Duke University School of Medicine
North Carolina · Highly competitive · Founded 1930
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Admissions statistics
- Median MCAT
- 520
- MCAT range (25–75)
- 517–522
- Median GPA
- 3.91
- GPA range (25–75)
- 3.84–3.96
- Science GPA
- 3.93
- Acceptance rate
- 3%
- Interview rate
- 7.8%
Median MCAT by section (estimated)
- Chem / Phys
- 130
- CARS
- 129
- Bio / Biochem
- 130
- Psych / Soc
- 131
Section medians are projected from the total using the publicly published national section distribution (CARS runs lowest, Psych/Soc highest). Schools rarely publish their own per-section medians, so this is an estimate; real values are shown when we've sourced them.
Acceptance rate by residency Premier estimate
- In-state applicants
- ~6.0%
- Out-of-state applicants
- ~2.7%
- Overall (reported)
- 3%
We split this school's overall acceptance rate into residency estimates using Premier's model of in-state vs. out-of-state selectivity and applicant mix, smoothed across schools. It reflects typical residency preference, not a guaranteed outcome — and it's an estimate, not an officially published in/out-of-state rate.
vs US MD matriculants: MCAT +8.2 (nat. 511.8), GPA +0.10 (nat. 3.81). MCAT 10/25/75/90 percentiles, median, and acceptance/interview rates are publicly sourced.
MCAT range by residency Premier estimate
| Matriculants | 10th | 25th | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combined | 508.9 | 514.9 | 522 | 524.1 |
| In-state | 507.9 | 516.9 | 521.1 | 523.1 |
| Out-of-state | 511.9 | 515.9 | 523.3 | 525.2 |
The box spans the 25th–75th percentile; the whiskers reach the 10th and 90th. We use this school's published 25–75 range as-is and model the hidden tails and the residency split — calibrated across every US MD program and validated to within ~1.5 points of reported figures. Estimates are shown to one decimal. How this works.
Class profile
- Entering class size
- 120
- Public / Private
- Private
- Setting
- Not reported
- % Out-of-state
- Not reported
- Orientation
- Research-oriented
Research vs. service orientation
Research-oriented (96/100) — Top-10 NIH funding (9th, ~$514M in 2025), prestigious NIH MSTP since 1966, research-mandated MD curriculum
Course exams
Core clerkship exams are NBME-standardized “shelf” subject exams — standardized nationally, so they're consistent across MD schools. Whether the preclinical years lean on in-house, NBME-based, or a mix of exams isn't something schools publish in one place — so we don't guess per school; confirm specifics with the school.
Cost & aid
- Cost of attendance
- $110,892
- Avg. graduate debt
- $158,686
- Secondary fee
- $100
- % receiving aid
- 79%
Tuition & cost of attendance verified against the school's official site (official source, 2026-2027 (cost); 2025 entering class (class size)). Schools report "tuition" vs. "tuition & fees" differently and some (e.g. NYU Grossman, Kaiser early cohorts) award universal scholarships — always confirm on the official page. Debt & % receiving aid are compiled from publicly available figures.
Prerequisites & requirements
Typical for US MD programs — confirm this school's exact list.
- Biology
- 1 year with lab
- General Chemistry
- 1 year with lab
- Organic Chemistry
- 1 year with lab
- Biochemistry
- 1 semester (recommended/required)
- Physics
- 1 year with lab
- English / writing
- 1 year
- Math / statistics
- 1 semester–1 year (varies)
- Psychology & Sociology
- Recommended for the MCAT
Required tests
- MCAT — required
- CASPer: not required
- AAMC PREview: not required
Letters of recommendation
- A committee letter, or 3–5 individual letters
- Typically 2 science faculty + 1 non-science
- A letter from research/clinical mentors strengthens the file
Application timeline (AMCAS)
Most US programs admit on a rolling basis — applying early materially helps.
What this school weighs
- GPA & MCAT (academic readiness)
- Clinical experience & shadowing
- Research experience
- Community service & volunteering
- Letters of recommendation
- Personal statement & secondary essays
- Interview performance & mission fit
- State residency (especially at public schools)
Mission focus: DukeMed is a diverse and inclusive community of trainees devoted to understanding the causes, prevention and treatment of human disease. These endeavors are embraced by all students committed to the highest academic goals utilizing unparalleled resources in education, clinical care, and research. Our objective is to educate physicians with our innovative curricula and broad-based clinical and research training.
Secondary essay prompts (2025-2026)
⚠ Crowdsourced & anecdotal — secondary prompts change every cycle and may be incomplete. Always confirm on the school's own secondary application.
- Share with us your story. This is your opportunity to allow us to know how you wish to be addressed, recognized and treated. · 400 words
- Trust and rapport are essential in your day-to-day interactions with people. How do you cultivate a relationship with a person who may be very different from you? · 400 words
- Describe a situation in which you chose to advocate for someone who was different from you or for a cause or idea that was different from yours. Define your view of advocacy. What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate? · 400 words
- Not achieving a goal or one's desire can sometimes be disheartening. What have you discovered from your setbacks and disappointments and how does this translate to your current way of thinking? · 400 words
- Potential sources of health inequities exist. Duke's Moments to Movement (M2M) is a collective stand to address these issues. Discuss your experience with disparities in health, health care and society. · 400 words
Interview
⚠ Anecdotal — based on applicant-reported experiences (e.g. SDN). Format and questions vary year to year; treat as a guide, not a script.
Format: MMI
Virtual Multiple Mini Interview (MMI): about eight stations (~10 minutes each), typically a mix of ethical scenarios, traditional interviews, a team scenario, and a video station. Applicants report it tests thinking on your feet rather than medical knowledge.
Questions applicants report
- Work through this hypothetical patient/ethical scenario.
- Describe a time when you stood up for yourself and faced consequences for doing so.
- What about you would make your patients want to see you and no one else?
- Role-play this interpersonal scenario with the actor/interviewer.
- How do you handle working as part of a team?
- Talk about a personal characteristic and how it shapes how you approach medicine.
Key facts
- Degree
- MD
- Type
- Private
- Location
- North Carolina
- Region
- South
- Interview format
- MMI
- Preclinical grading
- Not reported
- Licensing exam
- USMLE
- Oldest MCAT accepted
- January 2023
- International applicants
- Considered
- DACA applicants
- Considered
Stats from the school's published class profile and publicly available national data. Tuition, debt, secondary fee, oldest-MCAT, PREview, interview format, and mission are compiled from publicly available figures. Prerequisite, timeline, and letter guidance is typical for US MD programs and may differ at this school. Some figures are being verified. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the AAMC.
Frequently Asked Questions
What MCAT score do I need for Duke?
Duke University School of Medicine has a median MCAT of 520 (typical accepted range about 517–522). At or above the median is most competitive; below the 25th percentile (517) is a reach without other strengths.
What GPA does Duke require?
The median accepted GPA is about 3.91 (roughly 3.84–3.96). There's no hard cutoff, but below the median you'll want to be strong elsewhere.
What are the prerequisites for Duke?
Like most US MD programs, expect a year each of biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics (all with labs), biochemistry, and English, plus math/statistics. Psychology and sociology are recommended for the MCAT. Always confirm the school's exact list.
Is Duke hard to get into?
Its acceptance rate is approximately 3% — highly competitive for US MD programs.
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