History of Duke University in Timeline
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina. It was founded in 1838 by Methodists and Quakers in Trinity, later moving to Durham in 1892. The university was renamed in 1924 to honor Washington Duke, thanks to an endowment from his son, industrialist James Buchanan Duke. Duke is known for its strong academic programs and research contributions.
1900: Washington Duke's final contribution
In 1900, Washington Duke made his third separate $100,000 contribution to Trinity College, with the stipulation that the college open its doors to women, placing them on an equal footing with men.
1903: Washington Duke withdraws requirement of equal footing for women
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.
1903: Engineering Introduced at Duke
In 1903, engineering was first taught at Duke.
1904: Enrollment of Women Reaches 54
By 1904, 54 women were enrolled in the college.
1910: William Preston Few becomes the new president of Trinity College
In 1910, William Preston Few was promoted as the new president of Trinity College. He sought to establish the university as a southern counterpart to Yale and Harvard.
1911: The Chanticleer Founded
In 1911, The Chanticleer, Duke University's undergraduate yearbook, was founded while the institution was still Trinity College.
1912: The Chanticleer First Published
In 1912, the first edition of The Chanticleer was published.
1918: The Chanticleer Not Published
In 1918, The Chanticleer was not published because many students left for military service in World War I.
1919: The Victory Yearbook
In 1919, the yearbook was titled The Victory to mark the war's end.
1922: Blue Devils Term Begins
In the academic year 1922, William H. Lander and Mike Bradshaw of the Trinity Chronicle began referring to the athletic teams as the Blue Devils.
1924: James B. Duke establishes The Duke Endowment; Trinity College Renamed Duke University
In 1924, James B. Duke established The Duke Endowment and insisted Trinity College be renamed Duke University in honor of his family's generosity.
1924: James Buchanan Duke establishes Duke Endowment, institution renamed
In 1924, James Buchanan Duke established the Duke Endowment, and the institution changed its name to honor his deceased father, Washington Duke.
1924: Trinity College renamed Duke University
In 1924, Trinity College was renamed Duke University, concurrent with the establishment of The Duke Endowment.
1925: Purchase of Duke Stone Quarry in Hillsborough
In 1925, Duke University, overseen by Comptroller Frank Clyde Brown, purchased a local quarry in Hillsborough after identifying Duke stone as a suitable material for constructing the Collegiate Gothic buildings on campus.
1925: Reconstruction of East Campus Begins
In 1925, the original East Campus of Duke was rebuilt with Georgian-style buildings.
1927: Reconstruction of East Campus Complete
In 1927, the reconstruction of East Campus with Georgian-style buildings was completed.
1928: Construction of sections of Rubenstein Library
In 1928, the construction of sections of Rubenstein Library was completed.
1930: Completion of Collegiate Gothic Buildings on West Campus
By 1930, the majority of Collegiate Gothic-style buildings on the campus one mile west were completed.
1930: Construction of Duke Chapel Begins
Construction of Duke Chapel, which stands at the center of West Campus on the highest ridge, began in 1930.
1930: East Campus becomes site of the Women's College
From 1930 to 1972, East Campus was the site of the Women's College.
1930: Establishment of Duke University Hospital
In 1930, Duke University Hospital was established in Durham, North Carolina. It serves as the flagship teaching hospital for the Duke University Health System.
1930: Establishment of the Woman's College
In 1930, the Woman's College was established as a coordinate to the men's undergraduate college, which had been established and named Trinity College in 1924.
1931: Establishment of Duke Forest
In 1931, Duke Forest was established, consisting of 7,044 acres west of West Campus. It stands as the largest private research forest in North Carolina.
1934: Completion of J. Deryl Hart House
In 1934, the university president's official residence, the J. Deryl Hart House, was completed.
1935: Completion of Duke Chapel
In 1935, construction on West Campus culminated with the completion of Duke Chapel.
1935: Construction of Duke Chapel Completed
In 1935, the construction of Duke Chapel, which seats 1,600 people and stands at 210 feet tall, was completed. The chapel stands at the center of West Campus on the highest ridge.
1938: First Buildings Erected at Duke University Marine Laboratory
In 1938, Duke University established its presence in Beaufort, North Carolina, by erecting the first buildings for the Duke University Marine Laboratory on Pivers Island.
