About Duke Engineering

Duke University's Pratt School of Engineering is a vibrant teaching and research institution dedicated to educating the next generation of engineering leaders and pursuing research in high-impact fields to address the world's grand challenges

Mission

Our mission is to provide a rigorous engineering education for both undergraduate and graduate students, enabling them to lead productive, rewarding and ethical lives for the betterment of society. It is our vision that Duke Engineering students and faculty will be catalysts for generating and integrating knowledge across the disciplines required to address complex issues facing a global society.

We are committed to the upholding the mission of Duke University and its guiding principles of trustworthiness, respect, diversity, learning and teamwork.

Learn more about

Our vision
Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion
Engineering in service to society
Our history

Educational Programs

At Duke, we are one of two undergraduate schools, and one of seven graduate and professional schools. Duke Engineering offers undergraduate, master's and PhD study in engineering. We also offer graduate certificates and online learning designed for working professionals.

Degree Programs

Graduate Certificates, Online Learning & Short Courses

Topics include:

AI and machine learning
Blockchain and cryptocurrency
Business fundamentals for engineers
Computing fundamentals
Design fundamentals

Browse certificate programs, online credentials and short courses »

Academic Departments

Our degree programs are offered through four academic departments and the school-wide Institute for Enterprise Engineering:

With Duke's Trinity College of Arts & Sciences, we participate in the degree-granting Duke University Program in Materials Science & Engineering.

Research

External Research Funding

Duke Engineering's research expenditures exceed $85 million per year, with faculty winning more than $105 million in new awards in FY 2021. Research funding from external sources has grown by 91 percent during the last decade.

Our enterprise includes National Science Foundation (NSF)-supported institutes and programs, as well as Multidisciplinary University Research Initiatives (MURI).

Browse details of Duke Engineering research centers and institutes »

Signature Research Themes

Data Science, Advanced Computing & Intelligent Systems
Materials Discovery & Development
Personal, Environmental & Population Health
Resilient Systems & the Environment

More about Duke Engineering research »

We also maintain extensive collaborations with researchers in each of Duke's graduate and professional schools—especially the highly regarded Duke University School of Medicine.

Rankings

Academics

U.S. News & World Report:

#2 Online Master's in Engineering Management
#3 Biomedical Engineering graduate program
#24 Best Engineering School
Top 25 undergraduate programs in:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Civil Engineering (tie)
- Computer Engineering
- Environmental Engineering (tie)
- Mechanical Engineering (tie)
#27 Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs (4-way tie)

Research and Faculty

Academic Analytics (v.2021) Faculty Scholarly Productivity:

#3 in Computer Engineering
#11 in Electrical Engineering
#12 in Biomedical Engineering
#16 in Mechanical Engineering
#19 overall among U.S. engineering schools

Academic Ranking of World Universities (ShanghaiRanking):

#6 in the U.S./#11 in the world in environmental science & engineering

U.S. News & World Report data:

#12 in per-faculty research funding among the Top 25 U.S. engineering schools

Student Life

Bronze Award and Exemplar—American Society for Engineering Education Diversity Recognition Program
Top 10 Graduate Engineering Program Popular with Women—U.S. News & World Report

Student Outcomes

Top 10 Best School for Engineering Majors by Salary Potential ($78,400 median pay with 0-5 years of work experience)—Payscale.com
Top 15 US college that pays off the most for engineering students—CNBC

Duke University

#9 National University (tie)—U.S. News & World Report
#5 University—Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education
#4 STEM University for Women—Forbes

The Duke Engineering Community
1,212 
undergraduate students
590 
master’s students
581
 PhD students
395 
 staff & postdocs
171
 faculty
16,000
 alumni

Students

Undergraduates

1,212 undergraduate students
36 percent are women (National avg.: 24 percent)
277 members of the undergraduate Class of 2021

Senior Survey:

91 percent had jobs or job offers at the time of graduation
87 percent participated in an internship in the U.S.
15 percent participated in an internship abroad
62 percent had an intensive research experience with a faculty member
39 percent participated in a study-abroad program
16 percent published or presented a research paper off-campus

Source: Class of 2020 Survey (Response rate: 52 percent); Class of 2021 survey has been delayed.

Master's Students

122 Master of Engineering Management (MEM) On-Campus
70 Master of Engineering Management (MEM) Online
234 Master of Science (MS)
164 Master of Engineering (MEng)
406 master's degree graduates in the Class of 2021
8 in 10 recent master's graduates started work or further education within six months of graduation

PhD Students

581 PhD students
16 percent of eligible current PhD students received NSF or major fellowship awards
88 PhD graduates in the Class of 2021

Faculty

171 total faculty (all tracks)
124 tenure-track faculty
35 percent faculty growth over the last decade
9 members of the National Academy of Engineering

Research and Entrepreneurship

#19 overall in research productivity among U.S. engineering schools (Academic Analytics, v.2021)
56 spin-off companies started by Pratt faculty
39 patents issued in fiscal 2021

Meet our globally-recognized faculty »

Alumni

More than 16,000
Noted for achievements in engineering, finance, entrepreneurship, corporate leadership, teaching, medicine and other fields
Through the Duke Engineering Alumni Council, our graduates make direct impacts on current students through mentorship, student project and organization funding, intern sponsorship and more
25 Duke Alumni are members of the National Academy of Engineering

Learn more about our alumni »

Facilities and Location

Duke Engineering occupies nearly 400,000 net square feet of educational, administrative and research space in 18 buildings on and near the Duke campus in Durham, North Carolina.

The innovative Wilkinson Building contributes 81,000 net square feet of state-of-the-science laboratory and learning spaces for advanced research, design education and entrepreneurship.

Our campus adjacent to Duke University Medical Center gives engineering researchers and students uncommon collaborative opportunities with world-leading clinicians.

We are only miles from Research Triangle Park—the country's largest research park and home to 200-plus tech companies.

Regional Advantages

Energetic economy and community—The #2 Best Place to Live in the United States and a top-ranked region for STEM jobs (U.S. News & World Report; STEM Job Growth Index)
Sunny climate—220 days of sun a year; average daily high temp is 70.2°F (21.2°C)
Affordability—Living costs in Duke's region are 61% lower than in New York City, half that of California's Bay Area, and 39% lower than in Boston (Bankrate.com)

Learn more about our campus »

Updated Dec. 21, 2021