Duke

Duke SAT and ACT Requirements

Duke is test-optional for the 2026-27 cycle. The middle 50% of enrolled first-year students scored 1500 to 1570 on the SAT and 34 to 35 on the ACT.

2026-27 policy

Test-Optional

SAT middle 50%

1500–1570

ACT middle 50%

34–35

Acceptance rate

5.7%

Duke SAT scores by section

Section	25th percentile	75th percentile
Reading and Writing	740	770
Math	760	800
Total	1500	1570
ACT Composite	34	35

The total is the sum of the section percentiles, the standard way to estimate a middle 50% for the combined score.

Where your score puts you

Below 1500: lower than three quarters of enrolled students. A retake has the most upside here, and at a test-optional school you can also leave the score off.
1500 to 1570: in line with the class. The rest of your application decides it.
Above 1570: higher than three quarters of enrolled students. Testing is no longer what holds the application back.

Other colleges where a 1500 is in range Other colleges where a 1570 is in range Convert an ACT score

Keep these numbers

Email me Duke's score ranges

The ranges on this page, plus a link to compare them with every other college we track.

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Frequently asked questions

Does Duke require the SAT or ACT?

Duke is test-optional for the 2026-27 cycle. Duke is officially test-optional for both first-year and transfer applicants for the 2026-27 cycle. Applicants without SAT/ACT scores are not disadvantaged; those who submit scores can choose to have them suppressed during review. No future required-testing change has been announced.

What SAT score do you need for Duke?

The published range is not a cutoff. Among enrolled first-year students, a quarter scored below 1500, half scored between 1500 and 1570, and a quarter scored above 1570. A score at or above 1570 puts you ahead of most of the class on testing; a score below 1500 works against you.

What ACT score do you need for Duke?

The middle 50% of enrolled students scored 34 to 35 on the ACT. On the official conversion table that is an SAT 1500 to 1540.

Score ranges: College Scorecard API — U.S. Department of Education (api.data.gov) and Editorial overrides layer (overrides.json) — Common Data Set & institutional sources. They describe students who enrolled, not everyone admitted. Test policy: Duke admissions, verified for 2026-27.