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More Than 32,000 Students Apply to Duke

The overall increase in applicants was small, but the number of seniors applying to Duke's Pratt School of Engineering rose 20.2 percent. 

More than 32,000 high school seniors have submitted applications for admission to Duke University this year, a small increase over last year's total of 31,808, and the seventh year in a row in which the number of applications has set a record.

The current number of high school seniors applying either Early or Regular Decision to be part of Duke's Class of 2018 is 32,453. Of that number, 24,752 have applied to the Trinity College of Arts & Sciences (a 2.5 percent decrease from last year), while 7,701 have applied to the Pratt School of Engineering (a 20.2 percent increase). 

"We're obviously pleased at the level of interest in Duke and with the number of students who recognize the exceptional opportunities that are found here," Dean of Undergraduate Admissions Christoph Guttentag said. "These students have a great deal to offer any college in the world, and we're look forwarding to learning about them as we review their applications."

California provided the largest number of applicants, with nearly 4,000, with North Carolina second and New York third, followed by Florida and Texas. The greatest growth among applicants in recent years has been among students from the West Coast and from overseas, with China again first among foreign countries in the number of applicants, followed by Korea, India and Canada.

The applicant pool is split equally among women (50.3 percent) and men (49.7 percent).  Among students of color, the greatest increases were among Asian and Latino students. Admissions decisions will be made available to applicants online in early April.

In the fall, more than 3,150 students applied to Duke through the Early Decision process -- a 25 percent increase over the previous year -- and 797 students were admitted, comprising 47 percent of the Class of 2018. The students applying through Regular Decision will be vying for about 910 spaces in the class.

Guttentag expects the incoming class to have slightly more than 1,700 students.