Duquesne University has once again admitted a class of great ability, diversity and geographic variety after a third year of record applications. 

The admitted students are problem solvers who think bigger and who want to make an impact in their work and communities. 

Out of more than 13,270 applicants to Duquesne to pursue their undergraduate education, the University has offered admission to a select group who possess academic abilities and backgrounds that suggest they will be successful in pursuing their bigger goals at Duquesne. The enrolling class of about 1,500 first-year students and about 200 transfer students will start their journey Tuesday, Aug. 15, at orientation.

About the Class 

The admitted students hail from 80 countries, 48 states and two U.S. territories. That group includes more than 243 valedictorians and 114 salutatorians who hope to attend Duquesne, a nationally prominent Catholic Spiritan university situated in the vibrant heart of Pittsburgh. Roughly 57% of the admitted students come from Pennsylvania and 5% are from countries outside the U.S. The other four top states from which students applied and were admitted are New York, Ohio, New Jersey and Maryland.  

The percentage of the incoming class who identify as Black, Latina/o, Asian American or Native American increased 82% over the last two years, representing 37%, or almost four out of 10 admitted students. Roughly two-thirds of the class are women and a third men, 65% of applicants applied test-optional, and 74% of the applicants applied via the Common Application.  

“Duquesne’s stellar reputation for graduates prepared for anything is generating lots of interest from students and families who are increasingly conscious of getting value for their investment,” said Senior Vice President for Enrollment Joel Bauman. “Students sense the huge momentum we have—a new medical school preparing to launch, interesting programs, and our student research opportunities and faculty highly visible in our region’s communities and organizations.” 

Community involvement and teamwork is strong in the admitted class. Among the most common activities in which the students participated were community service, work, athletics, and student government and politics. Their interests are wide-ranging as well. One member of the admitted class is on a canoe slalom team, and another is a robotics entrepreneur. 

Academic Strength  

Duquesne’s admitted Class of 2027 shows a group of students with strong academic preparation and an enthusiasm for expanding their horizons. While many have declared a major area of interest, about 20% of the class chose to follow their own path by exploring options of academic pathways to achieve their personal and professional ambitions.  

“Lots of people generally know about Duquesne. We have a national profile,” said Executive Vice President and Provost Dr. David Dausey. “Then, when students and their parents start to dig in and learn what happens here, get to know our distinctive offerings and how our faculty take real joy in helping people find what they are good at and how it’s good for the world, that turns into real demand.”

While Duquesne University offers test-optional admission to applicants for whom the SAT or ACT may not be a fair predictor of academic success based upon their motivations and high school academic accomplishments, many students still opt to provide those scores. This year, that information suggests significant academic ability in the incoming class. 

With scores higher than that of 88% of those who take the test, students’ ACT range for the middle 50% of all applicants submitting scores was 25-31, and the corresponding SAT range was 1180-1350. 

Roughly a third of the admitted class rank in the top 10% of their high school graduating class, and 61% overall are in the top 25%. The average GPA for the class is 3.58. 

Recruiting the Class 

Nearly a fifth of the students admitted come from private or Catholic high schools. About 5,000 students visited the campus at least once during their decision-making process, and more than 1,000 are registered to visit campus in the coming weeks for the final admitted student days. 

“Duquesne’s momentum and energy are palpable on campus,” said Duquesne President Ken Gormley. “I routinely get letters and emails from students and families about the experience they have getting to know us and starting their journeys here. It’s all driven by the curiosity and tenacity of our faculty and what they bring to their classes, their research and their various interactions with students. It makes Duquesne an exciting place to be, especially as a student, when you know all these people are committed to your success.” 

Duquesne University

Founded in 1878, Duquesne is consistently ranked among the nation's top Catholic universities for its award-winning faculty and horizon-expanding education. A campus of nearly 8,000 graduate and undergraduate students, Duquesne prepares students by having them work alongside faculty to discover and reach their goals. The University's academic programs, community service and commitment to equity and opportunity in the Pittsburgh region have earned national acclaim.

It's time for bigger goals
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April 03, 2023