Duke University facts for kids
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| Latin: Universitas Dukiana | |
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Former names
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Brown School (1838–1841) Union Institute (1841–1851) Normal College (1851–1859) Trinity College (1859–1924) |
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| Motto | Eruditio et Religio (Latin) |
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Motto in English
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"Knowledge and Religion" |
| Type | Private research university |
| Established | 1838 |
| Accreditation | SACS |
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Religious affiliation
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Nonsectarian; historically affiliated with the United Methodist Church |
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Academic affiliations
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| Endowment | $11.9 billion (2024) (The university is also the primary beneficiary (32%) of the independent $3.69 billion Duke Endowment) |
| Budget | $7.7 billion (FY 2022) |
| President | Vincent Edward Price |
| Provost | Alec Gallimore |
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Academic staff
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3,982 (fall 2021) |
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Administrative staff
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| Students | 16,780 (fall 2021) |
| Undergraduates | 6,640 (fall 2022) |
| Postgraduates | 9,991 (fall 2021) |
| Location |
,
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United States
36°00′05″N 78°56′18″W / 36.00139°N 78.93833°W |
| Campus | Large city, 8,693 acres (35.18 km2) |
| Other campuses |
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| Newspaper | The Chronicle |
| Colors | Duke blue and white |
| Nickname | Blue Devils |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCAA Division I FBS – ACC |
| Mascot | Blue Devil |
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Duke University is a private research university in Durham, North Carolina, United States. It was started by Methodists and Quakers in 1838. The school first opened in a town called Trinity. Later, in 1892, it moved to Durham. In 1924, a rich businessman named James Buchanan Duke created a special fund called the Duke Endowment. The school then changed its name to honor his father, Washington Duke.
The main campus covers over 8,600 acres in Durham. It has three connected areas and a marine lab in Beaufort. The West Campus has a Gothic architecture style. The tall Duke Chapel is at its center. East Campus, about 1.5 miles away, is where all first-year students live. It has a Georgian style. Duke also has two schools in Asia: Duke–NUS Medical School in Singapore (started in 2005) and Duke Kunshan University in Kunshan, China (started in 2013).
Duke is part of the Research Triangle area. This area also includes North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In 2019, Duke spent over $1.2 billion on research. Its special fund, called an endowment, is $11.9 billion. This makes it one of the wealthiest private schools in the U.S. Duke's sports teams are called the Blue Devils. They play in 27 NCAA Division I sports. Duke is a founding member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The university has won many national championships in sports.
Contents
Duke University's History
How Duke University Began
Duke University started in 1838 as Brown's Schoolhouse. It was a private school in Randolph County, North Carolina. A group of Methodists and Quakers helped organize it. In 1841, it became the Union Institute Academy. The academy was renamed Normal College in 1851. Then, in 1859, it became Trinity College. This was because of support from the Methodist Church.
In 1892, Trinity College moved to Durham. This move happened thanks to Julian S. Carr and Washington Duke. They were wealthy Methodists from the tobacco and electrical industries. Carr gave land for the first Durham campus, now called East Campus. Washington Duke gave the school $85,000. He also gave three more $100,000 gifts later. He asked that the college "open its doors to women, placing them on an equal footing with men." In 1910, William Preston Few became president. He wanted Duke to be a top university in the South, like Yale and Harvard.
In 1924, Washington Duke's son, James B. Duke, created The Duke Endowment. This was a $40 million trust fund. The money from this fund helps hospitals, orphanages, the Methodist Church, and four colleges, including Trinity College. President Few wanted the school renamed Duke University. This would honor the Duke family's generosity. James B. Duke agreed, and the university grew quickly.
East Campus was rebuilt from 1925 to 1927 with Georgian-style buildings. By 1930, most of the Collegiate Gothic buildings on West Campus were finished. The Duke Chapel was completed in 1935.
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In 1878, Trinity College allowed three sisters to earn degrees. In 1892, women were officially allowed to attend classes. By 1904, 54 women were enrolled. In 1930, the Woman's College was created. It worked alongside the men's college, Trinity College.
In the 1920s, Duke University had policies that separated students by race. This meant Black students could not be admitted. They also could not use certain campus facilities like dining halls. In 1948, some divinity school students asked for desegregation. This was the first big step to change Duke's admission policy.
