What you'll see on your bill
This page explains common charges that may appear on your Duke student account, including tuition, mandatory fees, housing, dining, insurance, and other miscellaneous charges. Not all students are charged every fee. Charges vary based on your academic program, enrollment status, housing assignment, meal plan selection, insurance enrollment, and participation in specific services or activities. If you do not recognize a charge, please contact the Bursar's Office for assistance.
Questions about fee amounts?
Published undergraduate tuition and fee rates are available on the Undergraduate Tuition & Fees page. Tuition and program fees for graduate and professional students vary by school and program. If you have questions about a charge on your account, please contact the Bursar's Office.
Mandatory Fees:
Activity Fee
Who is charged?
The Activity Fee is charged to undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. Undergraduate students are assessed the Undergraduate Student Activity Fee, while most graduate and professional students are assessed the Graduate Student Activity Fee.
Why am I charged?
The Activity Fee supports student government, recognized student organizations, student-led programming, campus events, leadership opportunities, and activities that enhance student engagement and campus life. These funds help provide programming, resources, and opportunities that contribute to the overall student experience at Duke.
Health Fee
Who is charged?
All students are charged the mandatory Health Fee.
Why am I charged?
The Health Fee supports student health services, wellness programs, health education, prevention initiatives, and other resources that promote a healthy campus community.
Office of Student Health
Phone: (919) 681-WELL (9355)
Website: https://students.duke.edu/wellness/studenthealth/
Recreation Fee
Who is charged?
All students are charged the mandatory Recreation Fee.
Why am I charged?
The Recreation Fee provides access to campus recreation facilities, fitness centers, intramural sports, wellness programs, and other services offered by Duke Recreation & Physical Education.
Student Service Fee
Who is charged?
Undergraduate, graduate, and professional students are charged the mandatory Student Service Fee.
Why am I charged?
The Student Service Fee supports co-curricular programs, student activities, leadership development opportunities, arts programming, campus events, and other services that enhance student life outside the classroom.
Who is charged?
Students living in Duke-managed housing are charged based on their assigned residence and housing agreement.
Why am I charged?
Housing charges cover the cost of living in university-owned or university-managed residential facilities and help support housing operations and residential services.
Housing Assignments
Telephone: (919) 684-4304
Email: housing@studentaffairs.duke.edu
Website: http://studentaffairs.duke.edu/hdrl/apply-housing
Residential Programming Fee
Who is charged?
Undergraduate students living in Duke's residential community are charged the Residential Programming Fee.
Why am I charged?
This fee supports House programs, community events, student leadership activities, and the training, advising, and administration needed to support Duke's residential experience.
Dining
Who is charged?
Students enrolled in a Duke dining plan are charged dining fees based on the meal plan they select. Dining charges may vary depending on the meal plan option chosen and the student's housing assignment.
Why am I charged?
Dining charges cover the cost of the meal plan selected by the student and provide access to Duke Dining services, meal swipes, food points, and other dining-related benefits associated with the chosen plan. An administrative fee is also included to support dining operations and services.
Dining Services Office
Telephone: (919) 660-3900
E-mail: dining@duke.edu
Website: http://studentaffairs.duke.edu/dining/plans-and-points
MailBox Rental
Who is charged?
Students living on campus are charged for campus mailbox rental. Off-campus students may also be charged if they choose to rent a campus mailbox.
Why am I charged?
This fee provides access to a Duke campus mailbox and mail services for the period the mailbox is assigned to the student.
Post Office
Telephone: East Campus: (919) 684-3331 / West Campus: (919) 684-4104
INSURANCE:
Insurance
Adequate medical insurance is required for degree-seeking students at Duke University who are enrolled full-time in in-person or hybrid academic programs at Duke as well as all international students. Eligible students who do not have adequate private medical insurance must enroll in the Duke Student Medical Insurance Plan (The Duke Plan).
Dental insurance is an optional policy offered to all eligible students. All PhD students and international students will be automatically enrolled in the Duke dental plan unless they opt out of coverage by the established deadlines.
