James B. Duke Scholarship
ListedCollege programTuition + housing
- Award
- Full tuition, room, board, and all fees for four years/eight semesters. Renewal requires cumulative GPA at least 3.00 at the end of each academic year. Includes Riley Institute Advantage Scholars and Community of Scholars programming.
- Deadline
- November 1 priority deadline for premier scholarships; selected candidates receive early February invitations for a March interview event. The cycle year and exact interview dates are not stated.
- How to apply
- Initial consideration uses the admission application with no separate initial Duke scholarship form. Selected finalists are invited to interview in March and notified by mail. Duke replaces any previously offered Bell Tower award.
- What you'll need
- No separate application: you are considered when you apply for admission
- An interview
- Who can apply
- Incoming first-year students with exceptional academics, leadership, service, and co-curricular involvement. Typical top 1–2% applicant ranking and ACT above 34/SAT above 1500 describe past finalists, not published mandatory thresholds. General admission is test optional; no separate Duke nationality or state restriction is stated.
- Good to know
- Other premier scholarships have distinct geographic rules. The renewal policy still names the historical Lay award, but the current merit directory does not confirm a separate Lay award accepting new applicants.