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
Facts & Stats
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
- Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE)
- Master of Engineering (MEng)
- Master of Engineering Management (MEM)
- Master of Science (MS)
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
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:
- Department of Biomedical Engineering
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
- Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
- Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science
- 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 $88 million per year, with faculty winning nearly $97 million in new awards in FY20. Research funding from external sources has grown by 98 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 (tie)
Research and Faculty
Academic Analytics (v.2020) Faculty Scholarly Productivity:
- #1 in Computer Engineering
- #6 in Electrical Engineering
- #10 in Mechanical Engineering
- #11 in Biomedical Engineering
- #13 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:
- #9 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
- #12 National University—U.S. News & World Report
- #5 University—Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education
- #4 STEM University for Women—Forbes
Students
Undergraduates
- 1,257 undergraduate students (August 2020)
- 37 percent are women (National average: 24 percent)
- 91 percent have jobs or job offers at the time of graduation
- 87 percent participate in an internship in the U.S.
- 15 percent participate in an internship abroad
- 62 percent have an intensive research experience with a faculty member
- 39 percent participate in a study-abroad program
- 16 percent publish or present a research paper off-campus
- 277 undergraduates in the Class of 2021
Source: Senior exit survey (Response rate: 52 percent)
Master's Students
- 221 Master of Engineering Management (MEM) On-Campus
- 58 Master of Engineering Management (MEM) Online
- 365 Master of Science (MS)
- 126 Master of Engineering (MEng)
- 406 master's graduates in the Class of 2021
- Nearly 9 in 10 recent master's graduates started work or further education within six months of graduation
PhD Students
- 578 PhD students
- Greater than 20 percent PhD student enrollment growth in the last five years
- 16 percent of eligible current PhD students received NSF or major fellowship awards
- 88 PhD graduates in the Class of 2021
Faculty
- 156 total faculty (all tracks)
- 126 tenure-track faculty
- 35 percent faculty growth over the last decade
- 10 members of the National Academy of Engineering
Research and Entrepreneurship
- #13 overall in research productivity among U.S. engineering schools (Academic Analytics, v2020)
- 54 spin-off companies started by Pratt faculty
- 37 patents issued in fiscal 2020
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 304,021 net square feet of educational, administrative and research space on and near the Duke campus in Durham, North Carolina.
The Wilkinson Building, opened for classes in 2021, added about 85,000 net square feet for engineering education, research and entrepreneurship.
Our campus adjacent to Duke University Medical Center gives engineering researchers and students uncommon collaborative opportunities with world-leading clinicians.
We are just miles from Research Triangle Park—the country's largest research park and home to 200-plus tech companies.
Regional Advantages
- Energetic regional economy—Top-ranked for STEM jobs (2020 STEM Job Growth Index)
- Comfortable climate—220 sunny days a year; average daily high temp 70.2°F (21.2°C)
- Affordability—Cost of living is 61% lower than New York City, 50% lower than California's Bay Area, and 39% lower than Boston (Bankrate.com)
Learn more about our campus »