Davidson College vs Duke University

Duke University is the more selective of the two at 6%, versus 13% at Davidson College. Here is how they compare on selectivity, test scores, and what they weigh, plus a free way to estimate your odds at each.

Davidson College
Highly selective
13%
acceptance rate
SAT 75th pct: 1470
Private · North Carolina
Duke University
Most selective
6%
acceptance rate
SAT 75th pct: 1570
Private · North Carolina

Davidson College vs Duke University: the differences that matter

How Davidson College and Duke University stack up on selectivity, scores, and what they value.

Duke University is meaningfully harder to get into, admitting about 6% of applicants versus 13% at Davidson College, a gap of roughly 7 percentage points. Treat Duke University as the bigger reach of the two when you build your list.

The two also read applications a little differently. Davidson College leans more on class rank, interview, volunteer work, while Duke University puts more weight on geographical residence. The same profile can land differently at each, which is why a per-school estimate matters more than a single GPA.

On test scores, Davidson College's admitted 75th-percentile SAT is around 1470 and Duke University's is around 1570. Admitted students at Duke University post somewhat higher scores. Run your own numbers below to see where you stand at each.

What each school weighs

Factors either school weighs heavily, side by side.

FactorDavidson CollegeDuke University
Rigor of secondary school recordvery importantvery important
Academic GPAvery importantvery important
Class rankimportantconsidered
Standardized test scoresimportantimportant
Application essayvery importantvery important
Recommendationsvery importantvery important
Interviewimportantconsidered
Extracurricular activitiesvery importantvery important
Calculate your chances at both →

Frequently asked questions

Is Davidson College or Duke University harder to get into?

Duke University is harder to get into, with a 6% acceptance rate versus 13% at Davidson College.

What's the difference in SAT scores between Davidson College and Duke University?

Davidson College's admitted 75th-percentile SAT is around 1470, and Duke University's is around 1570.

What are my chances at Davidson College and Duke University?

That depends on your full profile. CollegeCalcAI gives a free, personalized estimate for each school in a few minutes.