduates working in research labs from their first years.
  • Public Policy (Sanford School): one of the few places you can major in public policy as an undergraduate at this level, with a strong pipeline into government, nonprofits and law school.
  • Computer Science: the single largest major by degrees conferred, and the reason Duke shows up in tech recruiting alongside schools with much bigger engineering colleges.
  • Economics: the practical home for students headed toward finance and consulting, and a heavily subscribed major.
  • Global Health: an undergraduate major run through the Duke Global Health Institute, pairing coursework with fieldwork. A genuine Duke specialty that few peer schools offer to undergraduates.
  • Neuroscience and Statistics: both benefit from the medical center and the data science investment, and both feed students into funded research early.
  • Environmental Science (Nicholas School): undergraduate access to a major environmental school, including the Duke Marine Lab on the coast at Beaufort.
Before you assume: there is no undergraduate business major.

Fuqua is a graduate business school. Duke undergraduates cannot major in business, finance, accounting or marketing. Students headed that direction typically major in economics and add the Markets and Management Studies certificate. The outcomes are strong, but if your student’s mental picture of Duke is a business degree, adjust it now rather than in April.

The other thing worth naming is the research culture. Duke funds undergraduate research at an unusual scale through the Undergraduate Research Support office, Bass Connections, Data+ and the summer programs. A student who shows up and asks gets funded work early. That is a real and underappreciated part of what you are buying.

✅ Wrapping It Up

Here is the honest summary of Duke. If your family qualifies for need-based aid, Duke is one of the most generous schools in the country and the sticker price is close to meaningless. Duke meets 100% of demonstrated need without loans, the average first-year need grant runs north of $76,000, and if you live in North or South Carolina there is a standing tuition commitment you do not have to compete for.

If your family does not qualify for need-based aid, be realistic. Duke handed out 43 merit scholarships to a class of about 1,749 students, and only nine full-pay first-years received any institutional non-need award at all. Those awards are extraordinary when they land, covering tuition, fees, housing and meals for four years. But you cannot plan around them, and no test score buys one.

So the two questions that actually matter are simple. Run the net price calculator in junior year, before anyone falls in love with the place, and find out which side of that line you are on. Then decide whether Early Decision makes sense, because binding yourself before you can compare aid offers is only safe if the calculator already told you the answer.

What you get for the money, if it works out, is a research university that funds undergraduates unusually early and unusually often. That part is real, and it is the piece families tend to undervalue when they are staring at the tuition line.

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Leo Dimilo
Leo Dimilo
Leo built CollegeReadyParent after going through the college affordability maze with his own daughter. No paywall, no lead generation, no selling your information. Just the numbers, checked against the schools’ own pages. More about Leo →

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