Full History Of Duke University In Timeline From 1900

2 days ago : Duke and Denver lacrosse teams compete; UConn medical students find residency matches.

Duke University's lacrosse team faced Denver in a top-15 matchup. Simultaneously, 103 UConn medical students discovered their residency placements, marking a crucial step in their careers.

1900: Washington Duke Augments Donation

In 1900, Washington Duke made a further contribution of $100,000 to Trinity College. His donation came with the stipulation that the college "open its doors to women, placing them on an equal footing with men."

1903: Engineering Taught at Duke

Engineering had been taught at Duke since 1903.

1903: Washington Duke withdraws provision

In 1903 Washington Duke wrote to the board of trustees withdrawing the provision, noting that it had been the only limitation he had ever put on a donation to the college.

1904: Women Enrolled at the College

By 1904, 54 women were enrolled in the college.

1905: The Chronicle began continuous publication

In 1905, The Chronicle, Duke's independent undergraduate daily newspaper, began continuous publication.

1910: William Preston Few Becomes President

In 1910, William Preston Few was promoted as the new president of Trinity College, with the goal of establishing the university as a southern counterpart to Yale and Harvard.

1911: The Chanticleer founded

In 1911, Duke University's undergraduate yearbook, The Chanticleer, was founded when the institution was still Trinity College.

1912: First publication of The Chanticleer

In 1912, the first edition of Duke University's undergraduate yearbook, The Chanticleer, was published.

1918: The Chanticleer not published due to WWI

In 1918, The Chanticleer was not published due to many students leaving for military service in World War I.

1919: The Chanticleer titled The Victory

In 1919, The Chanticleer was titled The Victory to mark the end of World War I.

1922: Blue Devils nickname introduced by Trinity Chronicle

In the academic year 1922-23, the staff of the Trinity Chronicle began referring to the athletic teams as the Blue Devils, which eventually caught on.

1924: The Duke Endowment Established

In 1924, James B. Duke established The Duke Endowment with a $40 million trust fund to be distributed to hospitals, orphanages, the Methodist Church, and four colleges, including Trinity College, which was renamed Duke University.

1924: Duke Endowment Established; Institution Renamed

In 1924, James Buchanan Duke established the Duke Endowment, and Trinity College was renamed Duke University in honor of his father, Washington Duke.

1924: Trinity College Renamed

In 1924, the men's undergraduate college, formerly known as Trinity College, was officially established and named Trinity College.

1925: Duke University Purchases Local Quarry for Duke Stone

In 1925, Duke University purchased a local quarry in Hillsborough to source Duke stone for the construction of Collegiate Gothic buildings. Comptroller Frank Clyde Brown identified the stone.

1925: East Campus Rebuilding Begins

In 1925, Duke's East Campus was rebuilt with Georgian-style buildings, a project which lasted until 1927.

1927: Rebuilding of East Campus Completes

In 1927, the rebuilding of Duke's East Campus was completed. The campus was rebuilt with Georgian-style buildings.

1928: Renovations Begin on David M. Rubenstein Rare Book and Manuscript Library

In 2015, the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book and Manuscript Library began renovations on the sections of the building built in 1928.

1930: Collegiate Gothic-Style Buildings Mostly Completed

By 1930, the majority of the Collegiate Gothic-style buildings on West Campus were completed.

1930: Duke University Hospital Established

Duke University Hospital, a 957-acute care bed academic tertiary care facility, was established in Durham, North Carolina in 1930.

1930: Construction of Duke Chapel begins

In 1930, construction began on Duke Chapel, which is located at the center of West Campus on the highest ridge.

1930: Woman's College Established

In 1930, the Woman's College was established as a coordinate to the men's undergraduate college.

1930: Women's College Founded on East Campus

In 1930, the area that is now East Campus became the site of the Women's College.

1931: Duke Forest Established

In 1931, Duke Forest was established, consisting of 7,044 acres west of West Campus. It is one of the largest private research forests in North Carolina.

1934: J. Deryl Hart House Completed

In 1934, the university president's official residence, the J. Deryl Hart House, was completed.

1935: Duke Chapel Completed

Duke Chapel, constructed from Duke stone, was completed in 1935. It seats 1,600 people and is one of the tallest buildings in Durham County, standing at 210 feet.

1938: First Buildings Erected at Duke University Marine Laboratory

In 1938, the first buildings were erected at Duke University Marine Laboratory, located on Pivers Island in Beaufort, North Carolina.

