Duke University is a private research institution located in Durham, North Carolina. It was founded in 1838 by Methodists and Quakers in modern-day Trinity before the school then moved to Durham in 1892. It was not until 1924 that the school changed its name to Duke University to honour Washington Duke, the deceased father of tobacco and electric power industrialist James Buchanan Duke who also founded the Duke Empowerment.

The prestigious private university is located in a suburban setting, spanning 8,693 acres on three contiguous sub-campuses in Durham and a marine lab in Beaufort. Spending over a billion dollars per year on research, Duke University is one of the ten largest research universities in the U.S., and as of 2019, 3 Turing award winners and 15 Nobel Laureates have been affiliated with the University.

Awarding associate honours, doctoral, specialist, master, bachelor, and professional degrees in various courses and academic fields, Duke University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

Duke University is no doubt one of the most sought-after schools in the United States thanks to its impressive academic records. As one of the biggest and best schools in North Carolina, Duke University has about 16,780 (2021) students and 3,982 (2021) staff readily available to answer and cater to the needs of students and members of the university.

The University has four campuses; the main campus in Large city, a campus in Bethesda, Maryland, a marine lab in Beaufort, and two international campuses, one in Kunshan, China, and the other in Singapore all serving both undergraduate and graduate programs and offering 53 majors, 52 minors and 23 certificates programs.

The university is divided into 10 schools and colleges which include: Divinity School, Duke Kunshan University, Fuqua School of Business, Duke-NUS Medical School, Graduate School, Pratt School of Engineering, Nicolas School of the Environment, Sanford School of Public Policy, School of Nursing, School of Law, School of Medicine and Trinity College of Arts and Sciences.

Duke University Rankings

Duke University stands as the pride of North Carolina and is a leading school in academic standards. It’s inclusive and creative curriculum system has helped nature to the very best the nation has to offer, with in-depth creativity and unique diversity that flows through its teachings and academic life into that of the students producing unshaved excellence.

With a mission statement that reads: “By pursuing these objectives with vision and integrity, Duke University seeks to engage the mind elevated the spirit, and stimulate the best effort of all who are associated with the University; to contribute in diverse ways to the local community, the state, the nation, and the world”.

As a prominent school of higher education, Duke University has impressive rankings by top-rated sites and analytical magazines, putting it way ahead of other institutions in the state and nation at large. As one the very best the nation has to offer, Duke University continues to stand out and soar high in standards, landing these rankings:

• Duke University ranks #10 in the 2022-2023 USNews Edition of Best National Universities
• Duke University ranks #11 in the 2022-2023 Ranking of Best Undergraduate Teaching University
• Duke University ranks #16 in the 2022-2023 Ranking of Best Value University
• Duke University ranks #13 in the 2022-2023 Ranking of Most Innovative School
• Duke University ranks #339 in the 2022-2023 Ranking of Top Performers of Social Mobility
• Duke University ranks #16 in the 2022-2023 Ranking of Best Undergraduate Engineering Program
• Duke University ranks #16 in the 2022-2023 Ranking of Best Environmental/ Environmental Health Schools
• Duke University ranks #8 in the 2022-2023 Ranking of Best Undergraduate Research/ Creative Project

Duke University Acceptance Rate

With an Alumni network as impressive as Harvard itself, and high prestige bold enough to challenge for the top spot in the world today, Duke University boasts of the highest competition standards and a very low acceptance rate. This means that getting into the university is highly competitive and only the proven best would be able to secure a spot in such a prestigious institution as Duke University.

The University has on several occasions voiced how it only admits students who have proven to be College ready, having what it takes to meet the academic and social standards. With impressive high school grades, coming out top in most cases and a solid pre-college curriculum you stand a chance at Duke University. According to statistics, 50% of admitted first-year students score above 33 on their ACT tests, with as low as 22% scoring below 30.