Additional information concerning plan coverage, contact information, claims submission, and dependent coverage is available through the Duke Student Health Office.
ONE-TIME FEES:
FIRST-TIME Registration Fee
Who is charged?
New undergraduate students, including transfer students, are charged a one-time First-Time Registration Fee on their first Duke bill.
Why am I charged?
This nonrefundable fee supports initial enrollment processing and includes a one-time transcript processing fee.
Transcript Fee
Who is charged?
First-year students in most academic programs are assessed a one-time Transcript Fee.
Why am I charged?
This fee provides current and former students with ongoing access to official academic transcripts without per-transcript charges.
University Registrar’s Office
Telephone: (919) 684-2813
E-mail: registrar@duke.edu
Website: http://www.registrar.duke.edu
Medical School Registrar’s Office
Telephone: (919) 684-2304
E-mail: medreg@mc.duke.edu
Website: https://medschool.duke.edu/education/health-professions-education-programs/student-services/office-registrar
PROGRAM SPECIFIC FEES:
Engineering Government Dues
Who is charged?
All undergraduate students enrolled in the Pratt School of Engineering are charged Engineering Government Dues.
Why am I charged?
Engineering Government Dues support the Engineering Student Government (ESG), which provides programs, events, advocacy, and resources that enhance the academic and student experience for Pratt students.
Study Abroad Fee
Global Education Office
Telephone: (919) 684-2174
E-mail: globaled@duke.edu
Website: http://globaled.duke.edu
Tuition and Program Fees
Who is charged?
Students are charged tuition and any applicable program-specific fees based on their academic program, enrollment status, course registration, and school requirements.
Why am I charged?
Tuition supports academic instruction and university resources required for your program of study. Additional program fees may include professional dues, society fees, laboratory fees, technology fees, or other charges established by your school or academic program.
Questions?
Review your registration in DukeHub, consult your school's academic bulletin, or contact the Bursar's Office for assistance.
OTHER CHARGES:
Traffic Tickets
Who is charged?
Students who receive traffic or parking citations and do not pay them directly to Parking and Transportation Services by the specified deadline may see the charges transferred to their student account.
Why am I charged?
Unpaid traffic and parking fines are transferred to the student account for collection through the university billing process.
Questions?
Parking and Transportation Services
Phone: (919) 684-7275
Email: tranpark@duke.edu
Website: https://parking.duke.edu/
FAQs
Billing statements are static and cannot be reissued when account activity changes. If your insurance waiver has been approved, the adjustment will be reflected in your student account.
To view your most current account balance and activity, log in to DukeHub and navigate to Financials → Account Activity Classic. This page provides real-time account information and may differ from a previously issued billing statement.
Most tuition and mandatory student fees cannot be waived, as they are approved by the university and apply to all students or specific student populations. Examples include the Health Fee, Recreation Fee, Student Service Fee, Activity Fee, and other mandatory fees associated with enrollment.
Some charges may be removed or adjusted if eligibility requirements are met. For example, students who have comparable health insurance coverage and complete the waiver process by the published deadline may be eligible to waive enrollment in the Duke Student Medical Insurance Plan.
Because waiver eligibility varies by charge, students who have questions about a specific fee should contact the office responsible for the charge or the Bursar's Office for assistance.
Tip: Receiving a waiver for the Duke Student Medical Insurance Plan does not waive the mandatory Health Fee.
In most cases, the mailbox charge remains on your account while you are studying abroad. Maintaining your campus mailbox allows you to keep the same Duke mailing address throughout your time as a student and helps ensure continuity of mail service while you are away.
Students participating in study abroad programs remain active Duke students and continue to have access to many university services during their time away.
If you have specific questions about your mailbox assignment or believe the charge has been assessed in error, please contact Duke Postal for assistance.
Tip: Before requesting to close your mailbox, consider whether you may need to receive university correspondence, checks, or other mail at your Duke address while away from campus.