Duke University

Younger than most other prestigious US research universities—but consistently included amongst their ranks—Duke University is committed to the highest educational ideals: Providing a superior education in the liberal arts and engineering. Graduating leaders experienced in civic engagement. Promoting a deep appreciation for the range of human difference and potential. Creating knowledge with practical applications in a complex world.    

Duke students find themselves challenged, inspired, and supported by their professors and peers through an academically rigorous and unusually flexible course of study. They enjoy an atmosphere of institutional responsiveness as they strive to achieve their potential. They acquire a broad base of knowledge in a range of subjects and methods of analysis and leave Duke with a diverse set of tools for understanding the world...and prepared for a lifetime of meaning.

Interdisciplinary exploration is threaded through every course of study, and at the core of Duke’s academic programs are globally recognized faculty fully engaged in the education of undergraduates. Wide-ranging, proactive support services assist students in their academic pursuits. Every year tens of thousands of the world’s best students apply to Duke to join this community of exceptionally talented learners. They come from public, private, and parochial schools and from all points on the economic, political, and geographic spectrum. Those who aspire to a Duke education should be ambitious, curious students who want to tackle issues head on, who are open to change, and who want to study at an institution constantly striving to improve.

A private institution tracing its roots to 1838, Duke enrolls approximately 6,640 undergraduate and 9,350 graduate students today who represent every state in the nation and over 60 foreign countries. The University continues to evolve in response to the changing needs of the world in which its graduates serve.

Life at Duke
Duke’s home campus in Durham, North Carolina, a city of more than 270,000 people, comprises 220 buildings on 8,470 acres, including 7,060 acres of Duke Forest (see sidebar). The campus is divided into four main areas: West, East, and Central campuses and the Medical Center, which are all connected via a free bus service.

Duke students often refer to the campus as “the Gothic Wonderland,” a nickname referring to the Collegiate Gothic architecture of West Campus. Much of the campus was designed by Julian Abele, one of the first prominent African American architects. In 2011 Travel + Leisure listed Duke among the most beautiful college campuses in the United States.

Duke requires its students to live on campus for the first three years of undergraduate life, fostering a close-knit campus community. Accordingly, approximately 82% of undergraduates live on campus in housing that caters to students’ many varied interests, from learning communities to first-year student clusters. All housing on West and Central is organized into about 80 “houses”—sections of residence halls or clusters of apartments, each with its own unique identity—to which students can return each year.

More than 400 clubs and organizations spanning all manner of student passions, talents, and cultural backgrounds operate on Duke’s campus. These include numerous student government, special-interest, and service organizations. More than 75% of Duke students pursue service learning opportunities in Durham and around the world through DukeEngage and other programs that advance the University’s mission of “knowledge in service to society.” Finally, about 30% of undergraduate men and about 40% of undergraduate women participate in Greek life through 15 fraternities and nine sororities.

Duke’s legendary Division I athletic teams compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference, supported by equally legendary fans. Duke has won national championships in men’s basketball (1991, 1992, 2001, 2010, 2015), men’s soccer (1986), men’s lacrosse (2010, 2013, 2014), women’s golf (1999, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2014), and women’s tennis (2009). Duke also fields 36 sports clubs and numerous intramural teams.

Financial aid
Duke is committed to a need-blind admission policy for US citizens and permanent residents, which means it admits undergraduates without consideration of their families’ ability to pay tuition and other college costs, and meets 100% of students’ demonstrated financial need for four years. About 50% of all Duke students receive some form of financial aid, which includes need-based aid, athletic aid, and merit aid. The average need-based grant is more than $44,000. For more information, visit financialaid.duke.edu.