Duke University is a prestigious private research university located in Durham, North Carolina. Founded in 1838 by Methodists and Quakers originally as Trinity College, it was renamed Duke University in 1924 following a major endowment from industrialist James Buchanan Duke in honor of his father, Washington Duke. The university spans over 8,600 acres across three sub- campuses and includes a marine lab in Beaufort. Duke is known for its distinctive Gothic architecture, with the iconic Duke Chapel as a central feature. Duke University comprises 12 schools and institutes, including Trinity College of Arts and Sciences, Pratt School of Engineering, Fuqua School of Business, Law School, School of Medicine, and Sanford School of Public Policy among others. It has a student body of around 15,000 with an 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio, offering a personalized learning experience. The university is a key part of the Research Triangle in North Carolina and is known for notable academic achievements, including multiple Nobel laureates, Turing Award winners, and Rhodes Scholars. Duke is highly ranked in research and also known for its strong athletic reputation as the Blue Devils, competing in NCAA Division I sports in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The university is historically connected to the United Methodist Church but operates as an independent nonsectarian institution. Its endowment was $11.9 billion as of 2024, making it one of the wealthiest private universities in the U.S. Duke has a wide range of facilities for research and education, including a renowned science research center and global campuses in Singapore and China. This summary provides an overview of Duke University's history, academic structure, campus, and reputation as a leading educational institution.
