Duke University

Founded in 1838, Duke University is a private research university in Durham, North Carolina. The university has longstanding ties to the United Methodist Church, but it operates as a nonsectarian and independent institution. It is widely known for its programs in computer science, medicine, and engineering – plus competitive sports teams. Notable alumni include actor and trained physician Ken Jeong, former U.S. Senator Elizabeth Dole, and computer scientist and philanthropist Melinda French Gates.

Ranked 16 in the nation, Duke is a very selective school. Its acceptance rate is 8%, and its graduation rate is 95%. Annual tuition is $60,594, plus fees, but 52% of students do not pay the full cost. Over 6,500 undergraduates and more than 9,000 postgraduates are enrolled at Duke. The university offers over 50 undergraduate majors and more than 70 graduate programs of study. It follows a semester-based academic calendar.

Duke boasts a rigorous education and produces graduates who go on to achieve high academic accolades. Between 2001 and 2011, Duke had the sixth-highest number of Fulbright, Rhodes, Truman, and Goldwater scholars. The university’s 8,600-acre campus offers students a rich environment to engage in research, stroll along trails, and participate in over 400 clubs and organizations. The Archive, which is the oldest literary magazine in the country, publishes students’ poetry, stories, artwork and photographs. Hoof n’ Horn, the university’s beloved musical theater group, is one of Duke’s oldest organizations, performing a collection of mainstage and cabaret shows every year. But Duke’s competitive athletic teams, the Blue Devils, who compete in the NCAA Division I Atlantic Coast Conference, are one of the university’s largest attractions. With winning teams, and a vibrant school spirit, attending games is a defining activity of student life.