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

Latest Update  Duke University's admissions cycle for the Class of 2029 has concluded, with an overall acceptance rate of 4.8%. The regular decision application deadline for undergraduate programs is November 4, 2025. Duke is test-optional for the 2025-26 admissions cycle, meaning applicants can choose whether or not to submit SAT or ACT scores.

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: 

Ranking Body	2024	2025	2026
QS World University	57	61	62
U.S. News & World Report (National University)	NA	6	6
Times Higher Education	26	27	N/A

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: 

Subject	2024	2025	2026
Accounting & Finance	38	39	–
Biological Sciences	41	32	–
Communication & Media Studies	51	51	–
Engineering & Technology	134	135	–
Law & Legal Studies	30	34	–
Mathematics	56	57	–
Mechanical Engineering	122	118	–
Medicine	17	16	–
Nursing	14	7	–
Performing Arts	–	101	–
Pharmacy & Pharmacology	56	52	–
Physics & Astronomy	123	92	–
Politics	43	34	–
Sociology	34	24	–

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: 

Ranked by	2023	2024	2025
Arts & Humanities	31	35	36
Clinical & Health	23	22	23
Engineering	52	61	63
Law	28	24	23
Life Sciences	26	25	23
Business & Economics	17	18	15
Computer Science	52	59	57
Psychology	23	20	26

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: 

Program Name	Ranking 2025
Biomedical Engineering (Pratt School)	#4 nationally
Environmental Engineering (Pratt School)	#10 nationally (still within top 10)
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)	#4 nationally
Online Master's in Nursing Programs	#3 overall
Online Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)	#1 nationally
Online Nursing Administration/Leadership	#1 nationally
Online Nursing Education (Master's)	#1 nationally
Online Psychiatric-Mental Health NP Program	#1 nationally
Online MSN Programs (Veteran ranking)	#3 nationally

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:  

Ranking Organization	Ranking Details	Rank
Center for World University Rankings (CWUR)	Global evaluation of education, faculty, research, and alumni employability	#21 globally (2025)
CWUR	National Rank (USA)	#16 (2025)
QS Sustainability Ranking	QS World University Ranking	#206
Financial Times Global MBA Ranking	Fuqua School of Business – Career progression, salary increase, and faculty expertise	#11 globally (2025)
Shanghai Ranking (ARWU)	Subject Ranking – Business & Management	#151- 200 in the U.S. (2025)
Shanghai Ranking (ARWU)	Subject Ranking – Economics	#21 in the U.S. (2025)
Shanghai Ranking (ARWU)	Subject Ranking – Law	#15 in the U.S. (2025)
Leiden Ranking	Biomedical & Health Sciences – Scientific impact	#108 globally (2024)

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:  

Category	Recognition
Academic Honors	Latin Honors awarded to the top 5%, next 10%, and next 10% of graduating class, respectively, based on cumulative GPA.
Dean's List	Semester honors for undergraduates in the top 10% (Dean's List with Distinction) or top third (Dean's List) of their college (Trinity or Pratt).
Faculty Awards	Pratt School of Engineering faculty regularly receive national accolades (e.g., National Medal of Science, IEEE awards, Sloan Fellowships, and election to the National Academies).
Graduate Teaching Awards	Dean's Award for Excellence in Teaching honors Ph.D. students for outstanding undergraduate or graduate instruction.
Undergraduate Teaching Prize	Judith Decker Award recognizes faculty for transformative undergraduate teaching, selected through community nominations (e.g., inculcating intellectual curiosity and mentorship).

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: 

Category	Recognition
Student Leadership	Forever Duke Student Leadership Award: Honors graduate students for mentorship, research, and service.
Campus Traditions	LDOC Celebration and Krzyzewskiville Tenting: Annual end-of-class festivities and basketball camping tradition.
Athletics & Spirit	17 NCAA Championships (e.g., Men's Basketball, Women's Golf); free student game tickets.
Community Engagement	DukeEngage: Fully funded global service projects.   DEID: Engineers for International Development.
Faculty/Staff Honors	Presidential Awards: Recognizes staff/faculty exemplifying Duke's values (e.g., Respect, Inclusion).

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: 

Category	Recognition
Visual Arts	Mary Duke Biddle Foundation Visual Art Award: Honors outstanding student artists (e.g., Isabelle Carey, 25).
Art History	Nancy Kaneb Art History Award: Recognizes excellence in art history scholarship (e.g., Marley O'Connor 25).
Film & Media	Cinematic Arts Outstanding Filmmaker Award: Celebrates student filmmakers (e.g., Isabel Dudlyke 25).
Creative Writing	Anne Flexner Memorial Award: For fiction (Emma Huang' 25) and poetry (Arielle Stern' 25). Reynolds Price Fiction Award (Audie Waller 28).
Music	Julia Wilkinson Mueller Prize: Excellence in music performance (Vicky Yang 25). Paul Bryan Award: Collaborative music projects (Carlos Montes' 25).

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: 

Course	QS World Rankings	Acceptance Rate
Nursing (School of Nursing)	7	7%
Theology, Divinity & Religious Studies	5
English Language & Literature	22

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. 

Focus Area	Indicators	Weightage
Research and Discovery	Academic Reputation	30%
	Citations per Faculty	20%
Employability and Outcomes	Employer Reputation	15%
	Employment Outcomes	5%
Global Engagement	International Faculty Ratio	5%
	International Research Network	5%
	International Student Ratio	5%
	International Student Diversity	0%
Learning Experience	Faculty Student Ratio	10%
Sustainability	Sustainability	5%

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. 

Focus Area	Indicators	Weightage
Teaching	Teaching Reputation	15%
	Staff-to-student ratio	4.5%
	Doctorate-to-bachelor's ratio	2%
	Doctorates-awarded-to-academic-staff ratio	5.5%
	Institutional income	2.5%
Research Environment	Research reputation	18%
	Research income	5.5%
	Research productivity	5.5%
Research Quality	Citation impact	15%
	Research strength	5%
	Research excellence	5%
	Research influence	5%
International Outlook	Proportion of international students	2.5%
	Proportion of international staff	2.5%
	International collaboration	2.5%
Industry	Industry income	2%
	Patents	2%

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: 

Focus Indicators	Weightage
Graduation Rates	16%
First-year retention rates	5%
Graduation rate performance	10%
Pell graduation rates	5.5%
Pell graduation performance	5.5%
College grads earning more than a high school grad	5%
Borrower debt	5%
Peer assessment	20%
Financial resources	8%
Faculty salaries	8%
Full-time faculty	3%
Student-faculty ratio	4%
Standardized tests	5%

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.