About
Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit is a private Catholic research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded by members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Duquesne first opened as the Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost in October 1878 with an enrollment of 40 students and a faculty of six. In 1911, the college became the first Catholic university-level institution in Pennsylvania. It is named for an 18th-century governor of New France, Michel-Ange Duquesne de Menneville.
Admissions & acceptance rate
First-time freshman admissions: how selective the college is, and how many admitted students choose to enroll.
Graduation rate & outcomes
Completion, retention, and the equity gap between Pell and non-Pell students.
Pell equity
Non-Pell students graduate at a 8.3-point higher rate than Pell recipients.
Source: IPEDS Graduation Rates (GR) — Pell/SSL cohort, 2024 cohort.
Program outcomes
Federal Program Performance Data: how each program's graduate earnings and debt measure up under Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment.
Of 141 Title IV programs, 49 pass the federal Gainful Employment test and 3 fail. 89 have graduate earnings too small to publish, so they carry no pass/fail verdict.
Pass / fail distribution
- Passing49 · 34.8%
- No Data89 · 63.1%
- Failing3 · 2.1%
Severity spectrum
Tiers band programs by how far graduate earnings sit above or below the benchmark, from Critical (below −15%) through Safe (above +25%). No data means earnings were privacy-suppressed.
Earnings premium gap
Graduate earnings versus the federal benchmark, worst gaps first.
Near the line (±5%)
Programs within five points of the pass line, one cohort year from flipping.
Debt vs earnings
Median completer debt against median graduate earnings, highest burden first.
Accreditation status & history
Who accredits the institution, current standing, and any past actions.
Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Programmatic accreditations · 16
Action history · 18
- Dec 2023Renewal of AccreditationAmerican Occupational Therapy Association, Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education · Occupational Therapy (OTD) - Programs leading to a Doctoral Degree
- Aug 2023Warning or Equivalent-Factors Affecting Academic QualityAmerican Occupational Therapy Association, Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education · Occupational Therapy (OTD) - Programs leading to a Doctoral Degree
- Jul 2023Renewal of AccreditationAmerican Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology · Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) - Graduate degree programs
- May 2023Renewal of AccreditationAmerican Bar Association, Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar · Law (LAW) - Professional schools
- Nov 2022Renewal of AccreditationAmerican Psychological Association, Commission on Accreditation · School Psychology (SCPSY) - PhD Doctoral programs
Tuition & cost
What families actually pay, broken down by family income.
Net price by family income
Negative values mean aid exceeds the published cost of attendance for that income band.
Federal aid volume & trends
Pell grants and federal Direct Loan volume disbursed to students, and how they've trended.
In AY 2024–25, 1,442 students received $8.3M in Pell grants, alongside $105.4M in federal Direct Loans.
Pell recipients · 5-year trend
Loan volume by type · AY 2024–25
Loan awards count each loan type a student holds, not unique borrowers; one student may carry several (e.g. subsidized and unsubsidized), so the per-type figures are the reliable detail.
Student loan default rate
The share of student borrowers who default on federal loans within three years, against the national benchmark.
Of 1,933 borrowers who entered repayment, 24 (1.2%) defaulted within three years — below the 2.3% national rate.
Default rate vs national, by cohort
* Cohorts 2020 and later read near 0% because the federal COVID-19 payment pause (CARES Act) suspended defaults nationwide. These years reflect a national policy, not institutional performance; the 2019 cohort is the last measured under normal repayment.
Academic programs at Duquesne
Top program areas ranked by completions.
Top program families by completions
Enrollment trends & demographics
Fall headcount, 12-month unduplicated enrollment, and student body composition.
Gender split
Race / ethnicity composition
Athletics & Title IX gender equity
How athletic participation, aid, and spending are split between men and women.
Men vs women · spending splits
Sport-by-sport · 12
Campus safety & crime statistics
Reported on-campus crimes over the last three years, including violence and hate crimes.
3-year trend
Criminal offenses by type
By location
- On campus6
- Public property3
Includes 4 in residence halls (a subset of on-campus, not added to the total).
VAWA offenses
Hate crimes by bias
No hate crimes reported.
Arrests vs disciplinary referrals
Residence-hall fires
Student-faculty ratio
Student-to-faculty ratio and instructional staff counts.
Duquesne vs Peer comparison
The peer institutions Duquesne selected for federal comparison reporting.
