Cornell University vs Duke University

Ithaca, NY · Durham, NC · largest Scorecard gap: acceptance rate

Scorecard match plate

Pair NY:NC

PRIVATE-NP-PAIR · CROSS-STATE · ACCEPT-TIGHT · NET-PAR · EARN-PAR · DEBT-PAR · COMPLETE-HIGH · GAP-ACCEPT

  • PRIVATE-NP-PAIR Private nonprofit pair
  • CROSS-STATE NY × NC
  • ACCEPT-TIGHT Tight admission
  • NET-PAR Net near-par
  • EARN-PAR Earnings near-par
  • DEBT-PAR Debt near-par
  • COMPLETE-HIGH High completion
  • GAP-ACCEPT Largest gap · Acceptance Rate

Instrument codes from this pair's College Scorecard ownership, geography, acceptance, net price, earnings, debt, and completion, plus the ENROLL-1SIDE · modest · 2013–2023 decade-path stamp below, not a ranking or recommendation.

Decade path · College Scorecard

Only one enrollment path is a trend

ENROLL-1SIDE · modest · 2013–2023

Size changed directionally at one school over 2013–2023; the peer's series stays a range. Both acceptance rates still tightened, so the shared frame is selectivity, not enrollment.

  • Cornell University: enrollment grew +11.4% over 2013–2023; fitted +168 students/yr fitted, r² 0.87.
  • Duke University: enrollment ranged 6,417–6,815 (2013–2023, 11 points) without a stable fitted direction.
  • Cornell University: acceptance rate tightened -47.6% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.94).
  • Duke University: acceptance rate tightened -49.5% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.93).

College Scorecard institution series; dollars are nominal. Direction claims require r² ≥ 0.40 on the fitted annual slope, otherwise the page reports the observed range. Descriptive history, not a recommendation.

Scorecard metrics

Cards ordered by relative gap on this pair. Teal = better side.

Largest gaps: Cornell University vs Duke University

  1. ACCEPTANCE-RATE Duke University leads on acceptance rate (5.7% vs 8.8% at Cornell University)
  2. MEDIAN-DEBT-AT-GRA Duke University leads on median debt at graduation ($13,000 vs $14,000 at Cornell University)
  3. MEDIAN-EARNINGS-(1 Cornell University leads on median earnings (10 yr) ($104,043 vs $97,800 at Duke University)

Cornell University profile · Duke University profile · Compare other colleges

Also on the Scorecard board

Acceptance Rate and other Scorecard questions

On acceptance rate, who leads between Cornell University and Duke University?
Duke University leads on acceptance rate at 5.7% versus 8.8% at Cornell University. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On median debt at graduation, who leads between Cornell University and Duke University?
Duke University leads on median debt at graduation at $13,000 versus $14,000 at Cornell University. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On median earnings (10 yr), who leads between Cornell University and Duke University?
Cornell University leads on median earnings (10 yr) at $104,043 versus $97,800 at Duke University. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard College Scorecard institution outcomes (earnings, completion, debt); acceptance rate focus for this pair · 2025