DURHAM, N.C. - The number of high school seniors applying to Duke University through the Early Decision process has increased 32 percent from last year.

Those who apply via this process know they want to attend Duke and commit to enroll at the university if they receive an offer of admission in December.

"Last year, we received 1,535 Early Decision applicants, which had been our second highest total," said Dean of Undergraduate Admissions Christoph Guttentag. "This year, we've recorded 2,040."

Guttentag attributed the increase to a number of factors.

"The primary reason, I think, relates to the increase in applications last year," Guttentag said, a reference to Duke receiving more than 23,850 Early and Regular Decision applications for the Class of 2013, a nearly 17 percent increase over the previous record.

"When we received 3,500 more applications last year than the year before, people noticed; schools, parents, and counselors saw the results of our greater selectivity. I think students realized that the best way to improve their chances of being admitted this year would be to apply Early Decision."

Another possible reason for the application jump, Guttentag said, is "people are increasingly believing colleges when we say we will make it affordable for students from every economic background. Duke -- and many of our peer institutions -- implemented changes to financial aid policies in the last two years; I think families are realizing that schools like Duke are within reach."

Duke is one of a limited number of schools with a "need-blind" admissions policy, which means that all qualified U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents are accepted regardless of their ability to pay for college. Duke guarantees it will meet 100 percent of demonstrated financial need. In December 2007, Duke announced significant enhancements to its financial aid program to provide access to a Duke education for lower- and middle-income families. (See http://news.duke.edu/2007/12/financialaid.html/)

One other possible explanation for the jump, Guttentag said, is "Duke's commitment to service and service learning. It resonates with students, with how they are thinking about the world more generally."

In previous years, about one-third of the students who applied Early Decision were accepted, which is a higher admit rate than those who apply through the Regular Decision process. "We appreciate that level of interest in Duke," Guttentag said, "and we like to be responsive to that interest when we can." But the increase in applications means that the percentage of Early Decision admits will "almost certainly" drop this year, although how much won't be known until applications are read and evaluated, Guttentag said.

The largest percentage increases among Early Decision applicants were among students from California, New Jersey and Virginia, as well as international students. The number of students who indicated they plan to apply for financial aid remained stable, slightly more than 50 percent.

Students who applied Early Decision should learn in mid-December whether they have been accepted. Duke's deadline for Regular Decision applications is Jan. 2.