1938: Iron Dukes' shutout season and Rose Bowl appearance
In 1938, under the guidance of coach Wallace Wade, the "Iron Dukes" achieved a remarkable feat by shutting out all regular season opponents. The team also made their inaugural Rose Bowl appearance that year, but faced a narrow defeat of 7–3 against USC when they scored a touchdown in the game's final minute.
1939: Creation of Pratt School of Engineering
In 1939, Duke's board of trustees established the Pratt School of Engineering.
1939: Engineering Becomes a Separate School
In 1939, engineering became a separate school within Duke University.
1942: Duke Hosts Rose Bowl Game
In 1942, Duke hosted and competed in the first Rose Bowl ever played outside California in Wallace Wade Stadium.
1942: Rose Bowl hosted at Duke's home stadium
In 1942, Duke's home stadium hosted the Rose Bowl due to concerns about large gatherings on the West Coast following the attack on Pearl Harbor. During this game, Wallace Wade's Blue Devils were defeated by Oregon State.
1947: Edmund T. Pratt Jr. Graduates
Edmund T. Pratt Jr., who would later donate $35 million to the school, graduated in 1947.
1948: Construction of Hudson Hall
In 1948, Hudson Hall, the oldest engineering building at Duke, was constructed.
1948: Divinity School students petition for desegregation
In 1948, a group of divinity school students petitioned the divinity school to desegregate – the first concerted effort to push for the desegregation of Duke's admission policy.
1948: Construction of sections of Rubenstein Library
In 1948, the construction of sections of Rubenstein Library was completed.
1951: Air Force ROTC Detachment 585 Established
In 1951, Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) Detachment 585 was established at Duke University. The detachment includes members from both Duke University and North Carolina Central University.
1953: ACC football championship win
In 1953, Duke, coached by Bill Murray, won the first of six ACC football championships within the decade.
1961: Duke Enrolls First Black Graduate Students
1962: Sixth ACC football championship win
In 1962, Duke, coached by Bill Murray, won its sixth ACC football championship.
1963: Board of Trustees Officially Desegregates the Undergraduate College
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 on 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: Teaching Staff Integrated
In 1966, Duke's teaching staff became integrated, ending its all-White composition.
1966: Founding of Duke Lemur Center
In 1966, the Duke Lemur Center was founded within Duke Forest. It is the world's largest sanctuary for rare and endangered strepsirrhine primates, housing nearly 300 animals of 25 different species.
1969: Student Protest in the Allen Building
In 1969, Black students overtook the Allen Building at Duke University to protest racial issues and demand equal treatment and changes within the university's power structures. The students exited the building before the police could enter. The incident prompted a confrontation between law enforcement and supportive white students and faculty.
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 and the completion of the William R. Perkins library.
1972: Women's College merges back with Trinity College
From 1930 to 1972, East Campus was the site of the Women's College.
April 12, 1974: Omega Psi Phi, Omega Zeta chapter Founding
On April 12, 1974, the Omega Psi Phi, Omega Zeta chapter, became 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
Duke University Hospital was finished in 1980.
1980: Start of Coach K Era
In 1980, the Mike Krzyzewski era began for Duke's men's basketball team.
1983: WXDU Licensed
In 1983, WXDU, the university's nationally recognized, noncommercial FM radio station, was licensed.
1986: Bench-Burning Tradition Begins
In 1986, Duke began a "bench-burning" tradition involving bonfires after certain basketball victories.
1986: Men's Soccer Team Wins NCAA Championship
In 1986, Duke's men's soccer team won an NCAA team national championship.
1989: ACC Championship win
In 1989, Duke won the ACC championship again under coach Steve Spurrier.
1991: Men's Basketball Team Wins NCAA Championship
In 1991, Duke's men's basketball team won an NCAA team national championship.
1992: Men's Basketball Team Wins NCAA Championship
In 1992, Duke's men's basketball team won an NCAA team national championship.
1992: Hudson Hall Renamed
In 1992, Hudson Hall was renamed to honor Fitzgerald S. "Jerry" Hudson.
1992: Laurence Olivier Award won by Ariel Dorfman
In 1992, Novelist and playwright Ariel Dorfman won the Laurence Olivier Award.
1993: Inception of the NACDA Directors' Cup
1993 marks the inception of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Directors' Cup, which is an overall measure of an institution's athletic success.
1994: Malt Liquor Thursdays Tradition
In 1994, Wayne Manor's Malt Liquor Thursdays (M.L.T.) tradition started and has continued since.