This shows just how competitive a spot at this great institute is, but this does not mean that students with lower test scores cannot be admitted, but you’d have to prove your qualities in other aspects, having a rigorous high school curriculum, making up in sports, social skills, community service or even leadership roles where academic seems to be lacking.

As of 2022, Duke University Acceptance Rate is 5.9%, which means that out of over 50,000 applicants only about 3,000 are selected. The average score considered in the university stands between 33-35 on ACT and 1480-1570 out of 1600 on SAT.

Duke University Admission Requirements

Getting admission into Duke University can be an extremely competitive task. Apart from having a low acceptance rate, it also ranks amongst the lowest acceptance rates in the country. The university also has a generally high acceptance score, expecting applicants to be within the top 10 per cent in the country. Thanks to this, the university naturally attracts A students, with results in the top quarter of their high school.

ACT Score Requirement

The school admission data shows that Duke University normally accepts students who score 33 and above on ACT and that successful applicants are typically in the top 5 per cent of the nation. The school listed 33 to 35 as its ACT score requirement, with students reaching this minimum in the top half of applicants and those unable to in the lower.

SAT Score Requirement 

Another thing Duke University can boast of is having some of the best SAT takers in the nation. The School usually sets standards high in all academic fields and increases its requirements to keep applicants on their toes. In the 2022-2023 admission requirements, the university set its SAT score requirements to 1480 to 1570 out of 1600, which is one of the highest of any other institution.

Duke University Location

Duke University sits on the beautiful landscape of about 8,693 acres of land divided into four main areas in Durham, North Carolina. The campus is divided into the East area, the West area, the campus centre and the Medical Center.

The campus is beautifully designed and inspired by Collegiate Gothic Architecture in the West are if the campus, hence earning its nickname “the Gothic Wonderland”. The campus was largely designed by Julian Abele, the chief designer in Horace Trumbaeur’s office and one of the first prominent African-American architects.

The campus has seen a lot of renovation in recent years, with the addition and completion of some new buildings to modify the learning environment further. All areas of the school are connected bus efficient bus services. The school camp is always alive and bursting with students in their best and busiest forms further highlighting the best parts of the school.

Duke University Notable Alumni

Duke University has an alumni activity that dates way back to the early 19th century, keeping the long list of notable men and women together with get-togethers, parties, reunions, Homecomings and other events. There are 38 international clubs and 78 Duke Clubs in the United States that keep the alumni tree connected.

The university has produced some of the greatest minds the world has yet seen and continues to impress and keep its name with an impressive notable alumni list which includes;

• Charles E Brady: Astronaut
• Tim Cook: CEO of Apple
• Millenia Gates: Philanthropist
• Hashim Bin Al Hussien: Prince of Jordan
• Kyrie Irvins: Basketballer
• Ricardo Lagos: Former president of Chile
• J B Pritzker: American Billionaire
• Shivinder Mohan Singh: Indian Billionaire.

Duke University Undergraduate Tuition and Fees

One of the most important things to check out before choosing or applying for a school is the tuition fee and general cost of living in the school. This is very important, as it helps students know what and how exactly to prepare for college, and in some cases apply early for aid and grants if the finances exceed their budget or guidance capability.

Below is the 2022-2023 cost of attendance for undergraduate students enrolled full-time at Duke University:

Duke University Scholarships

Duke University has always provided the nation with quality education and has proven to do this well over the years, providing scholarships and financial aid to students. With the placed admission requirements and raised academic standards, the school automatically begins to consider students for admission as soon as they submit their applications.

Duke University begins to note students qualified for merit scholarships from the results they submit for admission, stating that there is no separate application for its scholarships except for two financial aid programs; Nakayama Scholarships and Robertson Scholarships. Learn more on how to qualify for this scholarship.

If you chose Duke University, you can be rest assured that you have picked one of the very best the nation has to offer, a school of prestige and class, mixed with the perfect academic and social environment any student in pursuit of excellence would be privileged to have.