Growing and Expanding
Engineering became a separate school in 1939. In 1942, Duke hosted the Rose Bowl Game at Wallace Wade Stadium. This was the first time the game was played outside California. During World War II, Duke was part of a program to train Navy officers. In 1963, the university officially ended its policies that separated students by race in undergraduate programs.
Duke welcomed its first Black graduate students in 1961. Black undergraduate students were admitted starting in September 1963. The teaching staff became more diverse in 1966.
In November 1964, Martin Luther King Jr. spoke at Duke. He talked about the progress of the Civil Rights Movement. In 1969, Terry Sanford, a former governor, became president. During his time, the Fuqua School of Business opened. The Institute of Policy Sciences and Public Affairs was also founded. In 1972, the Woman's College joined back with Trinity. It became a liberal arts college for both men and women.
Starting in the 1970s, Duke worked to improve its reputation. They focused on different fields of study. They also worked to bring in more diverse faculty and students. The first Physician Assistant degree program in the U.S. started here. Duke University Hospital was finished in 1980. The student union building was completed two years later. In 1986, the men's soccer team won Duke's first National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championship. The men's basketball team won championships in 1991, 1992, 2001, 2010, and 2015.
A fundraising campaign called Duke Forward raised $3.85 billion by 2017.
Recent History
In 2014, Duke changed the name of an undergraduate dorm. It was formerly named after a governor. It is now called East Residence Hall.
On August 19, 2017, a statue of a Confederate general was removed from Duke University Chapel. This happened after protests.
In August 2020, students from Duke Kunshan University came to Duke's campus for study abroad. Chinese students who could not travel to the U.S. were hosted at the Duke Kunshan campus.
Past Challenges
In 2019, Duke paid $112.5 million to settle claims about scientific research. A researcher at the school was misusing money and creating false information in studies. This was to get grants. The researcher was arrested in 2013. A former Duke employee, who reported the false data, helped expose the issue.
After this, Duke created a new office. It is called the Duke Office of Scientific Integrity (DOSI). This office helps make sure research practices are fair and honest.
Duke University Campus
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Duke University has 256 buildings on 8,693 acres of land. This includes the 7,044-acre Duke Forest. The campus has four main areas: West, East, Central, and the Medical Center. A free bus service connects them all. In Beaufort, Duke has a marine lab on 15 acres. A popular spot on the main campus is the Sarah P. Duke Gardens. It covers 54 acres and was started in the 1930s.
Students often call West Campus "the Gothic Wonderland." This is because of its Collegiate Gothic architecture. Much of the campus was designed by Julian Abele. He was one of the first important African-American architects. The buildings on East Campus are in the Georgian architecture style. In 2011, Travel+Leisure magazine said Duke was one of the most beautiful college campuses in the U.S.
Duke Chapel is at the center of West Campus. It is on the highest point. It was built from 1930 to 1935 using special Duke stone. The chapel can seat 1,600 people. At 210 feet, it is one of the tallest buildings in Durham County.
West, East, and Central Campuses
West Campus is the main campus. It houses sophomores, juniors, and most seniors. Most of the academic and administrative buildings are here. West Campus has Duke Chapel at its center. It also has residential areas, the main library, and the Medical Center. This campus covers 720 acres. It includes Science Drive, where science and engineering buildings are located. Many campus dining spots and sports facilities are on West Campus. This includes the famous Cameron Indoor Stadium.
East Campus is Duke's original location in Durham. It is now the first-year campus. All freshmen live here to help build class unity. The campus is 172 acres and is 1.5 miles from West Campus. Departments like Art History, Literature, Music, and Women's Studies are on East Campus. It has dorms, a dining hall, a library, and sports facilities. The East Campus dorms include Alspaugh, Basset, and Trinity.
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Central Campus was 122 acres between East and West campuses. It used to house about 1,000 students. However, undergraduate housing on Central Campus ended after the 2018–2019 school year. The buildings were then taken down. Central Campus is home to the Nasher Museum of Art. It also has the Freeman Center for Jewish Life and the Center for Muslim Life.
In 2016, Duke bought an apartment complex called 300 Swift. It now houses upperclassmen.
Duke University Hospital and Health System
Duke University Hospital is a large hospital in Durham. It has 957 beds. It is the main teaching hospital for Duke University Health System. This system includes doctors and hospitals in the area. It is also a major trauma center for the Research Triangle.
The Duke University Health System brings together the Duke University School of Medicine, Duke University School of Nursing, and Duke Clinic. It combines research, patient care, and education.