1939: Creation of Pratt School of Engineering

In 1939, Duke's board of trustees created the Pratt School of Engineering.

1939: Engineering Becomes Separate School

In 1939, Engineering became a separate school at Duke University.

1942: Duke Hosts Rose Bowl

In 1942, Duke hosted and competed in the first Rose Bowl ever played outside California in Wallace Wade Stadium.

1947: Edmund T. Pratt Jr. Graduation

Edmund T. Pratt Jr., a graduate from the class of 1947, later became the chief executive of Pfizer and donated $35 million leading to the renaming of the school of engineering in 1999.

1948: Construction of Hudson Hall

Hudson Hall, the oldest engineering building at Duke, was constructed in 1948.

1948: Divinity School Students Petition for Desegregation

In 1948, a group of divinity school students petitioned the divinity school to desegregate, marking the first concerted effort to push for the desegregation of Duke's admission policy.

1948: Renovations Begin on David M. Rubenstein Rare Book and Manuscript Library

In 2015, the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book and Manuscript Library began renovations on the sections of the building built in 1948.

1951: Establishment of Air Force ROTC Detachment 585

In 1951, Duke's Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) Detachment 585 was established at Trent Hall. It includes members from Duke University and North Carolina Central University.

1961: First Black Graduate Students Enrolled

In 1961, Duke University enrolled its first Black graduate students.

September 1963: First Black Undergraduates Admitted

In September 1963, Duke University admitted its first Black undergraduates.

1963: Undergraduate College Desegregated

In 1963 the Board of Trustees officially desegregated the undergraduate college.

November 1964: Martin Luther King Jr. Speaks at Duke

In November 1964, Martin Luther King Jr. spoke at Duke University, addressing the progress of the Civil Rights Movement.

1964: National Academy of Engineering

Since its founding in 1964, more than 30 Duke alumni and faculty have been elected to the prestigious National Academy of Engineering.

1966: Duke Lemur Center Founded

Duke Lemur Center was founded in 1966. Located inside Duke Forest, it is the world's largest sanctuary for rare and endangered strepsirrhine primates.

1966: Teaching Staff Integrated

In 1966, Duke University's teaching staff became integrated, ending the prior all-white composition.

1969: Student Protest at Duke University Allen Building

In 1969, Black students overtook the Allen Building at Duke University to protest racial inequalities and demand to be treated with respect, leading to a confrontation with police.

1969: Terry Sanford Elected President

In 1969, Terry Sanford, former governor of North Carolina, was elected president of Duke University, leading to the opening of The Fuqua School of Business, the completion of the William R. Perkins library, and the founding of the Institute of Policy Sciences and Public Affairs.

1972: Women's College Relocates from East Campus

In 1972, the Women's College, which had been located on East Campus since 1930, moved from the area.

1972: Woman's College Merges with Trinity

In 1972, the separate Woman's College merged back with Trinity as the liberal arts college for both men and women.

April 12, 1974: Founding of Omega Psi Phi, Omega Zeta chapter

On April 12, 1974, the Omega Psi Phi fraternity, Omega Zeta chapter, was founded as the first historically African-American Greek letter organization at Duke University.

1976: Cable 13 established

In 1976, Cable 13, Duke's student-run television station, was established.

1980: Duke University Hospital Finished

In 1980, Duke University Hospital was finished.

1980: Start of Coach K's Tenure

In 1980, Mike Krzyzewski, often called Coach K, began his 42-year tenure as the coach of Duke's men's basketball team.

1983: WXDU licensed

In 1983, WXDU, the university's noncommercial FM radio station, was licensed.

1986: Bench-burning tradition began

In 1986, Duke began a tradition of "bench-burning," which involves bonfires after certain basketball victories.

1986: Men's Soccer Team Captures NCAA Championship

In 1986, the Duke men's soccer team captured the university's first National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championship.

1991: Men's Basketball Team Wins NCAA Championship

In 1991, the Duke men's basketball team won its first National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championship.

1992: Hudson Hall Renaming

Hudson Hall was renamed in 1992 to honor Fitzgerald S. "Jerry" Hudson (E'46).

1992: Ariel Dorfman wins Laurence Olivier Award

In 1992, Novelist and playwright Ariel Dorfman won the Laurence Olivier Award.

1992: Men's Basketball Team Wins Second NCAA Championship

In 1992, the Duke men's basketball team won its second consecutive National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championship.

