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USA Closing soon Closes 1 November 2026

Duke University Financial Aid for International Students

Duke University in Durham, North Carolina is one of the few US private universities that offers substantial need-based aid to international undergraduates. Aid is awarded based on demonstrated financial need (assessed via the CSS Profile) and can cover the full cost of attendance — currently around USD 90,000/year including tuition, room, board, and fees. International admissions at Duke is need-aware (unlike Harvard / Princeton), but for admitted students aid is calculated using the same need formula as US applicants. Sri Lankan students with strong A/L results and limited family resources are competitive.

Open for Fall 2027 entry — Regular Decision applications due 2 January 2027

Duke University

University-funded

emoji_events Award Overview

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Value

Up to full cost (~USD 90,000/yr)

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Level

Undergraduate (Bachelor's)

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Duration

All 4 years (re-evaluated annually)

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Basis

100% need-based, no loans in aid packages

info How this award actually works

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Who awards it

Duke University — not Lanka Scholar. We are not the awarding body and cannot grant, reserve or guarantee this award.

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How you are considered

Through your admission application. Awards like this are usually assessed automatically from the application you already submit — there is typically no separate scholarship form to fill in.

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What it covers

Need-based aid up to full cost of attendance (~USD 90,000/yr). This is a reduction in tuition, not a full ride. You still fund the remainder, plus living costs and the balance your visa requires you to show.

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Where we come in

We make the admission application strong enough to be competitive — course choice, documents, references and deadlines. The funder makes the decision.

fact_check Eligibility Criteria

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International Citizen

Open to non-US citizens / permanent residents applying as first-year undergraduates. Sri Lankan citizens are eligible. The aid pool for international students is smaller than for US students, making admissions more competitive.

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Outstanding Academic Profile

Duke admits ~6% of international applicants. Sri Lankan A/Ls — 3 As at the indicative floor — plus SAT 1500+ / ACT 34+ are competitive. Test-optional policy is currently in place; many admitted applicants still submit strong scores.

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Demonstrated Financial Need

File the CSS Profile and the Duke International Student Financial Aid Application by the Regular Decision deadline. Duke calculates expected family contribution from family income, assets, and country cost-of-living adjustments.

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Need-Aware Admission

Duke is need-aware for international applicants — financial need IS a factor in the admission decision (unlike for US applicants where admissions are need-blind). Apply early with a complete need-aid file.

account_tree Application Process

Apply via the Common App or Coalition App

Submit your Duke undergraduate application via the Common App or Coalition Application by Early Decision (1 November) or Regular Decision (2 January). Personal essay, two teacher recommendations, transcripts, and Duke-specific supplemental essays are required.

File the CSS Profile

Complete the CSS Profile and Duke International Student Financial Aid Application by the same deadline. These determine how much aid Duke can offer — a thorough, accurate filing is critical.

Admissions & financial aid decision

Duke admissions and the financial aid office review your file in parallel. The admission decision and aid package are released together — Early Decision in mid-December, Regular Decision in late March.

Accept the offer + visa

If admitted, accept the offer by the National Candidates Reply Date (1 May). Duke issues your I-20 for the F-1 visa application. Lanka Scholar supports the US student visa file.

Why Duke?

Duke is consistently ranked among the top 10 US universities and the world's top 25. Strong programmes in Public Policy (the Sanford School), Engineering (the Pratt School), and Pre-Med. The Gothic-revival campus and the Sanford pipeline make Duke a magnet for ambitious international students.

#7

US News Ranking 2025

Top 25

QS World Ranking 2026

Need-Met

100% of demonstrated need met

Looking for a scholarship because of the cost?

Then start here instead. Scholarships are competitive, usually partial, and decided by someone else — they are the least reliable way to make studying abroad affordable. Your destination and course choice move the number far more, and both are entirely within your control.

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