Duke Offers Admission to 2,929 High School Seniors (Updated)

More than 2,900 high school seniors from across the country and around the world can go online at 6 p.m. Wednesday (today) to learn that they have been accepted to Duke University.

A record 31,785 students applied for admission this year -- several hundred more than last year. Of the more than 29,200 who applied under Regular Decision, 2,897 students -- 9.9 percent of the Regular Decision applicant pool -- will receive a notice of acceptance today inviting them to become members of the Class of 2017. Another 32 students who applied Early Decision and were deferred also will learn they will be admitted.

These students have until May 1 to make their final decision.

In December, 753 students were admitted under the university's binding Early Decision program, 105 more than the year before.

"This is the first time our Regular Decision admit rate ended up below 10 percent, and it made for some difficult choices," said Christoph Guttentag, dean of undergraduate admissions. "The accomplishments and personal qualities of the students applying for admission are just exceptional, and as pleased as I am for what it means for Duke, I'm sorry that we don't have room for more of these wonderful young women and men.

"The increase in the number of students admitted under our Early Decision program left fewer places in the class for our Regular Decision applicants, and it made choosing the best mix of students challenging for all of us," Guttentag added.

Duke's admissions policy is "need blind" for U.S. citizens and permanent residents, meaning applicants are accepted regardless of their ability to pay for college. Duke also meets 100 percent of demonstrated financial need for all admitted students.

"We are in a fortunate position, where we in the admissions office are able to make our decisions independent of family's financial circumstances, knowing that the financial aid office will make Duke an affordable option for everyone we're able to admit," Guttentag said. 

All admitted students are invited to campus for Blue Devil Days, which provides the opportunity for students and their parents to discuss Duke's offerings with faculty and administrators, attend classes and tour Duke's campus, as well as the chance to get acquainted with other members of the Class of 2017. This year, the two-day event will be held at three different times: April 8-9, April 18-19 and April 21-22.  All students will be able to receive their decisions online, but only those students who are admitted will receive mailed letters. For the third year in a row, students will be able to reply online to offers of admission or the opportunity to be placed on the waiting list.