A larger shape on any axis means this institution outperforms its peers on that dimension. For acceptance rate and net price, lower raw values are inverted so "more selective" and "more affordable" appear larger.
| Carnegie | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SubjectDuquesne University | 77% | — | 8,234 | $37,730 | R2 Research |
| 91% | 16.4% | 15,432 | $41,704 | R1 Research | |
| 83% | 79.8% | 8,581 | $31,568 | R2 Research | |
| 68% | 75.9% | 21,210 | $30,902 | R2 Research | |
| 82% | 59.3% | 16,150 | $44,338 | R2 Research | |
| 95% | 12.9% | 20,031 | $40,815 | R1 Research | |
| 86% | 81.7% | 7,470 | $35,119 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 79% | 45.1% | 10,179 | $48,381 | R2 Research | |
| 75% | 81.6% | 17,384 | $36,079 | R2 Research | |
| 83% | 81.3% | 11,746 | $31,487 | R2 Research | |
| 80% | 75.0% | 17,059 | $24,398 | R2 Research | |
| 88% | 48.0% | 9,728 | $50,062 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 69% | 73.3% | 9,571 | $31,446 | R2 Research | |
| 79% | 82.8% | 5,243 | $29,561 | R2 Research | |
| 80% | 65.4% | 10,506 | $29,533 | R2 Research | |
| 95% | 11.3% | 13,042 | $26,780 | R1 Research | |
| 84% | 52.4% | 9,714 | $30,365 | R2 Research | |
| 70% | 61.7% | 8,913 | $41,431 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 77% | 85.4% | 9,410 | $29,155 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 92% | 27.0% | 10,041 | $43,756 | R2 Research | |
| Peer group median | 81% | 65.4% | 10,110 | $33,344 |
Institutions like Duquesne
Explore the federal data for institutions in Duquesne's comparison group.
- R1 ResearchMassachusetts
Boston College
Grad rate91%Admit rate16.4%Enrollment15,432Net price$41,704View data - R2 ResearchNebraska
Creighton University
Grad rate83%Admit rate79.8%Enrollment8,581Net price$31,568View data - R2 ResearchIllinois
DePaul University
Grad rate68%Admit rate75.9%Enrollment21,210Net price$30,902View data - R2 ResearchNew York
Fordham University
Grad rate82%Admit rate59.3%Enrollment16,150Net price$44,338View data - R1 ResearchDistrict of Columbia
Georgetown University
Grad rate95%Admit rate12.9%Enrollment20,031Net price$40,815View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalWashington
Gonzaga University
Grad rate86%Admit rate81.7%Enrollment7,470Net price$35,119View data - R2 ResearchCalifornia
Loyola Marymount University
Grad rate79%Admit rate45.1%Enrollment10,179Net price$48,381View data - R2 ResearchIllinois
Loyola University Chicago
Grad rate75%Admit rate81.6%Enrollment17,384Net price$36,079View data - R2 ResearchWisconsin
Marquette University
Grad rate83%Admit rate81.3%Enrollment11,746Net price$31,487View data - R2 ResearchMissouri
Saint Louis University
Grad rate80%Admit rate75.0%Enrollment17,059Net price$24,398View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalCalifornia
Santa Clara University
Grad rate88%Admit rate48.0%Enrollment9,728Net price$50,062View data - R2 ResearchNew Jersey
Seton Hall University
Grad rate69%Admit rate73.3%Enrollment9,571Net price$31,446View data - R2 ResearchDistrict of Columbia
The Catholic University of America
Grad rate79%Admit rate82.8%Enrollment5,243Net price$29,561View data - R2 ResearchOhio
University of Dayton
Grad rate80%Admit rate65.4%Enrollment10,506Net price$29,533View data - R1 ResearchIndiana
University of Notre Dame
Grad rate95%Admit rate11.3%Enrollment13,042Net price$26,780View data - R2 ResearchCalifornia
University of San Diego
Grad rate84%Admit rate52.4%Enrollment9,714Net price$30,365View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalCalifornia
University of San Francisco
Grad rate70%Admit rate61.7%Enrollment8,913Net price$41,431View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalMinnesota
University of St Thomas
Grad rate77%Admit rate85.4%Enrollment9,410Net price$29,155View data - R2 ResearchPennsylvania
Villanova University
Grad rate92%Admit rate27.0%Enrollment10,041Net price$43,756View data
Duquesne Institutional Research office
The IR team responsible for the institution's federal reporting.
The Office of Institutional Research and Planning provides analytical support services to University management and employees, including enrollment forecasting, analytics, and research support.
Visit IR office pageCommon Data Set
Duquesne's own annual Common Data Set: the most detailed self-reported reference for selectivity, cost, outcomes, and the student body.
Selectivity & Admissions
Admissions funnel
C112,893 applied → 10,773 admitted (83.6%) → 1,441 enrolled.
Selectivity
C1Accessible — 83.6% acceptance rate.
Admit rate by gender
C1Admit rates are similar across genders (Men 82.4%, Women 84.3%).
