
Duke University is a private institution founded in 1838 by James Buchanan Duke. It has since expanded to include the Duke Marine Laboratory in Beaufort, North Carolina, and the Duke Kunshan University in China. The university offers a wide range of academic and athletic programs and is known for its Blue Devils athletics teams. In recent years, Duke has focused on broadening access and increasing diversity, offering grants and scholarships to a wider range of students. As of Fall 2023, Duke University had a total undergraduate enrollment of 6,488 students, with graduate students vastly outnumbering undergraduates.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year founded | 1838 |
| Founder | James Buchanan Duke |
| Campus size | 8,693 acres |
| Undergraduate enrollment (Fall 2023) | 6,488 |
| Number of schools and colleges | 10 |
| Top majors | Computer science, economics, and public policy |
| Number of student-athletes | 650+ |
| Number of sports | 27 |
| Number of books published annually | 120 |
| Number of scholarly journals published | 30+ |
| Number of students housed in Central Campus (before 2018-2019) | 1,200 |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- Duke University has a total of 6,488 undergraduate students as of Fall 2023
- Graduate students vastly outnumbered undergraduates in 2022, making up over half of the student body
- The university's athletic teams are called the Blue Devils and consist of over 650 student athletes
- Duke's Durham campus was established in 1838 and spans 8,693 acres
- The Duke Endowment has awarded the university $100 million, the largest donation in its history

Duke University has a total of 6,488 undergraduate students as of Fall 2023
Duke University, founded in 1838, is a private institution that boasts a large campus spanning 8,693 acres. As of Fall 2023, it has a total of 6,488 undergraduate students. The original Durham campus, now known as East Campus, features stately Georgian architecture, while the West Campus, which opened in 1930, showcases Gothic design and the towering 210-foot Duke Chapel. Both campuses have rich histories and cultural significance.
The university offers a wide range of academic and athletic opportunities for its students. Academically, Duke's 10 schools and colleges include top majors such as computer science, economics, and public policy. The university is accredited to award various degrees, including baccalaureate, master's, doctorate, and professional degrees. Additionally, Duke has a strong athletic presence with the Blue Devils, who compete in the NCAA Division I level, the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), and the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
Duke's commitment to diversity and accessibility is evident through initiatives like the tuition grant program for students from the Carolinas and enhanced recruitment efforts targeting low-income and first-generation students. The university has also received significant funding to support financial aid and scholarships, ensuring that a Duke education is accessible to a diverse range of students.
With a total of 6,488 undergraduate students as of Fall 2023, Duke University fosters a vibrant and inclusive community that values academic excellence and co-curricular pursuits. The university's dedication to broadening access and its commitment to diversity enrich the student experience and contribute to a dynamic and engaging learning environment.
Duquesne University Student Population: How Many?
You may want to see also
Explore related products

Graduate students vastly outnumbered undergraduates in 2022, making up over half of the student body
Duke University, a private institution founded in 1838, has a total undergraduate enrollment of 6,488 as of Fall 2023. However, in 2022, graduate students vastly outnumbered undergraduates, constituting more than half of the student population. This shift towards a higher proportion of graduate students reflects the university's comprehensive offerings at the postgraduate level.
Duke University's graduate programs attract students from diverse backgrounds and disciplines. The university is accredited to award master's and doctorate degrees, providing advanced academic opportunities beyond undergraduate studies. The university's commitment to graduate education enhances its reputation for academic excellence and contributes to a vibrant intellectual community.
The university's graduate programs likely encompass a wide range of fields, reflecting the diverse interests of its student body. With top majors including computer science, economics, and public policy, Duke University offers graduate students the chance to delve deeper into their chosen areas of expertise. The university's graduate programs may also provide opportunities for interdisciplinary research and collaboration, fostering a holistic educational experience.
The high number of graduate students at Duke University in 2022 indicates a preference for continuing education among students. This could be driven by a desire to specialize in a particular field, enhance career prospects, or contribute to academic research. Graduate programs offer advanced knowledge, skills, and qualifications that can open doors to new professional opportunities or further academic pursuits.
Moreover, Duke University's support for graduate students extends beyond academics. The university recognizes the importance of financial assistance and has demonstrated a commitment to expanding access to education through grants and tuition coverage. By offering grants, scholarships, and financial aid packages, Duke University makes its graduate programs more accessible to students from diverse economic backgrounds. This support enables a broader range of individuals to pursue their academic goals and contribute to the university's diverse and talented student community.
Student's Guide to Suing a University for Discrimination
You may want to see also
Explore related products