1994: William Raspberry wins Pulitzer Prize
In 1994, William Raspberry, a syndicated columnist for The Washington Post, won the Pulitzer Prize.
1994: Duke last bowl game appearance
The year 1994 marked the last time Duke football team had a bowl game appearance until 2012.
1995: All Freshmen Housed on East Campus
Since the 1995–96 academic year, all freshmen—and only freshmen, except for upperclassmen serving as Resident Assistants—have lived on East Campus, an effort to build class unity.
1999: Women's Golf Team Wins NCAA Championship
In 1999, Duke's women's golf team won an NCAA team national championship.
1999: Pratt School of Engineering Named
In 1999, the school was named following a $35 million gift by Edmund T. Pratt Jr., a 1947 graduate and former chief executive of Pfizer.
2000: Curriculum 2000 Revised
In 2000, Trinity's curriculum operated under the revised version of "Curriculum 2000", aiming to develop critical faculties and effective knowledge communication in students.
February 2001: Start of 'Building on Excellence' Strategic Plan
In February 2001, Duke University initiated a five-year strategic plan named "Building on Excellence," allocating $835 million for 34 major construction projects.
2001: Start of High Scholarship Numbers
From 2001 to 2011, Duke consistently ranked among the top private universities for the number of Fulbright, Rhodes, Truman, and Goldwater scholarships awarded to its students.
2001: Men's Basketball Team Wins NCAA Championship
In 2001, Duke's men's basketball team won an NCAA team national championship.
2001: Stanley Hauerwas Named "America's Best Theologian"
In 2001, Time magazine named Stanley Hauerwas, one of the divinity school's leading theologians, "America's Best Theologian".
2002: Women's Golf Team Wins NCAA Championship
In 2002, Duke's women's golf team won an NCAA team national championship.
2002: Kellogg Foundation Grant for After-School Program
In 2002, an after-school program for at-risk students in Durham was started with a $2.25 million grant from the Kellogg Foundation.
2002: Completed Projects Under 'Building on Excellence'
Since 2002, completed projects under Duke's "Building on Excellence" plan included additions to the business, law, nursing, and divinity schools, along with a new library, the Nasher Museum of Art, and several other facilities.
2003: Norm Ogilvie promoted to Director of Track and Field
In 2003, Norm Ogilvie was promoted to Director of Track and Field, leading athletes to over 60 individual ACC championships and 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 research in photonics, bioengineering, communications, materials science, and materials engineering.
November 2005: Completion of 'Building on Excellence' Strategic Plan
In November 2005, Duke University completed its five-year "Building on Excellence" strategic plan, which involved spending $835 million on 34 major construction projects.
2005: Women's Golf Team Wins NCAA Championship
In 2005, Duke's women's golf team won an NCAA team national championship.
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: Opening of the Nasher Museum of Art
In 2005, the Nasher Museum of Art, designed by Rafael Viñoly and named for Duke alumnus and art collector Raymond Nasher, opened with over 13,000 works of art.
March 2006: University Purchases Houses in Trinity Park
In March 2006, Duke University purchased 15 houses in the Trinity Park area, traditionally rented by students, and subsequently sold them to individual families to encourage renovations and reduce off-campus partying in residential neighborhoods.
May 2006: Mapping of the Final Human Chromosome
In May 2006 Duke researchers mapped the final human chromosome, which made world news as it marked the completion of the Human Genome Project.
June 2006: New AIDS Vaccine Research
In June 2006, reports surfaced of Duke researchers' involvement in new AIDS vaccine research.
2006: Women's Golf Team Wins NCAA Championship
In 2006, Duke's women's golf team won an NCAA team national championship.
2006: Lacrosse Team Members Falsely Accused of Rape
In 2006, three members of the Duke men's lacrosse team were falsely accused of rape, which garnered significant media attention.
2006: Coach K Coaches USA Men's National Basketball Team
Since 2006, Coach K has coached the USA men's national basketball team.
April 11, 2007: Charges Dropped in Lacrosse Case
On April 11, 2007, North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper dropped all charges against the three Duke lacrosse players and declared them innocent, stating they were victims of a "tragic rush to accuse." The District Attorney, Mike Nifong, was subsequently disbarred.
2007: Women's Golf Team Wins NCAA Championship
In 2007, Duke's women's golf team won an NCAA team national championship.