1993: Inception of the NACDA Directors' Cup

Duke has finished within the top 10 six times since the inception of the NACDA Directors' Cup in 1993-94.

1994: William Raspberry wins the Pulitzer Prize

In 1994, William Raspberry, a syndicated columnist for The Washington Post, won the Pulitzer Prize.

1994: Malt Liquor Thursdays tradition at Wayne Manor

Since 1994, Wayne Manor has maintained the tradition of hosting Malt Liquor Thursdays (M.L.T.).

1995: Start of Consecutive ACC Championships

In 1995, the Duke women's golf team won their first of 13 consecutive ACC championships.

1995: East Campus Becomes First-Year Campus

In the 1995-96 academic year, East Campus was designated as the first-year campus, with all first-year students housed there to build class unity.

1996: Duke-Durham Neighborhood Partnership started

In 1996, the Office of Community Affairs started the Duke-Durham Neighborhood Partnership to address concerns of local residents and schools using university resources.

1998: Jenny Chuasiriporn Runner-Up at U.S. Women's Open

In 1998, Jenny Chuasiriporn, while still an undergraduate at Duke, finished as a runner-up in the U.S. Women's Open.

1999: Women's Golf National Championship

In 1999, the Duke women's golf team won a national championship.

1999: Naming of Pratt School of Engineering

In 1999, the school was named in honor of Edmund T. Pratt Jr., a 1947 graduate and former chief executive of Pfizer, following a $35 million gift.

2000: Duke Women's Golf Team Dominance Begins

Starting in 2000, the Duke women's golf team began a period of significant success, achieving a head-to-head record of 796–45–3 between 2000 and 2005.

February 2001: Duke Launches "Building on Excellence" Strategic Plan

In February 2001, Duke University initiated the "Building on Excellence" five-year strategic plan, allocating $835 million to 34 major construction projects.

2001: Scholarship Statistics

From 2001 to 2011, Duke had the sixth-highest number of Fulbright, Rhodes, Truman, and Goldwater scholarships among private universities in the nation.

2001: Stanley Hauerwas Named 'America's Best Theologian'

In 2001, Time magazine named Stanley Hauerwas, one of the divinity school's leading theologians, as "America's Best Theologian".

2001: Men's Basketball Team Wins NCAA Championship

In 2001, the Duke men's basketball team won another National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championship.

2002: Kellogg Foundation grant for after-school program

In 2002, Duke received a $2.25 million grant from the Kellogg Foundation to start an after-school program for at-risk students in Durham.

2002: Women's Golf National Championship

In 2002, the Duke women's golf team won a national championship.

2002: Major Additions Completed at Duke University

Since 2002, completed projects include major additions to the business, law, nursing, and divinity schools, a new library, the Nasher Museum of Art, a football training facility, two residential buildings, an engineering complex, a public policy building, an eye institute, two genetic research buildings, a student plaza, the French Family Science Center, and two new medical-research buildings.

2003: Duke Track and Field Success

Since 2003, Duke track and field athletes have achieved significant success, winning over 60 individual ACC championships and earning 81 All-America selections.

August 2004: Opening of FCIEMAS

In August 2004, the Fitzpatrick Center for Interdisciplinary Engineering, Medicine and Applied Sciences (FCIEMAS) opened, focusing on interdisciplinary activities and research in photonics, bioengineering, communications, and materials science.

April 2005: Duke Partners with National University of Singapore

In April 2005, Duke University and the National University of Singapore signed an agreement to establish Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore.

November 2005: Completion of "Building on Excellence" Strategic Plan

In November 2005, Duke University completed the "Building on Excellence" five-year strategic plan, having spent $835 million on 34 major construction projects.

2005: Brittany Lang Runner-Up at U.S. Women's Open

In 2005, Brittany Lang, while still an undergraduate at Duke, finished as a runner-up in the U.S. Women's Open.

2005: Duke-NUS Medical School Established in Singapore

In 2005, Duke University established Duke–NUS Medical School in Singapore, expanding its presence in Asia.

2005: The Chronicle wins Best in Show

In 2005, The Chronicle won Best in Show in the tabloid division at the Associated Collegiate Press National College Media Convention.

2005: Women's golf team wins NCAA championship

In 2005, the Duke women's golf team won the NCAA team national championship.

