Duke University vs Yale University

Duke University and Yale University are both well-regarded institutions, but they differ in important ways. Here's how they compare across key dimensions.

Admissions: Yale University is more selective with a 4.5% acceptance rate compared to Duke University's 6.8%. Average SAT scores are 1539 and 1534 respectively.

Cost: Yale University offers a lower average net price at $27,818, which is $6,636 less than Duke University ($34,454). After financial aid, this can make a significant difference over 4 years.

Career Outcomes: Graduates from Yale University earn a median salary of $100,533 ten years after enrollment, which is $2,733 more than Duke University graduates ($97,800).

Graduation: Yale University leads with a 97.0% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 96.2% vs 99.0%.

Campus Size: Yale University is the larger campus with 6,811 total students, while Duke University has 6,417.

Bottom Line: Yale University stands out as both more affordable and producing higher-earning graduates — making it the stronger value proposition overall.