Duke University Ranking 2025–26: Global and Subject-wise Analysis

Introduction 

Duke University continues to stand as one of the most prestigious private research universities in the United States, consistently earning global recognition for its academic and professional excellence. 

In the QS World University Rankings 2025, Duke was ranked 61st, maintaining a strong position at 62nd in 2026, reflecting stable performance among the world’s leading institutions. In the U.S. News Best Global Universities, Duke secured the 6th position in both 2025 and 2026 nationally, highlighting its enduring reputation in teaching, research, and international outlook. Meanwhile, the Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings placed Duke at 27th worldwide, further reinforcing its influence and impact on higher education. 

With world-class programs in medicine, law, business, and engineering, Duke is not just a university but a hub for innovation, leadership, and global networking opportunities. 

Let’s now explore Duke University’s rankings in detail for 2025–26. 

Duke University Rankings 2025-26 

Duke University’s rankings from 2024 to 2026 reflect both stability and prestige across major global and national platforms. In the QS World University Rankings, Duke moved from 57th in 2024 to 61st in 2025 and 62nd in 2026, showing a slight dip but still maintaining its position among the top colleges.  

On the other hand, the university demonstrated remarkable consistency in the U.S. News & World Report National University Rankings, holding the 6th spot in both 2025 and 2026, reaffirming its strong standing among top U.S. institutions.  

In the Times Higher Education Rankings, Duke placed 26th in 2024 and 27th in 2025, highlighting its continued global competitiveness, though the 2026 update is yet to be released. Overall, these rankings emphasize Duke’s enduring excellence in academics, research, and student outcomes despite minor fluctuations in global placements. 

Let's take a look at Duke University's rankings: 

Overall, Duke maintains a consistent global presence and national prestige, with only slight shifts in rankings over time. 

Let's explore the details to see how your field of study, which you want to choose for Duke University’s admissions ranks. 

Subject-wise Rankings of Duke University 

In the 2025 subject-wise rankings, Duke University earned top-tier recognition across multiple disciplines. QS ranked its School of Nursing #7 globally, highlighting its leadership in healthcare education.  

THE placed Duke's Arts & Humanities programs at 36th worldwide, showcasing a strong academic reputation. U.S. News & World Report ranked Duke's Biomedical Engineering program at #4, demonstrating its innovation and strength in STEM fields. 

Let's discuss Duke University rankings for subjects in detail: 

QS Rankings 

Subject-specific rankings help students identify Duke’s strengths across disciplines. In 2025–26, Duke excelled in Medicine (16th) and Nursing (7th), reaffirming its leadership in healthcare and business education. Programs in Law (34th), Politics (34th), and Sociology (24th) also ranked strongly, reflecting Duke’s balanced academic profile across social sciences and humanities. Engineering-related subjects, such as Mechanical Engineering (118th) and Engineering & Technology overall (135th), placed slightly lower but still maintained global recognition. Here's the ranking of various Duke University courses based on the QS ranking: 

Now, let's look at Duke University's Times Higher Education Rankings 

THE (Times Higher Education) Rankings 

In the THE World University Rankings, Duke has maintained a stable global presence, ranking 25th in 2023, 26th in 2024, and 27th in 2025. Despite a slight year-on-year dip, the university continues to be a top contender globally, especially among U.S. private research institutions. 

Duke’s subject rankings in THE further demonstrate its academic breadth. The Clinical and Health faculty consistently placed in the top 25, reflecting Duke’s strength in medicine, nursing, and life sciences. Law improved steadily, climbing to 23rd in 2025, while Life Sciences also rose to 23rd, highlighting strong biomedical research. Business and Economics performed exceptionally well, reaching 15th in 2025, consolidating Duke’s global reputation in management education. Meanwhile, Engineering (63rd) and Computer Science (57th) maintained visibility among competitive STEM disciplines, and Psychology remained in the top 30 worldwide. 

Here's how different courses at Duke University rank based on THE rankings: 

Next, let's discuss the US news rankings for Duke University 

U.S. News Rankings 

In the 2025 U.S. News & World Report rankings, Duke University continued to excel in professional programs. Its Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program ranked #4 nationally, while Environmental Engineering at the Pratt School maintained a strong position at #10, affirming Duke's leadership in health sciences and engineering education. 

Here's a look at Duke University rankings for popular programs: 

Let's look at how Duke University performs in other diversified rankings. 

Miscellaneous Ranking 2025 

In the 2025 Center for World University Rankings (CWUR), Duke University secured a prestigious #21 global position and ranked #16 nationally in the U.S.  

These rankings reflect Duke's strong performance across education quality, research output, faculty excellence, alumni employability and its impact on the education system in the US. 

Here are some of the Duke University rankings in miscellaneous areas:  

Let's explore the academic and extracurricular achievements that demonstrate the academic standing of Duke University. 

Duke University: Excellence and Achievements 

Duke University exemplifies academic excellence through outstanding student success, innovative research, and global impact.  