2007: DukeEngage Launched
In 2007, DukeEngage was launched, providing full funding for select Duke undergraduates to pursue an immersive summer of service in partnership with a U.S. or international community.
2008: High alumni giving rate
For the 2008–09 fiscal year, Duke tied for third in alumni giving rate among U.S. colleges and universities.
2008: Coach K Leads USA to Olympic Gold
In 2008, Coach K led the USA men's national basketball team to an Olympic gold medal.
2008: David Cutcliffe hired
In 2008, David Cutcliffe was hired before the season, and the team amassed more wins in his first season than the previous three years combined.
2009: Women's Tennis Team Wins NCAA Championship
In 2009, Duke's women's tennis team won an NCAA team national championship.
2009: Mike MacIntyre named Assistant Coach of the Year
In 2009, Mike MacIntyre, the defensive coordinator, was named 2009 Assistant Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). The team won 5 of 12 games but was eliminated from bowl contention.
2010: Coach K wins World Championship Gold
In 2010, Coach K won World Championship gold with the USA men's national basketball team.
2010: Men's Basketball and Lacrosse Teams Win NCAA Championship
In 2010, Duke's men's basketball and men's lacrosse teams each won an NCAA team national championship.
2010: Men's Basketball Team Wins NCAA Championship
In 2010, the Duke men's basketball team won an NCAA championship.
2010: Duke Ranked Sixth Nationally
The 2010 report by the Center for Measuring University Performance puts Duke at sixth in the nation.
2011: High mid-career median salary for alumni
Based on statistics compiled by PayScale in 2011, Duke alumni ranked seventh in mid-career median salary among all U.S. colleges and universities.
2011: End of High Scholarship Numbers
From 2001 to 2011, Duke consistently ranked among the top private universities for the number of Fulbright, Rhodes, Truman, and Goldwater scholarships awarded to its students.
2011: Duke Listed Among Most Beautiful College Campuses
In 2011, Travel+Leisure listed Duke among the most beautiful college campuses in the United States.
2012: Duke Ranked Among 'Power Factories'
Forbes magazine ranked Duke seventh in the world on its list of 'power factories' in 2012.
2012: Coach K Leads USA to Olympic Gold
In 2012, Coach K led the USA men's national basketball team to an Olympic gold medal.
2012: Robert Lefkowitz Nobel Prize
In 2012, Robert Lefkowitz, along with Brian Kobilka, 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: First bowl game appearance since 1994
In 2012, the Duke football team made its first bowl game appearance since 1994 after winning against North Carolina, although they lost to the Cincinnati Bearcats with a score of 48–34.
2012: Opening of Duke Cancer Center
In early 2012, the Duke Cancer Center opened next to Duke Hospital in Durham, consolidating nearly all of Duke's outpatient clinical care services into one patient care facility.
2013: Breakout season and Coastal Division Champions
2013 marked the beginning of the Blue Devils' recent success, with a 10–2, 6–2 (ACC) season where they claimed the title of Coastal Division Champions. Duke lost to the Florida State Seminoles in the ACC Championship game 45–7 and also lost to the Texas A&M Aggies in the Chick-fil-a Peach Bowl with a score of 52–48.
2013: Family Income of Duke Students
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 Reach
As of summer 2013, more than 2,400 Duke students had volunteered through DukeEngage in 75 nations on six continents.
2013: Construction Projects around Duke's Campus
In 2013, Duke University undertook construction projects including renovations to Gross Hall and Baldwin Auditorium, and new construction of the Events Pavilion.
2013: Men's Lacrosse Team Wins NCAA Championship
In 2013, Duke's men's lacrosse team won an NCAA team national championship.
2013: Researcher Arrested for Embezzling Funds
In 2013, the Duke researcher involved in the scientific research misconduct was arrested on charges of embezzling funds from the university.
2013: Kiplinger's Best Values Ranking
Kiplinger's 50 Best Values in Private Universities 2013–14 ranks Duke at fifth best overall after taking financial aid into consideration.
April 2014: Opening of the School of Nursing Addition
In April 2014, Duke University's School of Nursing opened a new 45,000 sq ft addition to the Christine Siegler Pearson Building, enhancing its facilities.
May 2014: Dedication of the Orrin H. Pilkey Marine Research Laboratory
In May 2014, the newly constructed Orrin H. Pilkey Marine Research Laboratory at Duke University Marine Laboratory was dedicated, enhancing the university's marine research capabilities.
