Getting into Duke University School of Medicine
Duke University School of Medicine in Durham is built around an unusual structure: a compressed preclinical block and a full year set aside for scholarly research. No admission odds, just verified facts and how to read them.
Updated September 2026 · 2026–2027 cycle · figures cited to Duke's official admissions pages
What is Duke's mission — and what does it signal?
Duke centers a patient-centered curriculum that prepares physicians to address the evolving needs of patients and communities.Duke University School of Medicine, on its mission3
Duke pairs that patient-centered framing with an unmistakable research identity. The school's structure — see below — literally hands students a year to do scholarly work, so applicants with a real project or scholarly question fit the model well.
What makes Duke's curriculum distinctive?
Duke's curriculum is one of the most distinctive in the country:3
- Compressed preclinical year: the basic sciences are taught in roughly one year instead of two.
- A dedicated third year for scholarship: students spend a full year on research or a dual degree — Duke's signature feature.
- Clinical immersion earlier: the compressed structure moves students into the wards sooner than a traditional four-year sequence.
What GPA and MCAT does Duke look for?
Duke does not publish a class MCAT or GPA — no average, median, or range — so we don't show one. Its class that entered in 2026 is 120 students (Duke doesn't state whether that count includes PCLT and MSTP students).1 Duke does not publish a science GPA.
How does Duke review applicants?
Duke describes looking for extraordinary empathy and compassion, teamwork, and the makings of visionary leaders, reviewed holistically.3 It asks for a minimum of four letters (up to eight); a committee letter satisfies the four-letter requirement.2 Duke does not list a CASPer or PREview requirement on its official MD pages — confirm before applying.
What is the Duke interview like?
Duke uses a virtual multiple-mini-interview (MMI) — a circuit of short, structured stations rather than one long conversation.2 The MMI rewards clear thinking on your feet across ethical and situational prompts, not memorized answers.
How much does Duke cost?
Duke lists MD tuition of about $72,297.4 That's tuition only — fees, insurance, and Durham living costs are on top — so confirm the full cost of attendance and Duke's aid, which can meaningfully change what you actually pay.
A research school that gives you the time to prove it.
Duke's whole structure is a bet on scholarship — a compressed preclinical year specifically to free up a year for research. Because Duke posts no class GPA or MCAT, there is no posted number to treat as a gate. If you have a genuine scholarly question you want a year to chase, that's the story Duke is built to hear — a judgment about fit, not a prediction of admission.
See exactly where you stand — at Duke and every school on your list
Preceptorly is admissions software built by a practicing physician. It matches your real numbers to each school's published averages — never fake odds — and coaches the parts that actually decide your cycle:
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Frequently asked
What GPA and MCAT do you need for Duke School of Medicine?
Duke does not publish a class MCAT or GPA, so we don't show one. It reviews applications holistically.
What kind of interview does Duke use?
Duke uses a virtual multiple-mini-interview (MMI): a circuit of short, structured stations rather than one long traditional interview.
What makes Duke's curriculum unusual?
Duke compresses the preclinical sciences into about one year and dedicates the entire third year to scholarly research or a dual degree — its signature feature.
Does Duke require the CASPer or AAMC PREview?
Duke does not list a CASPer or PREview requirement on its official MD admissions pages. Confirm the current cycle's requirements before applying.
How much is tuition at Duke School of Medicine?
Duke lists MD tuition of about $72,297 — tuition only, before fees, insurance, and living costs.
How many letters of recommendation does Duke require?
Duke asks for a minimum of four letters (up to eight); a committee letter satisfies the four-letter requirement.
Sources — Duke official pages
- Class size, entered 2026 (Duke publishes no class GPA or MCAT): medschool.duke.edu — white coat news
- Application requirements, prerequisites & letters: medschool.duke.edu — MD admissions
- Mission & curriculum (compressed preclinical + research year): medschool.duke.edu
- Tuition & cost of attendance (confirm current figure): medschool.duke.edu — cost of attendance
These are Duke's own published figures, presented as labeled (means, medians, or ranges) — not cutoffs. Preceptorly is not affiliated with this school and does not represent it. Figures are the school's own most recently published class data and are averages, medians, or ranges as labeled — not cutoffs. No acceptance rate or admission odds are shown or implied; this page does not predict admission. Tuition is the published tuition line only, before fees, insurance, and living costs. Always confirm current requirements and figures on the school's official pages.