“How Duke’s Admissions Stats for the Class of 2029 Compare to Peer Universities”
Duke University has set a new benchmark for selectivity, admitting a record-low 4.8% of applicants to the Class of 2029. This level of competition highlights the importance of a strategic, personalized approach to the college admissions process—something we at PMJ Coaching specialize in. To help you understand the landscape, this post will explore how Duke’s latest admissions statistics compare to its Ivy+ peer institutions, providing insights into competitive college admissions and tips for how to get into Duke and other top-tier universities.
Duke University Admissions Overview
For the Class of 2029, Duke University accepted 12.8% of Early Decision applicants, admitting 849 out of 6,627 high school seniors. Notably, 113 of these students were admitted through the QuestBridge National College Match Program, which offers full-ride scholarships to low-income students. During the Regular Decision cycle, Duke received a record 53,223 applications and admitted just 1,953 students, resulting in a 3.67% acceptance rate. This contributed to Duke’s overall 4.8% acceptance rate, down from 5.1% for the Class of 2028.
Ivy League Peers
- Brown University: Admitted 2,418 students with an acceptance rate of 5.65%, an increase from 5.2% last year. Brown’s Early Decision acceptance rate rose from 14.4% to 18%, while Regular Decision acceptance edged up from 3.8% to 4%. Application numbers fell by 12.55% to 42,765, the lowest since the Class of 2024.
- Columbia University: Accepted 4.29% of applicants, up from 3.85% for the Class of 2028. Despite this increase, application numbers dropped slightly to 59,616, reflecting recent controversies on campus.
- Dartmouth College: Dartmouth’s acceptance rate rose from 5.3% to 6%, despite an 11% decline in applications this year.
- University of Pennsylvania: UPenn did not release its exact acceptance rate, but reported a record-high applicant pool of over 72,000, up from 65,000 last year.
- Yale University: Yale admitted 2,308 students, yielding a 4.59% acceptance rate, its highest in four years. The university saw its Regular Decision rate rise from 2.75% to 3.65% and its Early Action rate increase from 9.02% to 10.82%, even as overall applications dropped by 12% to 50,227.
Non-Ivy Peer Institutions.
- Johns Hopkins University: Reported a Regular Decision acceptance rate of 4.16%, down from 6.2% last year, with a total applicant pool increase of 8.8% to 41,549.
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology: MIT maintained a 4.5% overall acceptance rate, consistent with last year, despite fluctuations in Early and Regular Action acceptance rates.
- Northwestern University: Like Duke, Northwestern saw its overall acceptance rate decline to just over 7%, down from 7.6%, with a record-high 53,000 applications, a 15.5% increase over last year.
Key Takeaways for Applicants
These figures highlight a few important trends for prospective students:
- Application Strategy: Early decision and action programs often offer higher acceptance rates but come with binding commitments. Understanding which path aligns with your strengths and goals can make a significant difference in your application outcome.
- Application Volume Trends: Many top schools saw application volumes decline this year, potentially reflecting shifting student priorities or changing perceptions of campus climates.
- Diversity and Inclusion Efforts: Programs like QuestBridge and increased class sizes, as seen at Yale, reflect a growing commitment to broadening access to elite education.
Personalized Admissions Coaching at PMJ
At PMJ Coaching, we help students navigate these complexities with personalized guidance, expert essay reviews, and proven strategies for maximizing acceptance chances. Our students have gained acceptance to the most competitive universities in the world, often overcoming the steep odds you see here. If you’re aiming for top-tier schools like Duke, reach out to us for a free consultation to start your journey to college success.
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