Duke University vs Berkeley
Duke University and University of California-Berkeley, two prestigious institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Duke, a private research university in Durham, North Carolina, boasts a lower acceptance rate (8.2%) compared to Berkeley's (17.5%), a public research university in Berkeley, California. While both universities excel in various disciplines, Duke is renowned for its strengths in the social sciences, humanities, and engineering, while Berkeley is known for its preeminence in engineering, computer science, and the natural sciences. Explore the detailed comparison table to delve into further differences, including student body demographics, popular majors, graduation rates, and more, to determine which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Duke University |
![]() University of California-Berkeley |
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Overview |
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Location | Durham, North Carolina | Berkeley, California |
Campus setting | City: Large | City: Midsize |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 98.0% | 96.0% |
![]() |
Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | Methodism | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 5.9% | 14.4% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$85
Graduate:
$95
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Undergraduate:
$70
Graduate:
$120
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SAT range | 1468 - 1558 | N/A |
ACT range | 33 - 35 | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | 47.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 46.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 49,703 | 112,843 |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,927 | 16,295 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,744 | 6,931 |
Yield rate | 59.6% | 42.5% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $79,860 |
In state:
$37,920
Out of state:
$67,674
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Average net price | $27,297 | $17,652 |
Tuition | $58,085 |
In state:
$11,442
Out of state:
$41,196
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$9,164
Meal plan:
$6,862
|
$20,236 |
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
46.0%
Average amount $50,731 |
52.0%
Average amount $21,406 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
20.0%
Average amount $4,537 |
15.0%
Average amount $4,586 |
Students taking out private loans |
3.0%
Average amount $22,957 |
6.0%
Average amount $7,122 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
6,883
Men 48.4% Women 51.6% |
31,814
Men 45.4% Women 54.6% |
Graduate students |
10,737
Men 45.5% Women 54.5% |
13,222
Men 51.7% Women 48.3% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Moderate
|
Out-of-state students | N/A | 16.9% |
International students | 21.4% | 18.0% |
Campus local/setting | City: Large | City: Midsize |
Dormitory capacity | 5,718 | 9,630 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | Yes | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | California New Jersey Texas Virginia New York |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 6:1 | 20:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 95.9% | 92.8% |
Dropout rate | 4.0% | 6.3% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
International Business (Master's Degrees)
Law (Doctoral Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
Economics (Master's Degrees)
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Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Information Science/Studies (Master's Degrees)
Chemistry (Doctoral Degrees)
Optometry (First Professional Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Applied Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
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