Duke University vs Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Duke University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) stand as two of the most prestigious universities in the United States, each offering a world-class education and a vibrant campus life. While they share a commitment to academic excellence, these institutions differ in several key aspects. Duke, a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, boasts a lower acceptance rate (8.2%) compared to MIT's highly selective 4.1%. In terms of student demographics, Duke's undergraduate population is more diverse, with a higher percentage of female and international students. MIT, situated in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is renowned for its strength in STEM fields, with popular majors including computer science, engineering, and physics. Duke, on the other hand, offers a broader range of undergraduate programs, including popular majors in economics, public policy, and biology. Both universities boast impressive graduation rates, with Duke's four-year graduation rate at 89% and MIT's six-year graduation rate at
Duke University logo

Duke University

Massachusetts Institute of Technology logo

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Overview

Location Durham, North Carolina Cambridge, Massachusetts
Campus setting City: Large City: Midsize
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester 4-1-4
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 98.0% 99.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation Methodism

Admission

Acceptance rate 5.9% 4.1%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $85

Graduate: $95
Undergraduate: $75

Graduate: $75
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 33,240
Total number of admissions given out 2,927 1,365
Admitted students who chose to enroll 1,744 1,177
Yield rate 59.6% 86.2%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Not required Not required
Recommendation letters Required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Not required Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $79,860 $58,920
Average net price $27,297 $30,958
Tuition $58,085 $55,510
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $9,164

Meal plan: $6,862
Room/dormitory: $11,550

Meal plan: $6,550
Available payment plans
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

46.0%
Average amount $50,731
100.0%
Average amount $32,562
Students receiving federal student loan 20.0%
Average amount $4,537
6.0%
Average amount $5,112
Students taking out private loans 3.0%
Average amount $22,957
1.0%
Average amount $17,891

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 6,883
Men 48.4% Women 51.6%
4,638
Men 51.9% Women 48.1%
Graduate students 10,737
Men 45.5% Women 54.5%
7,296
Men 62.0% Women 38.0%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students N/A N/A
International students 21.4% 29.2%
Campus local/setting City: Large City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity 5,718 6,280
First year students are required to live on campus? Yes No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A California Texas New York Florida New Jersey

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Engineering
  • Legal Profession
  • Social Sciences
  • Engineering
  • Business
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Architecture
  • Mathematics and Statistics
Students to faculty ratio 6:1 3:1
Institutional accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges New England Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 95.9% 96.2%
Dropout rate 4.0% 3.0%
Transferred out N/A N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
International Business (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $151,472
  • Year 2: $213,978
  • Year 3: $201,782
Law (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $155,031
  • Year 2: $168,098
  • Year 3: $200,300
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $143,622
  • Year 2: $148,189
  • Year 3: $163,560
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
  • Year 1: $163,977
  • Year 2: $138,342
  • Year 3: $159,598
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $115,135
  • Year 2: $106,898
  • Year 3: $134,542
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $123,138
  • Year 2: $116,541
  • Year 3: $124,406
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $108,817
  • Year 2: $97,071
  • Year 3: $117,262
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $94,699
  • Year 2: $90,856
  • Year 3: $112,646
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $97,661
  • Year 2: $91,078
  • Year 3: $108,736
Economics (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $76,460
  • Year 3: $104,348
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $144,716
  • Year 2: $150,045
  • Year 3: $183,153
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $170,089
  • Year 2: $165,236
  • Year 3: $182,183
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $118,191
  • Year 2: $127,993
  • Year 3: $163,496
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $82,796
  • Year 2: $117,572
  • Year 3: $155,540
Systems Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $133,685
  • Year 2: $137,214
  • Year 3: $155,079
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $104,229
  • Year 2: $121,226
  • Year 3: $139,548
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $141,603
  • Year 2: $126,504
  • Year 3: $132,987
Mechanical Engineering (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $112,885
  • Year 3: $124,425
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $135,266
  • Year 2: $111,435
  • Year 3: $112,404
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $109,955
  • Year 2: $104,749
  • Year 3: $109,672

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