2005: Opening of the Nasher Museum of Art

In 2005, the Nasher Museum of Art opened on Central Campus, designed by Rafael Viñoly and named for Duke alumnus Raymond Nasher. The museum houses over 13,000 works of art.

March 2006: University purchases houses in Trinity Park to reduce off-campus parties

In March 2006, Duke University purchased 15 houses in the Trinity Park area, which were typically rented by students, and sold them to individual families. This was done to encourage renovations and reduce off-campus parties in residential neighborhoods.

May 2006: Mapping of the Final Human Chromosome

In May 2006, Duke researchers mapped the final human chromosome, marking the completion of the Human Genome Project.

June 2006: AIDS Vaccine Research

In June 2006, reports of Duke researchers' involvement in new AIDS vaccine research surfaced.

2006: Coach K Coaches the USA men's national basketball team

In 2006, Coach K began coaching the USA men's national basketball team.

2006: Women's Golf National Championship

In 2006, the Duke women's golf team won a national championship.

2006: Lacrosse Team Members Falsely Accused of Rape

In 2006, three Duke men's lacrosse team members were falsely accused of rape, an event which garnered significant media attention.

April 11, 2007: All charges dropped in Duke Lacrosse Case

On April 11, 2007, North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper dropped all charges and declared the three players innocent in the Duke Lacrosse Case. Cooper stated that the charged players were victims of a tragic rush to accuse.

2007: Duke-NUS Medical School Opens

In 2007, Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore welcomed its first class of students.

2007: DukeEngage launched

In 2007, DukeEngage was launched, providing funding for undergraduates to pursue immersive summer service projects.

2007: Women's Golf National Championship

In 2007, the Duke women's golf team won a national championship.

2008: Duke Aware of Research Misconduct

By 2008, Duke University became aware of the suspicions of research misconduct, when a medical student working with Potti and Nevins withdrew his name from the research and submitted a memorandum entitled "Research Concerns" to the administration.

2008: Duke Alumni Giving Rate

For the 2008–09 fiscal year, Duke tied for third in alumni giving rate among U.S. colleges and universities according to U.S. News & World Report.

2008: Whistleblower alerts Duke

In 2008 a whistleblower alerted Duke to the misconduct but went ignored

2008: Coach K Leads USA Basketball to Olympic Gold

In 2008, Coach K led the USA men's national basketball team to an Olympic gold medal.

2008: End of Consecutive ACC Championships

In 2008, the Duke women's golf team won their last of 13 consecutive ACC championships.

2009: Women's tennis team wins NCAA championship

In 2009, the Duke women's tennis team won the NCAA championship.

November 2010: Anil Potti Resigns

In November 2010 Anil Potti resigned after Duke put him on administrative leave, terminated the clinical trials based on his research and retracted his published data.

2010: Coach K Leads USA Basketball to World Championship Gold

In 2010, Coach K led the USA men's national basketball team to a World Championship gold.

2010: Men's basketball and lacrosse teams win NCAA championships

In 2010, both the Duke men's basketball and men's lacrosse teams won NCAA championships.

2010: Men's Basketball Team Wins NCAA Championship

In 2010, the Duke men's basketball team won another National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championship.

2010: Center for Measuring University Performance Report

The 2010 report by the Center for Measuring University Performance puts Duke at sixth in the nation.

2011: Duke Alumni Mid-Career Salary

Based on statistics compiled by PayScale in 2011, Duke alumni rank seventh in mid-career median salary among all U.S. colleges and universities.

2011: Scholarship Statistics

From 2001 to 2011, Duke had the sixth-highest number of Fulbright, Rhodes, Truman, and Goldwater scholarships among private universities in the nation.

2011: Laetitia Beck Named ACC Rookie of the Year

In 2011, Laetitia Beck was named ACC Rookie of the Year while playing for the Duke women's golf team.

2011: Duke Listed Among Most Beautiful Campuses

In 2011, Travel+Leisure listed Duke among the most beautiful college campuses in the United States.

2012: Forbes Ranking: Power Factories

Forbes magazine ranked Duke seventh in the world on its list of 'power factories' in 2012.

2012: Coach K Leads USA Basketball to Olympic Gold

In 2012, Coach K led the USA men's national basketball team to an Olympic gold medal, adding to his previous Olympic gold in 2008.

2012: Nobel Prize in Chemistry

In 2012, Robert Lefkowitz along with Brian Kobilka, who is also a former affiliate, shared the Nobel Prize in chemistry for their work on cell surface receptors.

