University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) vs Duke University

When it comes to higher education, University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) and Duke University stand out as two distinct institutions with unique offerings. UAH, a public research university, boasts an acceptance rate of 84%, making it more accessible to a wider range of students. Duke, a private research university, has a highly selective admissions process, with an acceptance rate of only 8%. UAH's student body is predominantly composed of in-state students, while Duke attracts a more diverse student population from across the nation and the world. Both universities offer a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs, with popular majors including engineering, business, and nursing at UAH, and public policy, economics, and computer science at Duke. While UAH has a higher graduation rate of 60%, Duke's graduation rate stands at an impressive 94%. To help you make an informed decision about your academic journey, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table that delves into these

	Duke University	University of Alabama in Huntsville
Overview
Location	Durham, North Carolina	Huntsville, Alabama
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%	79.0%
Common app member	Yes	No
Religious affiliation	Methodism

Admission
Acceptance rate	5.9%	73.7%
Application fees	Undergraduate: $85 Graduate: $95	Undergraduate: $30 Graduate: $60
SAT range	1468 - 1558	1170 - 1420
ACT range	33 - 35	24 - 31
Students submitting SAT score	47.0%	5.0%
Students submitting ACT score	46.0%	92.0%
Total number of applicants	49,703	5,781
Total number of admissions given out	2,927	4,259
Admitted students who chose to enroll	1,744	1,204
Yield rate	59.6%	28.3%
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

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	$79,860	In state: $28,708 Out of state: $41,104
Average net price	$27,297	$17,302
Tuition	$58,085	In state: $9,730 Out of state: $22,126
Room & board	Room/dormitory: $9,164 Meal plan: $6,862	$10,652
Available payment plans	Prepaid tuition plan	Prepaid tuition plan Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	46.0% Average amount $50,731	94.0% Average amount $10,727
Students receiving federal student loan	20.0% Average amount $4,537	39.0% Average amount $5,045
Students taking out private loans	3.0% Average amount $22,957	5.0% Average amount $13,858

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	6,883 Men 48.4% Women 51.6%	7,569 Men 59.1% Women 40.9%
Graduate students	10,737 Men 45.5% Women 54.5%	2,067 Men 48.9% Women 51.1%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Moderate	Low
Out-of-state students	N/A	31.4%
International students	21.4%	3.1%
Campus local/setting	City: Large	City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity	5,718	2,200
First year students are required to live on campus?	Yes	No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	N/A	Alabama Tennessee Georgia Illinois

Academics
Popular study areas	Business Health Professions Engineering Legal Profession Social Sciences	Engineering Health Professions Business Visual & Performing Arts Physical Science
Students to faculty ratio	6:1	19:1
Institutional accreditation	Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges	Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome
Graduation rate	95.9%	60.7%
Dropout rate	4.0%	11.9%
Transferred out	N/A	24.1%
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	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $88,354 Year 2: $91,017 Year 3: $94,793 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $67,974 Year 2: N/A Year 3: $76,262 Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $68,266 Year 2: $62,012 Year 3: $72,527 Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $63,538 Year 2: $60,452 Year 3: $69,837 Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $63,270 Year 2: $63,997 Year 3: $69,217 Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $51,668 Year 2: $48,823 Year 3: $61,551 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $36,684 Year 2: $43,993 Year 3: $54,212 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $51,910 Year 2: $50,554 Year 3: $50,913 Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $40,282 Year 2: $38,289 Year 3: $46,094 Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $34,498 Year 2: $36,848 Year 3: $40,101

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the primary academic differences between the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) and Duke University?

Duke University is renowned for its highly selective admissions, strong emphasis on research, and a broad range of graduate programs, particularly in law, medicine, and business. UAH, while also research-focused, is known for its strengths in STEM fields, especially engineering, computer science, and aerospace, and offers a more accessible admissions process. Duke generally has a more humanities-focused curriculum compared to UAH.
How does the cost of attendance compare between UAH and Duke?

Duke University has a significantly higher tuition and overall cost of attendance compared to UAH. While both universities offer financial aid, the net cost for students at Duke is generally much higher. UAH is often a more affordable option, especially for in-state students.
What is the student body like at each university?

Duke University attracts a diverse student body from across the globe, known for its high academic achievement and extracurricular involvement. UAH has a more regional student body, with a strong representation from Alabama and surrounding states. Both universities have a good mix of undergraduate and graduate students, but Duke's graduate programs are more extensive.
What are the research opportunities like at UAH and Duke?

Both universities offer substantial research opportunities. Duke is a top-tier research institution with extensive funding and resources, providing opportunities across various disciplines. UAH, while smaller, is a major research university, particularly strong in STEM fields, and offers students significant hands-on research experience, often with direct involvement from faculty.
How do the campus environments differ?

Duke University boasts a beautiful, historic campus with Gothic architecture and a vibrant social scene. UAH has a more modern campus, reflecting its focus on technology and science, and offers a more relaxed atmosphere. Duke's campus life is generally more active, with a wider range of social events and activities.
What are the career prospects for graduates of UAH and Duke?

Graduates from Duke University are highly sought after by employers across various industries, with strong placement rates in top companies and graduate programs. UAH graduates, particularly in STEM fields, are in high demand, especially in the aerospace, defense, and technology sectors, often finding employment in the Huntsville area and beyond. Both universities provide strong career services to support their students.
How does the admissions process differ?

Duke University has a highly selective admissions process, requiring strong academic records, standardized test scores, and extracurricular achievements. UAH's admissions process is less competitive, though still selective, and considers a broader range of factors. Both universities require applications, transcripts, and letters of recommendation.
What are the athletic programs like at each university?

Duke University is a powerhouse in collegiate athletics, particularly in basketball, with a strong tradition of success and a passionate fan base. UAH competes in Division II athletics, offering a variety of sports and a more accessible athletic experience for students.
Are there significant differences in the types of student support services offered?

Both universities offer comprehensive student support services, including academic advising, career counseling, and health services. Duke, with its larger resources, may offer a wider range of specialized services. UAH provides strong support tailored to its student population, particularly in STEM fields.
Which university is better for a student interested in engineering?

Both universities have strong engineering programs. Duke's Pratt School of Engineering is highly regarded and offers a broad range of specializations. UAH is particularly strong in aerospace engineering and related fields, making it an excellent choice for students with those specific interests. The best choice depends on the specific area of engineering the student is interested in.

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