What's a competitive GPA for Duke University?

Hey everyone, I'm really interested in applying to Duke in the future and I was wondering what kind of GPA they look for in applicants? Would a 3.8 be considered strong?

In general, a competitive GPA for Duke University would be in the ballpark of 3.8 and above. However, keep in mind that Duke uses a holistic approach to evaluate applicants, which means they consider not just your GPA but also other factors such as course rigor, extracurriculars, essays, and recommendations.

A 3.8 GPA is considered strong, but it's important to ensure that you've challenged yourself academically by taking rigorous classes like AP and IB courses if available at your high school. Duke tends to admit students with a strong course load and academic achievement, so a high GPA in the context of a challenging curriculum would be an asset.

Remember that Duke receives applications from many high-achieving students, so while your GPA is important, it's not the sole determining factor in your admission. It's crucial to develop other aspects of your application, such as extracurricular activities, essays, and demonstrate a genuine interest in the school.

To give you some perspective, the middle 50% GPA range for admitted students in the class of 2026 was between 4.04-4.48 on a weighted scale. Keep in mind that this range is based on weighted GPAs, which take into account the additional weight given to more challenging courses.

In summary, a 3.8 GPA is a strong foundation, but make sure you challenge yourself academically and focus on other aspects of your application to stand out to the admissions committee. Good luck!