Duke Announces Free Tuition, Housing Assistance for Qualifying Students From the Carolinas

• Duke expects the tuition grants to help 340 students during the 2023 fall semester.
• The offer is for all incoming and current students with residency in either North or South Carolina.
• Duke expects to invest $2 million in tuition grants for fall 2023 and $6 million-$7 million over the next five years.

Duke University is giving students from the Carolinas the opportunity to go to college tuition-free if their family incomes meet certain requirements.

Duke is providing free tuition to incoming and current undergraduate students from North and South Carolina whose families make $150,000 or less per year and even more benefits for students from families who make $65,000 or less.

In the past six months, Stanford University and Princeton University also announced similar grants for students based on their families' incomes.

Duke announced the free tuition grants for the 2023 fall semester on June 20. The grants are expected to help 340 students living in the Carolinas. Duke also expects to increase grant assistance by $2 million for the 2023-2024 academic year and $6 million-$7 million over the next five years.

"This additional financial support for undergraduates reflects Duke's commitment to our students from the Carolinas," President Vincent Price said to Duke Today. "By providing even more equitable access to a Duke education, and ensuring students have the resources they need to truly thrive while here at Duke, we will also make our campus community stronger."

Students from families making $65,000 or less per year will get the free tuition along with assistance for housing, meals, course materials, and other campus expenses.

According to Duke, 16% of its undergrads during the 2022-2023 academic year were from North Carolina, and 160 students were from South Carolina. Military families stationed outside the Carolinas with legal residence in one of the two states will also qualify, as long as they also meet the income requirements.

"We know that students with greater financial constraints are more likely to choose colleges that are closer to their homes, and that many of those students will also choose to stay closer to home after they graduate," Gary Bennett, dean of Trinity College of Arts & Sciences, said to Duke Today.

"Retaining talent is critical to our region's success; Duke's commitment to these students is also a commitment to the North and South Carolina communities they call home."