2012: Duke University mock trial team wins national championship

In 2012, the Duke University mock trial team won the national championship.

2012: Duke Cancer Center Opens

In early 2012, Duke Cancer Center opened next to Duke Hospital in Durham, consolidating Duke's outpatient clinical care services.

2013: Student Economic Diversity

As of 2013, the median family income of Duke students is $186,700, with 56% of students coming from the top 10% highest-earning families and 17% from the bottom 60%.

2013: DukeEngage participation milestone

As of summer 2013, over 2,400 Duke students had volunteered through DukeEngage in 75 nations on six continents.

2013: Researcher Arrested

In 2013 a Duke researcher was arrested on charges of embezzling funds from the university.

2013: Duke Kunshan University Established

In 2013, Duke Kunshan University (DKU), a partnership between Duke University, Wuhan University, and the city of Kunshan, was established in Kunshan, China.

2013: Duke Kunshan University Established in Kunshan, China

In 2013, Duke University established Duke Kunshan University in Kunshan, China, further solidifying its global presence.

2013: Construction Projects at Duke University

In 2013, construction projects at Duke University included transforming buildings like Gross Hall and Baldwin Auditorium, plus new construction such as the Events Pavilion.

2013: Men's lacrosse team wins NCAA championship

In 2013, the Duke men's lacrosse team won the NCAA championship.

2013: Kiplinger's Best Values in Private Universities

Kiplinger's 50 Best Values in Private Universities 2013–14 ranks Duke at fifth best overall after taking financial aid into consideration.

April 2014: School of Nursing Opens Addition

In April 2014, the School of Nursing at Duke University opened a new 45,000 sq ft addition to the Christine Siegler Pearson Building.

May 2014: Dedication of the Orrin H. Pilkey Marine Research Laboratory

In May 2014, the newly built Orrin H. Pilkey Marine Research Laboratory was dedicated at Duke University Marine Laboratory.

2014: 75th Anniversary Celebration

Duke University Pratt School of Engineering celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2014–2015.

2014: BusinessWeek MBA Program Ranking

In 2014, BusinessWeek ranked the Fuqua School of Business's full-time MBA program first in the nation.

2014: Coach K Leads USA Basketball to World Championship Gold

In 2014, Coach K led the USA men's national basketball team to a World Championship gold.

2014: Charles B. Aycock's Name Removed from Dormitory

In 2014, Duke removed the name of Charles B. Aycock, a white supremacist governor of North Carolina, from an undergraduate dormitory, which is now known as the East Residence Hall.

2014: Laetitia Beck Qualifies for Major Professional Golf Tour

In 2014, Laetitia Beck became the first Israeli to qualify for a major professional golf tour.

2014: Women's Golf National Championship

In 2014, the Duke women's golf team won a national championship.

August 2015: David M. Rubenstein Rare Book and Manuscript Library Reopens

In August 2015, the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book and Manuscript Library reopened after about $60 million in renovations to the sections of the building built in 1928 and 1948. The renovations included more space, technology upgrades and new exhibits.

November 2015: Research Misconduct Found

On November 2015, the Office of Research Integrity (ORI) found that former Duke University associate professor and cancer researcher, Anil Potti along with Joseph Nevins had engaged in research misconduct including falsifying data and fraud.

2015: 75th Anniversary Celebration

Duke University Pratt School of Engineering celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2014–2015.

2015: Thomson Reuters' Most Innovative Universities

Duke was ranked 17th on Thomson Reuters' list of the world's most innovative universities in 2015. In 2015, NPR ranked Duke first on its list of "schools that make financial sense".

2015: Opening of Morris Williams Track and Field Stadium

In 2015, Duke University opened a new facility for track and field, the Morris Williams Track and Field Stadium.

2015: Nobel Prize in Chemistry

In 2015, Paul Modrich shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the discovery of mechanism of DNA repairs.

2015: Men's Basketball Team Wins NCAA Championship

In 2015, the Duke men's basketball team won another National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championship.

April 2016: Duke Athletics Programs Achieve Perfect APR Scores

In April 2016, nine Duke varsity athletics programs achieved a perfect 1,000 score in the NCAA's multi-year Academic Progress Report (APR).

December 2016: Duke University Purchases 300 Swift Apartment Complex

In December 2016, Duke University purchased an apartment complex, which became known as 300 Swift, to house upperclassmen between East and West Campus.

