Duquesne University: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

Duquesne University is a private Catholic university with an acceptance rate of 73%. Founded in 1878 by the congregation of the Holy Spirit, Duquesne is the only Spiritan university in the country. The university, which overlooks downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is home to 9 schools of study and 85 undergraduate majors. Academic programs are supported by a 14-to-1 student / faculty ratio. In athletics, the Duquesne Dukes compete in the NCAA Division I Atlantic 10 Conference except for football which competes in the Northeast Conference.

Considering applying to Duquesne University? Here are the admissions statistics you should know, including average SAT/ACT scores and GPAs of admitted students.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, Duquesne University had an acceptance rate of 73%. this means that for every 100 students who applied, 73 students were admitted, making Duquesne's admissions process somewhat competitive.

SAT Scores and Requirements

Duquesne University is test-optional for some applicants. Students applying to the colleges of Business, Liberal Arts, and Music who have average GPAs of 3.0 and above in college preparatory coursework may apply test-optional to Duquesne. All other applicants are required to submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 73% of admitted students submitted SAT scores.

This admissions data tells us that most of Duquesne's admitted students fall within the top 35% nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to Duquesne scored between 570 and 650, while 25% scored below 570 and 25% scored above 650. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 560 and 650, while 25% scored below 560 and 25% scored above 650. Applicants with a composite SAT score of 1300 or higher will have particularly competitive chances at Duquesne.

Requirements

Duquesne University is test-optional for certain applicants. For students who do submit scores, note that Duquesne participates in the scorechoice program, meaning that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each individual section across all SAT test dates. Duquesne does not require the essay portion of the SAT or SAT Subject tests.

ACT Scores and Requirements

Duquesne University is test-optional for some applicants. Students applying to the colleges of Business, Liberal Arts, and Music who have average GPAs of 3.0 and above in college preparatory coursework may apply test-optional to Duquesne. All other applicants must submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 31% of admitted students submitted ACT scores.

This admissions data tells us that most of Duquesne's admitted students fall within the top 31% nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to Duquesne received a composite ACT score between 23 and 28, while 25% scored above 28 and 25% scored below 23.

Requirements

Note that Duquesne is test-optional for certain applicants. For students who do submit scores, Duquesne participates in the scorechoice program, meaning that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each individual section across all ACT test dates. Duequesne does not require the ACT writing section.

GPA

In 2019, the average high school GPA of Duquesne University's incoming freshmen class was 3.74, and over 53% of incoming students had GPAs of 3.75 and above. These results suggest that most successful applicants to Duquesne have primarily A grades.

Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph

The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to Duquesne University. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

Duquesne University, which accepts fewer than three-quarters of applicants, has somewhat competitive admissions. However, Duquesne University also has a holistic admissions process and is test optional for certain applicants, and admissions decisions are based on much more than numbers. A strong application essay and glowing letters of recommendation can strengthen your application, as can participation in meaningful extracurricular activities and a rigorous course schedule. The college is looking for students who will contribute to the campus community in meaningful ways, not just students who show promise in the classroom. Students with particularly compelling stories or achievements can still receive serious consideration even if their grades and scores are outside of Duquesne's average range. Note that an audition is required for music applicants.

As the graph above shows, Duquesne University has moderately selective admissions. The blue and green dots represent accepted students, and you can see that most admitted students had a GPA of a "B" or higher, an ACT composite score of 23 or better, and a combined SAT score (ERW+M) above 1100.

If You Like Duquesne University, You May Also Like These Schools

• Drexel University
• Pennsylvania State University
• Temple University
• Northeastern University
• Boston University
• Ithaca College
• Ohio State University
• University of Scranton
• Carnegie Mellon University

All admissions data has been sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics and Duquesne University Undergraduate Admissions Office.