In 2012, the Duke Cancer Center opened next to Duke Hospital. This building brings together many of Duke's cancer care services.
Other Important Places
Duke Forest was started in 1931. It covers 7,044 acres west of West Campus. It is the largest private research forest in North Carolina. It is used for many research projects. Over 30 miles of trails are open to the public for hiking and biking. The Duke Lemur Center is inside Duke Forest. It is the world's largest home for rare lemurs and other primates. It has nearly 300 animals of 25 different species.
The Sarah P. Duke Gardens were started in the 1930s. They are between West Campus and Central Campus. The gardens cover 55 acres. They have different sections, including native plants and Asian plants. There are 5 miles of paths throughout the gardens.
The Duke University Allen Building was the site of student protests in the late 1960s. In 1969, a group of Black students took over the building. They wanted the university to address issues of fairness and equal treatment. They also wanted more support for Black students and employees. The university president later said this event was "one of the most pivotal moments in our university's history." He said the protestors "changed this place for the better."
The Duke University Marine Laboratory is in Beaufort, North Carolina. It is on Pivers Island. Duke started its interest in this area in the 1930s. The first buildings were built in 1938. The lab studies oceanography, marine biology, and marine policy.
Duke Stone
The special stone used for West Campus and other Duke buildings is called Duke stone. It is said to have many colors and shades. People believe using this stone helped the university become great.
When planning the Collegiate Gothic buildings, James B. Duke first thought about using stone from Princeton. But they decided to buy a local quarry in Hillsborough to save money. Duke stone was chosen because it looked warm and old.
Duke stone is a type of rock called phyllite. It formed from volcanic material a very long time ago. The quarry for Duke stone is now part of the Duke Forest. For new buildings and repairs, the use of Duke stone is carefully controlled.
Recent Building Projects
Many new construction projects have happened recently. These include updates to Duke Chapel and sports stadiums.
In 2014, the Nicholas School of the Environment opened Environmental Hall. This building uses very sustainable features. The School of Nursing also opened a new addition in 2014. The David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library reopened in 2015 after a $60 million renovation.
From 2001 to 2005, Duke spent $835 million on 34 major building projects. These included new additions to many schools. They also built a new art museum, sports facilities, and research buildings.
Schools in Singapore and China
In 2005, Duke and the National University of Singapore agreed to create the Duke–NUS Medical School in Singapore. This school adds to Singapore's existing medical school. Its first class started in 2007. The teaching style is based on Duke's medical school.
In 2013, Duke Kunshan University (DKU) was started in Kunshan, China. This is a partnership between Duke University, Wuhan University, and the city of Kunshan. DKU offers graduate programs and an undergraduate liberal arts college. Students who graduate from DKU also get a degree from Duke University. DKU also does research on topics like climate change and health.
How Duke University is Organized
| School founding | |
|---|---|
| School | Year founded |
| Trinity College of Arts and Sciences | 1838 |
| Duke University School of Law | 1868 |
| Graduate School of Duke University | 1926 |
| Duke Divinity School | 1926 |
| Duke University School of Medicine | 1930 |
| Duke University School of Nursing | 1931 |
| Nicholas School of the Environment | 1938 |
| Pratt School of Engineering | 1939 |
| Fuqua School of Business | 1969 |
| Sanford School of Public Policy | 1971 |
| Duke-NUS Medical School | 2007 |
| Duke Kunshan University | 2013 |
Duke University has 12 schools and institutes. Three of these offer programs for undergraduate students. These are Trinity College of Arts and Sciences, Pratt School of Engineering, and Duke Kunshan University.
Duke has historical ties with the United Methodist Church. However, it is now an independent school that welcomes people of all faiths.
Duke's special fund, or endowment, was worth $11.9 billion in 2024. The university has special academic facilities. These include an art museum, language labs, and the Duke Forest. It also has the Duke Lemur Center and a marine lab. Duke is a leader in the National Lambda Rail Network. It also has a program for gifted children.
Academics at Duke
How Students Get Admitted
| Admissions statistics | |
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2028 entering
classChange vs. 2023 |
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| Admit rate | 5.1%
(
 −1.2) |
| Yield rate | 59.4%
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 +9.2) |
| Test scores middle 50% | |
| SAT Total | 1520–1570
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+20 median) |
| ACT Composite | 34–35
(
+1 median) |
Getting into Duke is very competitive. For the Class of 2028, Duke received almost 55,000 applications. Only about 5.1% of students were accepted. The percentage of accepted students who chose to attend was 59.4%. For the Class of 2024, the middle range of SAT scores was 1500–1570. The ACT range was 34–35. Duke started a test-optional policy in 2020–21. This means students can choose whether to submit their test scores.