2016: Seven a cappella groups recognized

As of the 2016-17 school year, there are seven a cappella groups recognized by Duke University A Cappella Council: Deja Blue, Lady Blue, Out of the Blue, the Pitchforks, Rhythm & Blue, Something Borrowed Something Blue, and Speak of the Devil.

2016: Coach K Leads USA Basketball to Olympic Gold

In 2016, Coach K led the USA men's national basketball team to an Olympic gold medal, adding to his previous Olympic golds in 2008 and 2012.

2016: The Washington Post Ranking

In 2016, The Washington Post ranked Duke seventh overall based on the accumulated weighted average of rankings from various publications.

2016: Expected Completion of West Campus Union Renovations

In 2016, the major renovations of the West Campus Union were expected to be completed in the spring.

2016: Forbes Ranking: Billionaire Production

In a 2016 study by Forbes, Duke ranked 11th among universities in the United States that have produced billionaires and first among universities in the South. In 2016, Forbes ranked Duke sixth on its list of "Expensive Schools Worth Every Penny".

August 2017: Duke Forward Campaign Raises $3.85 Billion

By August 2017, the Duke Forward fundraising campaign had raised $3.85 billion.

August 19, 2017: Robert E. Lee Statue Removed from Duke Chapel

On August 19, 2017, following the violent clashes at the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, the statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee was removed from the entrance to Duke University Chapel after being vandalized by protesters.

2017: Epworth Dorm Disuse

Epworth—the oldest residence hall, built in 1892 as "the Inn"), which has not been used as a student dorm since the 2017–2018 school year.

July 2018: Guinness World Record

Since July 2018, Duke engineering students have held the Guinness World Record for inventing the world's most fuel-efficient vehicle, which achieved 14,573 miles per gallon equivalent and was powered by a fuel cell.

2018: Epworth Dorm Disuse

Epworth—the oldest residence hall, built in 1892 as "the Inn"), which has not been used as a student dorm since the 2017–2018 school year.

2018: History Department Reflects on Duke and Carr's Support

In 2018, Duke's Department of History noted Duke and Carr's decision to support education in a state where it wasn't a priority, also highlighting their support for women's rights.

2018: Undergraduate Housing Ends on Central Campus

In 2018, undergraduate housing on Central Campus ended. The buildings were later demolished.

2019: Second Guinness World Record

In 2019, Duke Engineering students earned a second Guinness World Record for the world's most efficient all-electric vehicle, achieving 797 miles per kilowatt-hour.

2019: Duke Spent More Than $1.2 Billion on Research

In 2019, Duke University spent more than $1.2 billion on research, highlighting its commitment to academic advancement.

2019: Duke Pays $112.5 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations

In 2019, Duke paid $112.5 million to settle False Claims Act allegations related to scientific research misconduct.

2019: Sanford School of Public Policy Ranking

In 2019, The Sanford School of Public Policy ranked fifth in Public Policy Analysis, according to U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Graduate Schools 2023–2024".

2019: Central Campus housing closed

In 2019, the Central Campus housing, which accommodated over 1,000 students in apartment buildings, was closed.

2019: Women's Golf National Championship

In 2019, the Duke women's golf team won a national championship.

2019: Undergraduate Housing Ends on Central Campus

In the 2018-2019 school year, undergraduate housing on Central Campus came to an end.

2019: Average Need-Based Grant

In the 2019-2020 academic year, the average need-based grant for Duke students was $54,255, reflecting the university's commitment to financial aid.

2019: Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU)

The Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) ranked Duke 28th best globally in 2019.

August 2020: Duke Kunshan University Students Arrive for Study Abroad

In August 2020, the first undergraduates from Duke Kunshan University arrived for their study abroad on Duke's campus. Also due to COVID-19, Chinese Duke undergraduate and graduate students unable to travel to the United States were reciprocally hosted at Duke Kunshan campus.

2020: Fuqua School of Business Ranking

Among business schools in the United States, 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. by U.S. News & World Report in its 2020 rankings.

2020: Mitchell Scholars

As of 2020, Duke has produced 8 Mitchell Scholars.

2020: Duke Alumni Billionaires

As of early 2020, Duke University has fourteen living billionaire alumni.

2020: Duke Began Adopting a Test-Optional Policy

During the 2020–21 academic year, Duke began adopting a test-optional policy.

