Grants & Scholarships

Duke provides three different types of scholarships:

 

Need-based grants & scholarships

Need-based grants & scholarships such as the Duke University Scholarship are funds that Duke provides to students to help cover their cost of attendance.  This funding is free to the student and never has to be repaid.  How much grant funding a student is eligible to receive is based on their demonstrated need. 

Some need-based grants from Duke come from endowment donations from alumni and loyal friends of the University, and are therefore named after the benefactor(s).  The criteria for some of these named scholarships are very general, while other named scholarships support students from a certain state or town or with a specific major.  Just like the Duke University Scholarship, however, these named scholarships are purely need-based grants and are only provided to those with demonstrated need.

Duke University Scholarships and endowed scholarships can go to students who have been determined to have institutional need.  These scholarships can be used to pay any of the expenses associated with the student’s total cost of attendance including but not limited to: tuition and mandatory fees, room, board, other institutional fees, course fees, travel included in budget, health insurance, books and supplies, personal expenses.  Exceptions to this general rule are the Braxton-Craven Scholarships and NC Math Scholarships; both are restricted to tuition only.

Duke also participates in state and federally-funded aid programs.  To view a list of the institutional, state, and federal programs in which Duke participates, please see our Policy and Procedures guide.

Athletic Scholarships

Duke offers a limited number of athletic scholarships to undergraduates of extraordinary talent and accomplishment. 

Many years ago, Duke made an institutional decision to build a strong athletics program, which enabled the university’s teams to excel in competition against the best teams in the country. In 2012 - 2013 Duke allocated full scholarships to more than 350 student-athletes.  These full scholarships were divided among 18 Duke athletic teams, proportionally between men and women.

Please visit the Athletics and Recreation website for more information on Athletics at Duke.

Merit Scholarships

Duke University also offers a limited number of merit scholarships. All applicants for admission are automatically considered for any available merit scholarship; specific applications are not required, and are not available. Our merit scholarship programs do not require that the winner demonstrate need; merit scholarships are based on the student's academic and personal profile.

Currently enrolled students are not eligible for merit scholarship consideration. The Office of Undergraduate Scholars and Fellows (OUSF) is responsible for the selection of merit scholars. For more information, please visit the Office of Scholars and Fellows.  Scholarship descriptions are available below:


North Carolina Math Scholarship - Admitted first-year students placing in the top ten in the North Carolina Math Contest are eligible for this full-tuition scholarship. One scholarship is awarded each year, with preference given by ranking within the top ten places.

Carolina Honors Scholarships - These scholarships award up to $5,000 to four or five students from North and South Carolina who have demonstrated financial need.

North Carolina Writing Scholarship - The top senior placing in the top ten in the North Carolina Writing Contest is eligible for a $1,000 scholarship per year for eight semesters of undergraduate study.