From 2001 to 2011, Duke had many students win top national scholarships. These include Fulbright, Rhodes, Truman, and Goldwater scholarships. Duke offers need-blind admissions. This means they do not consider a student's ability to pay when making admission decisions. They also meet 100% of a student's financial need. About half of all Duke students receive some financial help. This can be need-based aid, sports aid, or merit aid. The average need-based grant in 2019–20 was $54,255. In 2020, Duke was ranked first for being generous to students with financial needs.
Duke offers about 60 scholarships that cover full tuition. These are based on merit, like academic excellence or community service. The Robertson Scholars Leadership Program is a special scholarship. It gives students full privileges at both Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill. Other scholarships are for students from North Carolina, African-American students, and children of alumni.
Duke's president, Vincent Price, has talked about legacy admissions. This is when a student's family connection to the university is considered. A 2022 survey found that about 22% of first-year students had a parent or sibling who went to Duke.
Graduate Programs
In 2023, the School of Medicine received over 7,000 applications. They accepted about 2.9% of them. The average GPA for accepted students was 3.92. The School of Law accepted about 10.5% of its applicants for the Class of 2026.
Duke has many graduate and professional schools. These include the Graduate School, Pratt School of Engineering, and Nicholas School of the Environment. Other schools are the School of Medicine, Duke-NUS Medical School, and School of Nursing. There is also the Fuqua School of Business, School of Law, Divinity School, and Sanford School of Public Policy.
Undergraduate Studies
Duke offers 46 majors in arts and sciences. It also has four engineering majors. Students can choose from 52 minors and 24 certificate programs. Students can also create their own major. Most undergraduates (85%) are in the Trinity College of Arts and Sciences. The rest are in Duke's Pratt School of Engineering. Students at Duke Kunshan can choose from 15 interdisciplinary majors.
Trinity College of Arts and Sciences
At Duke, the undergraduate experience is centered around Trinity College. Engineering students take about half of their classes within Trinity. Students from both colleges can take classes in the other. The curriculum focuses on the humanities. All freshmen take a writing class and a current-issues seminar. The Graduate School trains about 1200 students. They study arts, sciences, divinity, engineering, business, and environmental sciences.
Trinity's curriculum helps students learn how to find, understand, and share knowledge. It helps them think critically and solve problems. Freshmen can join the FOCUS Program. This program lets students explore a topic in a small group.
Pratt School of Engineering
Duke's Pratt School of Engineering focuses on design, computing, research, and entrepreneurship. Students can also study other subjects. The school encourages undergraduate research with professors. Over 60% of Duke Engineering students have a research experience. Nearly one-fifth publish or present a research paper. About 54% of students intern or study abroad. Most graduates (85%) have jobs or job offers.
Since 2018, Duke engineering students have held a Guinness World Record. They invented the world's most fuel-efficient vehicle. In 2019, they earned another record for the most efficient all-electric vehicle.
Research spending at Duke Engineering is over $88 million per year. Many faculty members are highly ranked for their research. Over 30 Duke alumni and faculty have joined the National Academy of Engineering. The school was named in 1999 after a large gift from Edmund T. Pratt Jr..
Hudson Hall is the oldest engineering building at Duke. It was built in 1948.
The Fitzpatrick Center for Interdisciplinary Engineering, Medicine and Applied Sciences (FCIEMAS) opened in 2004. It has research facilities for photonics, bioengineering, and other fields. The building encourages different study areas to work together. It has many labs, offices, and teaching spaces.
The newest building is the Wilkinson Building. It opened in 2021. It has new spaces for education and research. These focus on improving human health, advanced computing, and sustainability. It also houses Duke Engineering's entrepreneurship programs.
Duke Kunshan University
Duke Kunshan hosts Duke's newest undergraduate programs. Its curriculum focuses on combining different subjects. It is described as a "research-focused liberal arts experience." The curriculum has seven main ideas, like "Rooted Globalism" and "Wise Leadership." Noah M. Pickus helped create this international curriculum. The campus also offers five Master's programs.