2014: 75th Anniversary of Pratt School of Engineering
Duke University Pratt School of Engineering celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2014–2015.
2014: BusinessWeek Ranks Fuqua School of Business
In 2014, BusinessWeek ranked its full-time MBA program first in the nation.
2014: Coach K wins World Championship Gold
In 2014, Coach K won World Championship gold with the USA men's national basketball team.
2014: Name of Charles B. Aycock 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: Women's Golf Team Wins NCAA Championship
In 2014, Duke's women's golf team won an NCAA team national championship.
August 2015: Reopening of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book and Manuscript Library
In August 2015, the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book and Manuscript Library reopened after approximately $60 million in renovations. These upgrades include additional space, updated technology, and new exhibits.
2015: 75th Anniversary of Pratt School of Engineering
Duke University Pratt School of Engineering celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2014–2015.
2015: Men's Basketball Team Wins NCAA Championship
In 2015, Duke's men's basketball team won an NCAA team national championship.
2015: Duke players drafted into the NFL
In 2015, Laken Tomlinson, an offensive guard from Duke, was drafted by the Detroit Lions, and Jamison Crowder, a wide receiver, was drafted by the Washington Redskins.
2015: Paul Modrich Nobel Prize
In 2015, Paul Modrich shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the discovery of mechanism of DNA repairs.
2015: Opening of Morris Williams Track and Field Stadium
In 2015, the new Morris Williams Track and Field Stadium was opened.
April 2016: Nine Varsity Athletics Programs Earn Perfect APR Score
In April 2016, nine Duke varsity athletics programs registered 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 expanded its housing options by purchasing an apartment complex known as 300 Swift. This complex houses upperclassmen and is located between East and West Campus.
2016: Coach K Leads USA to Olympic Gold
In 2016, Coach K led the USA men's national basketball team to an Olympic gold medal.
2016: Duke Ranked Seventh Overall by The Washington Post
In 2016, The Washington Post ranked Duke seventh overall based on the accumulated weighted average of the rankings from multiple sources.
2016: Duke Ranked Among Universities Producing Billionaires
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".
2016: Expected Completion of West Campus Union Renovations
In spring 2016, major renovations to Duke's West Campus Union were expected to be completed. The Events Pavilion served as temporary dining space during the renovations.
August 2017: Duke Forward Fundraising Campaign Raises $3.85 Billion
By August 2017, the Duke Forward fundraising campaign raised $3.85 billion.
August 19, 2017: Statue of Robert E. Lee Removed from Duke University Chapel
On August 19, 2017, the statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee was removed from the entrance to Duke University Chapel after being vandalized by protesters following the violent clashes at the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.
2017: Epworth No Longer a Dorm
Epworth, the oldest residence hall, built in 1892 as "the Inn", has not been used as a student dorm since the 2017–2018 school year.
July 2018: Guinness World Record for Fuel-Efficient Vehicle
In July 2018, Duke engineering students achieved a Guinness World Record for inventing the world's most fuel-efficient vehicle, powered by a fuel cell, achieving 14,573 miles per gallon equivalent.
2018: Epworth No Longer a Dorm
Epworth, the oldest residence hall, built in 1892 as "the Inn", has not been used as a student dorm since the 2017–2018 school year.
2018: Undergraduate Housing Ends on Central Campus
In 2018, Duke University ended the housing of undergraduates on Central Campus, which had housed around 1,000 sophomores, juniors, and seniors, following the 2018-2019 school year. The respective buildings were subsequently demolished.
2019: Demolition of Central Campus Undergraduate Housing
Following the 2018-2019 academic year, the undergraduate housing on Duke University's Central Campus, which accommodated approximately 1,000 sophomores, juniors, and seniors, was discontinued, and the buildings were demolished in 2019.
2019: Guinness World Record for Efficient Electric Vehicle
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 Settles False Claims Act Allegations for $112.5 Million
In 2019, Duke paid $112.5 million to settle False Claims Act allegations related to scientific research misconduct.
2019: Daniel Jones drafted by New York Giants
In 2019, Duke quarterback Daniel Jones was drafted sixth overall by the New York Giants.
2019: Duke's Research Spending and Endowment
In 2019, Duke spent more than $1.2 billion on research, and its endowment was $11.9 billion, making it the twelfth-wealthiest private academic institution in the United States.
2019: Women's Golf Team Wins NCAA Championship
In 2019, Duke's women's golf team won an NCAA team national championship.
