Duke University vs Samuel Merritt University
Duke University and Samuel Merritt University, two esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Duke, a renowned research university, boasts a highly selective admissions process with an acceptance rate of 8.7%, while Samuel Merritt, a private health sciences university, maintains a more accessible acceptance rate of 80%. Duke's diverse student body comprises 16,762 undergraduates and 10,254 graduate and professional students, while Samuel Merritt's student population is smaller, with approximately 1,300 students. Both universities offer a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs, with Duke excelling in fields like engineering, biology, and public policy, and Samuel Merritt specializing in healthcare disciplines such as nursing, physical therapy, and occupational therapy. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more about these universities' unique strengths and determine which one aligns best with your academic aspirations and career goals.
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![]() Duke University |
![]() Samuel Merritt University |
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Overview |
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Location | Durham, North Carolina | Oakland, California |
Campus setting | City: Large | City: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Trimester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 98.0% | |
![]() |
Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | Methodism | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 5.9% | N/A |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$85
Graduate:
$95
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Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$90
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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 | |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,927 | |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,744 | |
Yield rate | 59.6% | |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | |
High school GPA | Not required | N/A |
Recommendation letters | Required | N/A |
High school transcript | Not required | N/A |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | N/A |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $79,860 | |
Average net price | $27,297 | |
Tuition | $58,085 | |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$9,164
Meal plan:
$6,862
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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 |
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Students receiving federal student loan |
20.0%
Average amount $4,537 |
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Students taking out private loans |
3.0%
Average amount $22,957 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
6,883
Men 48.4% Women 51.6% |
728
Men 20.6% Women 79.4% |
Graduate students |
10,737
Men 45.5% Women 54.5% |
1,320
Men 26.1% Women 73.9% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | N/A | N/A |
International students | 21.4% | N/A |
Campus local/setting | City: Large | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 5,718 | N/A |
First year students are required to live on campus? | Yes | N/A |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 6:1 | 7:1 |
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% | N/A |
Dropout rate | 4.0% | N/A |
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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Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Master's Degrees)
Podiatric Medicine/Podiatry (Doctoral Degrees)
Medicine (Doctoral Degrees)
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
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