Libraries and Museums
Duke Libraries include the Perkins, Bostock, and Rubenstein Libraries on West Campus. There are also libraries on East Campus and at the Duke Marine Lab. Other libraries serve the schools of business, law, and medicine.
Duke's art collections are at the Nasher Museum of Art on Central Campus. The museum was designed by Rafael Viñoly. It opened in 2005 and cost over $23 million. It has over 13,000 works of art.
Research at Duke
The National Science Foundation ranked Duke 9th among U.S. universities for research spending in 2022. Duke received $608 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health in 2021. Duke is known for its very high research activity.
Throughout its history, Duke researchers have made important discoveries. For example, the biomedical engineering department developed the first real-time, 3D ultrasound system. They also created the first engineered blood vessels. In 2015, Paul Modrich won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on DNA repair. In 2012, Robert Lefkowitz shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on cell surface receptors. Duke has also led studies in physics about complex systems.
In 2006, Duke researchers finished mapping the final human chromosome. This was a big step in the Human Genome Project. Duke researchers have also been involved in new AIDS vaccine research. The biology department has strong programs in botany and zoology.
Rankings and Reputation
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Undergraduate Rankings
In 2016, The Washington Post ranked Duke seventh overall among universities. Duke is known as a Southern Ivy. This means it has similar academic excellence and prestige to the eight Ivy League universities.
In 2021, Duke was ranked fifth in the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Rankings. It was also ranked second for student outcomes. These rankings look at graduation rates, teaching, and graduate salaries.
In 2020, U.S. News & World Report ranked Duke 22nd in the world. Times Higher Education World University Rankings ranked it 20th globally. QS World University Rankings ranked Duke 61st in the world for 2025.
Duke ranks fifth among national universities for producing many top scholars. These include Rhodes, Marshall, Truman, Goldwater, and Udall Scholars. As of 2022, Duke graduates have received 20 Churchill Scholarships.
In a 2016 study by Forbes, Duke ranked 11th among U.S. universities that have produced billionaires. It was first among universities in the South. In 2015, NPR ranked Duke first for "schools that make financial sense."
Graduate School Rankings
Duke has been named one of the top universities for graduate outcomes. In U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Graduate Schools 2023–2024," Duke's medical school ranked 5th in research. The School of Law also ranked 5th. Duke's nursing school ranked 2nd. The Sanford School of Public Policy ranked fifth in Public Policy Analysis for 2019. The Fuqua School of Business is ranked tied for tenth overall by U.S. News & World Report for 2020. The graduate programs of Duke's Pratt School of Engineering ranked 24th in the U.S. in 2020.
Student Life at Duke
| Race and ethnicity | Total | ||
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| White | 41% |
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| Asian | 21% |
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| Other | 11% |
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| Hispanic | 10% |
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| Black | 9% |
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| Foreign national | 8% |
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| Native American | 1% |
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| Gender diversity | |||
| Male | 49% |
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| Female | 51% |
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| Economic diversity | |||
| Low-income | 12% |
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Student Body
Duke has 6,789 undergraduate students and 9,991 graduate students. This was in the fall of 2021. In 2013, the average family income of Duke students was $186,700. About 56% of students came from the top 10% highest-earning families.
Where Students Live
Duke requires undergraduate students to live on campus for their first three years. This helps students connect with each other. About 85% of undergraduates live on campus. All freshmen live in one of 14 dorms on East Campus. These dorms vary in size. Most are in the Georgian style. Learning communities help students with similar interests live together.
Sophomores and juniors live on West Campus. Most seniors choose to live off campus. West Campus has seven residential areas. All housing on West Campus is organized into "houses." Students can return to the same house each year. There are also "selective living groups." These are residential groups that are often co-ed. They may focus on a particular interest. Fifteen fraternities and nine sororities also have houses on campus.
Social Life
About 30% of undergraduate men and 40% of undergraduate women at Duke are members of fraternities and sororities. Most fraternity chapters live in sections within the dorms. Eight National Pan-Hellenic Council (historically African-American) fraternities and sororities also have chapters at Duke. There are also other multicultural Greek groups. Selective Living Groups (SLGs) are also popular. These are residential groups similar to fraternities or sororities. They are usually co-ed and focus on themes like entrepreneurship or culture.