2020: Global University Rankings

In 2020, Duke was ranked 22nd in the world by U.S. News & World Report and 20th in the world by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

2020: Generosity to Neediest Students

In 2020, a Chronicle of Higher Education study ranked Duke first on its list of "Colleges That Are the Most Generous to the Financially Neediest Students."

November 2021: Duke Student Government Denies Recognition of Students Supporting Israel

In November 2021, the Duke Student Government (DSG) initially denied recognition to Duke's chapter of Students Supporting Israel (SSI).

2021: Student Body Composition

As of fall 2021, Duke's student body consists of 6,789 undergraduates and 9,991 graduate and professional students.

2021: Introduction of the QuadEX residential system

In 2021, Duke introduced a new residential system called QuadEX, designed to enhance community among students.

2021: Global Employability Ranking

In 2021, Duke ranked 34th in the world and 12th in the country on Times Higher Education's global employability ranking.

2021: Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Rankings

In 2021, Duke was ranked fifth in the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Rankings, having risen five places, and second for student outcomes, tied with Harvard, M.I.T., and Stanford.

2021: Jon Scheyer Named Head Coach

In 2021, Jon Scheyer was named the next head coach of Duke's men's basketball team, following Coach K's retirement at the end of the 2021–22 season.

2021: Second Rose Bowl Played Outside of California

In 2021, the second Rose Bowl ever played outside of California was played in Arlington, Texas, after the first was played at Duke in 1942. The game was moved due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2021: Opening of the Wilkinson Building

In early 2021, the Wilkinson Building, a 150,000-square-foot building, opened for classes with spaces for education and research related to human health, computing, and sustainability. The Wilkinson Building recognizes Jerry C. Wilkinson.

2021: NIH Funding Ranking

In fiscal year 2021, Duke received $608 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health, ranking third in the nation.

February 2022: Duke SSI Officially Recognized After Reconsideration

In February 2022, Duke SSI was officially recognized as a student organization after the student government reconsidered the group's application.

2022: Churchill Scholarships

As of 2022, Duke graduates have received 20 Churchill Scholarships to the University of Cambridge.

2022: End of Coach K's Tenure

In 2022, Mike Krzyzewski, often called Coach K, ended his 42-year tenure as the coach of Duke's men's basketball team.

2022: Legacy Admissions Survey

In 2022, The Chronicle found that about 22% of first-year Duke students were the child or sibling of a Duke alumnus, while Duke's president, Vincent Price, described efforts to ban legacy admissions as "troublesome".

2022: NSF Ranking for R&D Expenditures

In 2022, the National Science Foundation ranked Duke 9th among American universities for research and development expenditures, totaling $1.39 billion.

2023: Economic Diversity Ranking

In 2023, The New York Times described Duke as the least economically diverse top-ranked college in the U.S.

2023: School of Medicine Admissions Statistics

In 2023, the School of Medicine received over 7,000 applications and accepted approximately 2.9% of them, with accepted students having an average GPA of 3.92 and MCAT scores of 520.

2023: U.S. News & World Report: Best Graduate Schools

In U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Graduate Schools 2023–2024", Duke's medical school ranked 5th in research.

2023: Yield Rate for the Class of 2023

The yield rate (the percentage of accepted students who choose to attend) for the Class of 2023 was 54%.

June 30, 2024: Duke's Endowment Market Value

On June 30, 2024, Duke's endowment had a market value of $11.9 billion.

December 11, 2024: Mangum Admits False Accusation in Podcast Interview

On December 11, 2024, Crystal Mangum admitted during a podcast interview, that she "made up a story that wasn't true" about the white lacrosse players who attended a party where she was hired to be a stripper.

December 2024: Mangum Admits False Accusation

In December 2024, Crystal Mangum admitted that she "made up a story that wasn't true" about the white lacrosse players who attended a party where she was hired to be a stripper.

2024: U.S. News & World Report: Best Graduate Schools

In U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Graduate Schools 2023–2024", Duke's medical school ranked 5th in research.

2024: Class of 2024 Had a Median ACT Range of 34–35 and an SAT Range of 1500–1570

The Class of 2024 had a median ACT range of 34–35 and an SAT range of 1500–1570.

2025: QS World University Ranking

QS World University Rankings ranked Duke 61st in the world for its 2025 rankings.

2026: School of Law Admissions Statistics

The School of Law accepted approximately 10.5% of its applicants for the Class of 2026, while enrolling students had a median GPA of 3.87 and median LSAT of 170.