The Fuqua School of Business boasts an impressive 95% six-month employment rate, with median starting salaries exceeding $120,000. Duke secures $1 billion annually in sponsored funding on the research frontier, with the School of Medicine ranking #4 in NIH dollars and the Nursing School's DNP program sitting at #2 nationally.  

Additionally, the Duke Clinical Research Institute (DCRI), the world's largest academic clinical research organization, leads groundbreaking trials in cardiovascular health and AI-driven medicine. It is a guiding force for many US-based Masters in Clinical Research students. 

Below is an overview of the Duke University ranking and recognitions across key areas: 

Academic Excellence and National Recognition 

Duke University demonstrates its academic excellence through strict standards and nationally recognized student honors. The university awards Latin Honors to the top 25% of each graduating class, acknowledging sustained academic performance with distinctions based on GPA. Undergraduate students also earn spots on the Dean's List, with the top 10% receiving "Dean's List with Distinction". 

Here are the significant academic and national recognitions:  

Next, let's see how Duke University has been developing its student community as an inclusive one. 

Community and Lifestyle Recognitions 

Duke University celebrates student contributions beyond academics through initiatives like the Forever Duke Student Leadership Award, which honors graduate students for excellence in mentorship, research, and community service.  

Here are some of Duke University's community development initiatives: 

Now, let's explore how Duke University promotes creative and cultural initiatives for international students. 

Cultural and Creative Excellence 

Duke University fosters cultural and creative excellence through prestigious arts awards celebrating student talent and scholarship. The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation Visual Art Award honors exceptional visual artists like Isabelle Carey '25.  

At the same time, the Nancy Kaneb Art History Award recognizes academic excellence in art history, exemplified by students such as Marley O'Connor '25. These honors reflect Duke's dedication to the arts and humanities. 

Here are some notable creative initiatives of Duke University that help you make the most of your university experience: 

Now that you've explored Duke University's ranking and achievements in academics, culture, and community development, let's discuss the relationship between ranking and acceptance rates. 

Duke University: Ranking V/S Acceptance Rate 

Duke University blends world-class academic rankings with a highly selective admissions process. In the 2025 QS World University Rankings by Subject, Duke ranks #7 globally in Nursing, #5 in Theology, and #22 in English Literature, showcasing its excellence across disciplines.  

With an acceptance rate typically under 7%, Duke offers elite education to a carefully selected group of high-achieving students. 

Below is a table showcasing the overall acceptance rate for Duke University for the top programs: 

Students should consider Duke University's academic strength and accessibility as a potential choice. 

Now, let's discuss the methodologies used to evaluate universities for rankings. 

Ranking Methodologies 

Global university ranking systems provide uniform frameworks to evaluate and rank top universities globally, incorporating statistical data and qualitative insights. Leading bodies like QS, Times Higher Education (THE), and U.S. News & World Report apply distinct methodologies to assess different dimensions of academic performance and institutional excellence. 

Let's explore ranking methodologies for ranking agencies such as QS, THE, and US News: 

QS World University Rankings 

The QS World University Rankings is one of the leading global systems for evaluating universities, reviewing over 1,500 institutions annually. It combines academic and employer reputation surveys with measurable data like faculty-to-student ratios and research performance. 

Here are the indicators used in QS World University rankings. 

Now, let's take a look at the ranking methodology for THE 

Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings 

The Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings is a highly respected global evaluation system focused on research-driven universities. It assesses institutions based on five core pillars: Teaching, Research Environment, Research Quality, International Outlook, and Industry Engagement, offering a well-rounded view of academic excellence. 

Here are the criteria used by THE university rankings. 

Now, let's explore the ranking methodology for THE 

U.S. News and World Report Rankings 

U.S. News & World Report is a widely respected authority on higher education rankings, using a comprehensive approach that emphasizes academic quality, student success, and social mobility. The 2025 rankings prioritize measurable outcomes such as graduation rates and career options after graduation, providing a holistic picture of university performance. 

Here are the criteria used in U.S. News and World Report rankings: 

These rankings showcase Duke University's ability to provide high-quality education and strong real-world outcomes, such as employability. Its 2025 results emphasize the university's academic and research excellence.  

Next, let's explore Duke's position in global higher education. 

Conclusion 

In 2025, Duke University held strong global and national rankings #61 in QS, #27 in THE, and #6 in U.S. News, reflecting academic excellence. Subject-wise, Duke shines in fields such as Medicine (#16), Nursing (#7), Business & Economics (#15), and Law (#23), while also making strong showings in STEM disciplines like Engineering (#63) and Computer Science (#57). 

Duke ranked #21 globally and #16 nationally in CWUR, with $1B in research funding and leadership in medical research through the DCRI. The university also received recognition in teaching, student leadership, and the arts, with awards across visual arts, humanities, and public service. 

With an acceptance rate under 7%, Duke combines elite academics with competitive admissions, making it one of the world's most selective and respected institutions.