Duke athletics, especially men's basketball, is a big part of student life. Duke's students are known for being very creative fans. They are often called Cameron Crazies. Students show support for the men's basketball team by "tenting" for big games. This means setting up and living in a tent near Cameron Indoor Stadium. This area is called Krzyzewskiville, or K-Ville. Students line up for hours to get tickets, sometimes even sleeping outside. For a big game, some students might start tenting weeks before. K-Ville often becomes a party or concert spot at night. Duke also has a "bench-burning" tradition. This involves bonfires after certain basketball victories.
Student Activities
Student Groups
Over 400 student clubs and organizations are active at Duke. These include student government, special interest groups, and service organizations. Duke Student Government (DSG) helps fund other student groups. Duke University Union (DUU) plans many social, cultural, and recreational events. There are also student-run businesses. Cultural groups receive funding from the university.
One of the most popular activities is playing sports. Duke has 37 sports clubs and many intramural teams. Performance groups like Duke Players and a cappella groups are also popular. As of 2016–17, there are seven official a cappella groups. The Duke University mock trial team won the national championship in 2012.
Cultural groups on campus include the Asian Students Association, Black Student Alliance, and Jewish Life at Duke. There are also groups for Latino, Muslim, and Native American students.
In 2021, a student group called Students Supporting Israel (SSI) faced challenges in being recognized. After discussions, Duke SSI was officially recognized as a student organization in February 2022.
Community Involvement
Over 75% of Duke students get involved in service projects. They work in Durham and around the world. DukeEngage, started in 2007, fully funds students for a summer of service. By 2013, over 2,400 students had volunteered in 75 countries. Duke students have created over 30 service organizations in the Durham area. Examples include a camp for children of cancer patients and a group promoting student well-being and safety.
The Duke-Durham Neighborhood Partnership helps local residents and schools. Another project, "Scholarship with a Civic Mission," combines leadership and ethics. Project CHILD is a tutoring program with 80 first-year volunteers. Project BUILD is a freshman volunteering group. It helps with projects like Habitat for Humanity and food banks. Some Duke courses also include service as part of the learning.
Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC)
Duke's Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) has three branches: Army, Air Force & Space Force, and Navy & Marines. Students in Army ROTC who receive a scholarship agree to serve in the U.S. Army after graduation.
Duke's Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) Detachment 585 includes students from Duke and North Carolina Central University. It started in 1951. This program helps students become military officers while earning a degree. After graduating, students join the U.S. Air Force or U.S. Space Force.
Student Media
The Chronicle is Duke's independent student newspaper. It has been published daily since 1905. Its editors chose the name "Blue Devil" for the sports teams. Cable 13, started in 1976, is Duke's student-run TV station. WXDU, licensed in 1983, is the university's radio station. It is run by students and community volunteers.
The Chanticleer is Duke University's undergraduate yearbook. It was first published in 1912.
Duke Athletics
The sports teams for Trinity College were first called the Trinity Eleven. Later, in 1922–23, the Trinity Chronicle staff started calling them the Blue Devils. This name eventually stuck.
The Duke University Athletic Association manages 27 sports. It has over 650 student-athletes. The Blue Devils play in the NCAA Division I level. They are part of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Men's sports include basketball, football, and lacrosse. Women's sports include basketball, field hockey, and soccer.
Duke's teams have won 17 NCAA team national championships. The women's golf team has won seven. The men's basketball team has won five. The men's lacrosse team has won three. Duke consistently ranks high in overall athletic success.
Academically, nine Duke sports programs had perfect scores in the NCAA's Academic Progress Report in 2016.
Men's Basketball
Duke's men's basketball team is one of the most successful in the nation. The team had great success for 42 years under coach Mike Krzyzewski (Coach K). The team holds the record for the most Atlantic Coast Conference tournament titles. Coach K also coached the U.S. men's national basketball team. He led them to Olympic gold medals in 2008, 2012, and 2016. Over 32 Duke players have been chosen in the first round of the NBA draft during Coach K's time.
In 2021, Jon Scheyer was named the team's next head coach. This was after Coach K retired at the end of the 2021-22 season.
Football
The Blue Devils have won seven ACC Football Championships. They have had many players honored as ACC Player of the Year. Three Pro Football Hall of Fame members have come from Duke. Duke has also won 18 total conference championships.