The university's athletic teams are called the Blue Devils and consist of over 650 student athletes
Duke University was founded in 1924 by James Buchanan Duke, though the institution traces its roots back to 1838. The university is based in Durham, North Carolina, and has a total undergraduate enrollment of 6,488 students (as of Fall 2023). The campus size is 8,693 acres.
The university's athletic teams are called the Blue Devils—a name that was first used in 1922 by the editors of the Trinity Chronicle, William H. Lander and Mike Bradshaw. The Blue Devils consist of over 650 student athletes across 27 sports. The teams compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level, the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), and the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Duke's teams have won 17 NCAA team national championships.
The men's sports offered include baseball, basketball, cross country, fencing, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field, and wrestling. The women's teams compete in basketball, cross country, fencing, field hockey, golf, lacrosse, rowing, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field, and volleyball.
Duke University also has a strong presence in the world of academic research, with the Duke University Press publishing about 120 new books and over 30 scholarly journals each year. The university's Marine Laboratory, located in Beaufort, North Carolina, is dedicated to research in ocean processes, coastal environmental management, marine biotechnology, and marine biomedicine.
The university has a rich history and is known for its commitment to diversity and access. It has received significant funding from The Duke Endowment, which was established by the Duke family to support the expansion of educational opportunities and financial aid for students. Notable alumni of Duke University include former U.S. President Richard Nixon, Apple CEO Tim Cook, and philanthropist Melinda French Gates.
Open University Students: Eligible for NYSC?
You may want to see also
Explore related products

Duke's Durham campus was established in 1838 and spans 8,693 acres
Duke University was founded in 1924 by James Buchanan Duke, who named it in memory of his father, Washington Duke. The Duke family was based in Durham and had built a financial empire in the manufacture of tobacco products and the development of electricity production in the Carolinas. The family had long been interested in Trinity College, which was founded in 1838 in nearby Randolph County by local Methodist and Quaker communities, who named it Union Institute.
In 1892, Trinity College moved to Durham, where it was supported by Benjamin Newton Duke, a primary benefactor and link to the Duke family until his death in 1929. In December 1924, James B. Duke, Benjamin's brother, created the family philanthropic foundation, The Duke Endowment, which provided for the expansion of Trinity College into Duke University. As a result of the Duke gift, the university underwent both physical and academic expansion.
The Durham campus, established in 1838 when Union Institute was founded, spans 8,693 acres. The original campus, now known as East Campus, was rebuilt in stately Georgian architecture. West Campus, which opened in 1930, is Gothic in style and dominated by the 210-foot tower of Duke Chapel. Central Campus, consisting of 122 acres between East and West campuses, housed around 1,200 sophomores, juniors, seniors, and professional students until the 2018-2019 school year, after which the buildings were demolished.
Duke University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate, masters, doctorate, and professional degrees. The university maintains a historic affiliation with the United Methodist Church. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 6,488 as of Fall 2023. Duke awards close to $150 million a year in grants and scholarship aid and meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.
Open University: Student Finance Eligibility
You may want to see also
Explore related products

The Duke Endowment has awarded the university $100 million, the largest donation in its history
Duke University in North Carolina has a total undergraduate enrollment of 6,488 students as of Fall 2023. The private institution, founded in 1838, has a campus size of 8,693 acres.
The Duke Endowment, based in Charlotte, has awarded the university $100 million, the largest donation in its history. The endowment was established in 1924 by industrialist and philanthropist James B. Duke, who also founded the university. The two institutions have a shared origin story, as the endowment provided for the expansion of Trinity College into Duke University. Over the last century, the endowment has awarded nearly $2 billion to the university and Duke Health.
The $100 million award will support Duke University's new financial aid initiative, providing full tuition grants for undergraduate students from North and South Carolina with qualifying family incomes. The endowment has a history of strengthening communities in North and South Carolina through education, and this award reflects James B. Duke's desire to make high-value education accessible to all. The initiative is currently supporting more than 340 undergraduate students.
The award will also be used to modernize and reconfigure the Wilhelmina Reuben-Cooke Building on West Campus to support collaborative and interdisciplinary learning. The building, named after one of the first five Black students who integrated Duke's campus in 1963, houses the sociology and psychology departments. This investment will honor Reuben-Cooke's legacy by making the building a model for 21st-century teaching and learning.
The endowment's centennial gift to Duke University demonstrates its ongoing commitment to the university as it enters its second century. The donation will shape the Duke student experience, boost student recruitment, expand access to a Duke education, and deepen community engagement.
Murray State University: Enrollment Figures and Trends
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Duke University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 6,488 as of Fall 2023. Graduate students make up more than half of the total student population.
Duke University Press publishes about 120 new books each year, as well as over 30 scholarly journals.
Information on the number of students at the Duke Marine Laboratory is unavailable. However, it is a unit within the Nicholas School of the Environment.
Duke University Athletic Association chairs 27 sports and over 650 student-athletes are members of the Blue Devils teams.
The exact number of students involved in the Allen Building incident is unclear, but it was noted that students and faculty formed a human shield around the building, indicating a significant number of participants and supporters.











