SAT range (middle 50%)
C9Middle 50% SAT 1190–1330 (median 1250).
ACT range (middle 50%)
C9Middle 50% ACT 26–32 (median 29).
High-school class rank
C10Share of enrolled first-years by HS class-rank band.
Waitlist outcome
C2560 offered a waitlist spot, 537 accepted it, 183 admitted (34.1% of those who stayed on).
What matters in admission
C7Relative importance of each admission factor.
Affordability & Value
Cost of attendance
GTotal sticker cost of attendance is $72,608 (2025-2026).
Sticker vs. net price
G+HSticker $72,608 → about $43,297 net for aided students after the average need-based grant ($29,311); 70% of demonstrated need is met.
Where grant aid comes from
H10% of need-based grant dollars come from the institution itself.
Graduate debt
H4/H566% of graduates borrowed; those who did owed $57,640 on average.
Outcomes & Equity
Graduation & retention
B6-year graduation rate 77%; first-year retention 86%.
Equity: Pell graduation gap
B4Pell-grant recipients graduate 7 pts below the overall rate (70% vs 77%).
Academic Experience
Class-size distribution
I344% of classes have under 20 students; 8% have 50+.
Faculty profile
IKey faculty indicators.
Degrees by discipline
JSTEM-dominant: ~18% of bachelor's degrees are in computing, engineering, math & sciences.
Student Body & Diversity
Undergraduate race/ethnicity
B2Undergraduate enrollment by race/ethnicity.
International students
B23% of undergraduates are international (nonresident).
Undergrad vs graduate
B15,371 undergraduates and 2,863 graduate students.
Transfer Path
Transfer admissions
D11,116 transfer applicants → 803 admitted (72.0%) → 221 enrolled — more selective than first-year admission.
Source publications
Reports & documents (6)
Dashboards, factbooks, data dictionaries, and other reference material published by the IR office.
- DashboardDashboardservices.duq.edu
- Data definitionInstitutional Research ResourcesThe Institutional Research Resources page at Duquesne University provides information about various resources and organizations related to institutional research, including federal and state resources, and major associations. It defines key terms important for understanding the data and systems used in higher education institutions.duq.edu
- Data dictionaryDuquesne University Fact Book2026Duquesne University's Fact Book is a comprehensive resource providing detailed data across various institutional aspects, such as student enrollment, graduation rates, academic programs, completions, employee demographics, and financial information. It includes historical and current data on enrollment figures, degrees awarded, faculty and staff demographics, and financial statements. The Fact Book also presents official university data through interactive dashboards aligned with IPEDS standards.duq.edu
- DFR reportIPEDS Data Feedback Report 20242024nces.ed.gov
- FactbookDuquesne University Fact Book2026Duquesne University's Fact Book for 2025-2026 provides comprehensive data on various institutional metrics, including student enrollment, graduation rates, degrees awarded, employee demographics, and financial information. The Fact Book also includes interactive dashboards and other resources, offering an in-depth overview of the university's operations and outcomes.duq.edu
- GlossaryInstitutional Research ResourcesThe Institutional Research Resources page at Duquesne University is a comprehensive guide to the terms and resources related to university data and statistics. It provides definitions and explanations for various institutional and federal data resources, including the National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS Data Center, College Navigator, and College Scorecard. It also covers support and governance organizations such as the Pittsburgh Council on Higher Education, the American Association of University Professors, and the Association of Institutional Research, among others. These resources are vital for data analysis, policy formulation, and ensuring educational excellence and institutional effectiveness.duq.edu
Grants & funding (4)
Federal grant awards and open funding opportunities awarded to this institution.
- opportunityCharles Henry Leach II FundDuquesne Universityinstitution_site$25,000
- opportunityFaculty Development Fund (FDF) AwardDuquesne Universityinstitution_site$20,000
- opportunityHunkele Dreaded Disease AwardDuquesne Universityinstitution_site$10,000
- opportunityPresidential Faculty Summer Writing AwardDuquesne Universityinstitution_site$5,000
Notable alumni of Duquesne (19)
A curated list of alumni recognized for notable achievements across industries.
- Bill HillgroveMedia
- John ClaytonMedia
- Terry McGovernMedia
- Pat DudleyBusiness
- Daniel DiNardoReligion
- Adam Joseph Cardinal MaidaReligion
- David ZubikReligion
- Donn ClendenonSports
- Chuck CooperSports
- Art RooneySports
- Dan RooneySports
- Dwayne WoodruffSports
Frequently asked questions about Duquesne University
Quick answers to the questions most often asked about Duquesne.
What is the graduation rate at Duquesne University?
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Who runs Institutional Research at Duquesne University?
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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