The most famous Duke football season was in 1938. Coach Wallace Wade led the "Iron Dukes." They did not allow any points from their regular season opponents. Duke played in their first Rose Bowl Game that year. They lost to USC in the final minute. Wade's Blue Devils lost another Rose Bowl in 1942. This game was played at Duke's home stadium due to World War II. The football program was also successful in the 1950s and 1960s. They won six ACC football championships under coach Bill Murray.
David Cutcliffe became coach in 2008. The 2009 team won 5 of 12 games. Mike MacIntyre, the defensive coordinator, was named Assistant Coach of the Year in 2009.
Even when the football team has struggled, its players' graduation rate is very high. Duke has won more Academic Achievement Awards than any other school.
In 2012, the Duke football team played in a bowl game for the first time since 1994. They lost to the Cincinnati Bearcats.
The 2013 season was a breakout year for the Blue Devils. They had a 10–2 record and won the Coastal Division title. Duke played in the ACC Championship game but lost to the national champions. They also played in the Chick-fil-a Peach Bowl against the Texas A&M Aggies.
For the 2014 season, Duke finished 9–3. They earned a trip to the Sun Bowl. In 2015, two Duke players were drafted into the NFL. In 2019, Duke quarterback Daniel Jones was drafted sixth overall by the New York Giants.
Track and Field
In 2003, Norm Ogilvie became the Director of Track and Field. He has led athletes to many championships. A new facility, the Morris Williams Track and Field Stadium, opened in 2015.
Famous Duke Alumni
Duke has had many famous people associated with it. These include Nobel laureates and Rhodes Scholars. Duke is also the school of one president of the United States and one president of Chile. Many U.S. cabinet members, governors, and members of Congress also went to Duke.
Duke has over 145,000 active alumni. They support the university through various groups and events. There are 75 Duke clubs in the U.S. and 38 international clubs. In 2008–09, Duke was ranked high for alumni giving. In 2011, Duke alumni ranked seventh in mid-career median salary.
Famous Duke alumni in politics include U.S. President Richard Nixon. Also, Chilean President Ricardo Lagos. Other notable alumni include Elizabeth Dole, a former U.S. Senator, and Rand Paul, a current U.S. Senator.
In business, famous alumni include philanthropist Melinda French Gates. Also, the CEOs of Apple (Tim Cook), Procter and Gamble (David S. Taylor), and McDonald's (Chris Kempczinski). Adam Silver is the commissioner of the National Basketball Association.
Media personalities who went to Duke include Dan Abrams from MSNBC and Jay Bilas from ESPN. Also, Charlie Rose, a former talk show host, and Judy Woodruff, an anchor at PBS. Actors like Ken Jeong and Jared Harris are also alumni.
In sports, famous alumni include basketball players Grant Hill, Christian Laettner, and Kyrie Irving. Football players like Sonny Jurgenson and Daniel Jones also went to Duke. Baseball players like Marcus Stroman are alumni. Many Olympians have also graduated from Duke.
Current and former faculty include Manny Azenberg, a Broadway producer. Also, David Brooks, a columnist for The New York Times. David Gergen served as an advisor to several U.S. Presidents. John Hope Franklin, a historian, received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
- Notable Duke alumni include:
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37th President of the United States Richard Nixon (J.D. 1937)
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Astronaut Charles E. Brady Jr. (M.D. 1975)
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Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin Dempsey (M.A. 1984)
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Philanthropist Melinda French Gates (A.B. 1986, M.B.A. 1987)
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Former U.S. Secretary and Senator Elizabeth Dole (B.A. 1958)
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Former NFL player and Hall of Fame member Sonny Jurgenson (B.A. 1956)
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Seven-time NBA All-Star and NCAA Champion Grant Hill (B.A. 1994)
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United States Senator from Kentucky Rand Paul (M.D. 1988)
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American billionaire and Governor of Illinois J. B. Pritzker (A.B. 1987)
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Actor & Comedian Ken Jeong (B.S. 1990)
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CEO of McDonald's Chris Kempczinski (B.A. 1991)
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American billionaire and Co-founder of The Carlyle Group David Rubenstein (B.A. 1970)
Duke Alumni Association
The Duke Alumni Association (DAA) is for all Duke graduates. It offers alumni events, a global network of chapters, and travel opportunities. It also provides access to campus facilities like the Duke Lemur Center and Nasher Museum of Art.
See also
In Spanish: Universidad Duke para niños
- Carolina–Duke rivalry
- Duke Basketball
- List of Duke University people
- Duke University Press
- Southern Ivy