2019: ARWU Global Ranking
In 2019, the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) ranked Duke 28th best globally.
2019: Average Need-Based Grant Amount
In the 2019–20 academic year, the average need-based grant for Duke students was $54,255, supporting financial aid for approximately 50% of the student body.
2019: Closure of Central Campus Housing
Until 2019, Central Campus provided housing for over 1,000 students in apartment buildings.
August 2020: First Undergraduates from Duke Kunshan University Arrive for Study Abroad
In August 2020, the first undergraduates from Duke Kunshan University arrived for their study abroad program on Duke's campus. 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 Ranked
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's notable alumni
As of early 2020, Duke has produced prominent alumni including fourteen living billionaires, foreign royalties, college presidents, U.S. diplomats, members of the United States Congress, U.S. governors, twenty-five U.S. cabinet members, one president of Chile, and one president of the United States.
2020: CWUR Global Ranking
Center for World University Rankings (CWUR) ranked Duke 20th globally in its 2020–21 report.
2020: Adoption of Test-Optional Policy
During the 2020-21 academic year, Duke University began implementing a test-optional policy for admissions.
2020: Duke Ranked Most Generous to Financially Needy Students
In 2020, a study by the Chronicle of Higher Education recognized Duke University as the most generous institution for financially needy students.
2021: Student Body Composition
As of fall 2021, Duke's student body consisted of 6,789 undergraduates and 9,991 graduate and professional students.
2021: Duke Ranked for Employability
In 2021, Duke ranked 34th in the world and 12th in the country on Times Higher Education's global employability ranking.
2021: Duke Ranked Fifth in Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Rankings
In 2021, Duke was ranked fifth in the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Rankings and second for student outcomes, tied with Harvard, M.I.T., and Stanford.
2021: Jon Scheyer named head coach
In 2021, Jon Scheyer was announced as the next head coach for the Duke team, succeeding Coach K upon his retirement at the conclusion of the 2021-22 season.
2021: Rose Bowl Game Played in Arlington, Texas
In 2021, the second Rose Bowl game ever played outside California was played in Arlington, Texas, after Duke hosted the first one in 1942. The 2021 game was moved as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021: Opening of Wilkinson Building
In early 2021, the Wilkinson Building, a 150,000-square-foot building, opened for classes with new spaces for education and research related to interdisciplinary themes. The building's name recognizes lifetime philanthropic contributions of Duke Engineering alumnus Jerry C. Wilkinson and family.
2021: Duke Received $608 Million in NIH Funding
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
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: Legacy Admissions Survey
In 2022, a survey by The Chronicle revealed that approximately 22% of first-year students at Duke were children or siblings of Duke alumni, while President Vincent Price expressed concerns about banning legacy admissions.
2022: End of Coach K Era
In 2022, the Mike Krzyzewski era ended for Duke's men's basketball team.
2022: Duke Ranked 9th 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: School of Medicine Admissions Statistics
In 2023, Duke's School of Medicine received over 7,000 applications and accepted approximately 2.9% of them, with enrolled students having an average GPA of 3.92 and an average MCAT score of 520.
2023: Duke Described as Least Economically Diverse
In 2023, The New York Times described Duke as the least economically diverse top-ranked college in the U.S.
2023: Yield Rate for the Class of 2023
The yield rate for the Class of 2023 was 54%, indicating the percentage of accepted students who chose to attend Duke.
June 30, 2024: Duke's Endowment Market Value
As of June 30, 2024, the market value of Duke's endowment was $11.9 billion.
December 11, 2024: Crystal Mangum Admits to False Lacrosse Allegations during podcast
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: Crystal Mangum Admits to False Lacrosse Allegations
In December 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.
2024: Test Scores for the Class of 2024
The Class of 2024 had a median ACT range of 34–35 and an SAT range of 1500–1570, reflecting the 25th–75th percentile of accepted students.
2025: QS World University Rankings
QS World University Rankings ranked Duke 61st in the world for its 2025 rankings.
2026: School of Law Admissions Statistics for the Class of 2026
For the Class of 2026, Duke's School of Law accepted around 10.5% of applicants, and the enrolled students presented a median GPA of 3.87 and a median LSAT score of 170 in 2023.
2028: Applications received for the Class of 2028
Duke received nearly 55,000 applications for the Class of 2028, with an overall acceptance rate of 5.1%.
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