Location
- Northwestern University
- Evanston, IL
- Duke University
- Durham, NC
Northwestern University vs Duke University
Evanston, IL · Durham, NC · largest Scorecard gap: acceptance rate
Scorecard match plate
Pair IL:NC
PRIVATE-NP-PAIR · CROSS-STATE · ACCEPT-TIGHT · NET-PAR · EARN-SPLIT · DEBT-SPLIT · COMPLETE-HIGH · GAP-ACCEPT
- PRIVATE-NP-PAIR Private nonprofit pair
- CROSS-STATE IL × NC
- ACCEPT-TIGHT Tight admission
- NET-PAR Net near-par
- EARN-SPLIT Earnings split
- DEBT-SPLIT Debt split
- 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 TWIN-TIGHTEN · adm · 2013–2023 decade-path stamp below, not a ranking or recommendation.
Decade path · College Scorecard
Both acceptance rates tightened, 2013–2023
TWIN-TIGHTEN · adm · 2013–2023
Northwestern University and Duke University each posted a directional decline in acceptance rate over the same College Scorecard window. The squeeze is shared; the magnitude is close.
- Northwestern University: acceptance rate tightened -53.3% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.86).
- Duke University: acceptance rate tightened -49.5% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.93).
- Northwestern University: net price ranged $23,279–$28,544 across 11 years (2013–2023); endpoint change -4.9% is not a trend (r² 0.16).
- Duke University: net price ranged $23,442–$36,415 across 11 years (2013–2023); endpoint change +22.8% is not a trend (r² 0.06).
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
Undergraduate Enrollment
- Northwestern University
- 9,201
- Duke University
- 6,442
Acceptance Rate
- Duke University
- 5.7%
Median Debt at Graduation
- Northwestern University
- $15,000
- Duke University
- $13,000
Median Earnings (6 yr)
- Northwestern University
- $76,844
- Duke University
- $85,792
Median Earnings (10 yr)
- Northwestern University
- $89,363
- Duke University
- $97,800
Avg Net Price
- Northwestern University
- $29,167
- Duke University
- $29,612
SAT Average
- Northwestern University
- 1,533
- Duke University
- 1,548
150%-Time Completion
- Northwestern University
- 95.5%
- Duke University
- 96.3%
In-State Tuition
- Northwestern University
- $68,322
- Duke University
- $68,758
Cards ordered by relative gap on this pair. Teal = better side.
| Metric | Northwestern University Evanston, IL | Duke University Durham, NC |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Evanston, IL | Durham, NC |
| Undergraduate Enrollment | 9,201 | 6,442 |
| Acceptance Rate | 7.7% | 5.7% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $15,000 | $13,000 |
| Median Earnings (6 yr) | $76,844 | $85,792 |
| Median Earnings (10 yr) | $89,363 | $97,800 |
| Avg Net Price | $29,167 | $29,612 |
| SAT Average | 1,533 | 1,548 |
| 150%-Time Completion | 95.5% | 96.3% |
| In-State Tuition | $68,322 | $68,758 |
Largest gaps: Northwestern University vs Duke University
- ACCEPTANCE-RATE Duke University leads on acceptance rate (5.7% vs 7.7% at Northwestern University)
- MEDIAN-DEBT-AT-GRA Duke University leads on median debt at graduation ($13,000 vs $15,000 at Northwestern University)
- MEDIAN-EARNINGS-(6 Duke University leads on median earnings (6 yr) ($85,792 vs $76,844 at Northwestern University)
Northwestern University profile · Duke University profile · Compare other colleges
Acceptance Rate and other Scorecard questions
On acceptance rate, who leads between Northwestern University and Duke University?▼
Duke University leads on acceptance rate at 5.7% versus 7.7% at Northwestern University. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On median debt at graduation, who leads between Northwestern University and Duke University?▼
Duke University leads on median debt at graduation at $13,000 versus $15,000 at Northwestern University. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On median earnings (6 yr), who leads between Northwestern University and Duke University?▼
Duke University leads on median earnings (6 yr) at $85,792 versus $76,844 at Northwestern 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