Duke University Rankings 2025

Duke University ranks among the top institutions globally and nationally. In the QS World Rankings 2026, it holds the 62nd position, while the Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings place it at 27th, it also stands at 6th in the U.S. News & World Report National Rankings 2025. You’ll find Duke University rankings featured prominently across subjects like Biomedical (3rd), Anatomy & Physiology (5th), and Nursing (7th).

If you're planning to study in the USA, Duke offers a competitive environment backed by academic leadership and career results. Ranked among the best universities in the USA, it provides a wide range of programs from humanities to advanced sciences. With more than 80 departments, Duke University courses give you the flexibility to build your undergraduate or postgraduate path based on your goals.

Duke University Rankings 2025-26

Duke University ranks among the most reputed institutions across global and national platforms. In the U.S. News & World Report National Rankings 2025, Duke stands at 6th, while QS places it at 61 globally. Duke also ranks 106th nationally for Top Performers on Social Mobility, reflecting its growing support for underrepresented students.

The table below shows how Duke University rankings have shifted from 2024 to 2026.

Below is a visual overview to help you grasp Duke’s year-on-year ranking trajectory more clearly.

Duke’s QS World Ranking shifted from 57 in 2024 to 61 in 2025, followed by a slight dip to 62 in 2026, indicating minor changes in global performance metrics. In THE Rankings, Duke moved from 26 to 27, a stable position that reflects consistency in research, teaching, and reputation. 

Nationally, Duke improved its standing in the U.S. News & World Report, rising from 7 in 2024 to 6 in 2025, confirming its upward trajectory among U.S. institutions. These figures suggest strong performance, particularly in areas influencing U.S. rankings like graduation rates and faculty resources.

Duke’s subject-wise rankings offer deeper insight into its academic strengths. You’ll find which disciplines place it among the best.

Subject-Wise Ranking of Duke University Universities

Duke University ranks consistently across a wide range of disciplines, from humanities to engineering. It stands 24th globally in Sociology and 26th in Psychology, according to QS and THE rankings. These placements reflect academic strength across both social sciences and STEM.

Let’s begin exploring subject-wise rankings from each major ranking agency to understand Duke’s academic reputation in detail.

QS World Rankings 2026

In the 2026 QS World Rankings by Subject, Duke University secures top positions in health and social sciences. It ranks 5th globally in Anatomy & Physiology and 7th in Nursing, showcasing its consistent academic strength in life and medical sciences. This means Duke is perfect for students looking to pursue programs like a BSc in nursing. 

The table below highlights Duke’s subject-wise positions in the QS 2026 rankings.

To understand how Duke performs across other evaluators, you can now examine its rankings in the Times Higher Education list.

Times Higher Education World Rankings 2025

The Times Higher Education 2025 subject rankings place Duke University among the global leaders in multiple fields. It ranks 15th in Business & Economics and 23rd in Life Sciences, underlining its cross-disciplinary academic depth. If you’re planning to pursue a master’s in Economics, Duke can be a good choice. 

The table below lists Duke’s performance across various subjects in THE 2025 rankings.

Now, let’s explore Duke’s subject strengths as evaluated by U.S. News & World Report for a domestic perspective.

U.S. News & World Report Rankings 2025

U.S. News ranks Duke highly in professional and undergraduate categories. It holds the 3rd spot in Biomedical, 6th in Nursing, and ranks 10th for Undergraduate Teaching, like a Bachelor’s in Education, reflecting its balanced focus on both research and classroom excellence.

The table below outlines Duke University’s top subject-level rankings from U.S. News 2025.

Besides subject-based evaluations, Duke also earns recognition across diverse performance metrics and specialized listings.

Miscellaneous Ranking 2025

Duke University maintains its reputation across value, innovation, and teaching quality. It ranks 16th in U.S. News Best Value Schools 2025 and 11th in Most Innovative Schools, adding to its appeal for students seeking strong returns on investment. Niche ranks 1st in North Carolina, affirming its place among the top universities in the USA for Master’s and Bachelor’s programs.

The rankings below reflect Duke’s recognition beyond traditional academic categories.

Duke’s performance is also shaped by its physical and academic infrastructure. Its campuses reflect academic achievement, innovation, and leadership in higher education.

Duke University: Excellence and Achievements

Duke University campuses serve as platforms for academic growth, cultural impact, and civic leadership. In 2024, the Sanford School of Public Policy received the Gold-level CASE Circle of Excellence Award, highlighting Duke’s recognition in educational innovation. The WomC Awards celebrate student-led social change through six competitive categories.

Let’s explore how Duke’s academic milestones contribute to its national recognition and institutional excellence.

Academic Excellence and National Recognition

Duke University’s reputation goes beyond classroom rankings. Its academic output, student awards, and institutional honors reflect consistent national recognition. In 2025, its Cybersecurity program earned designation from the U.S. NSA, and its students won Rhodes and Marshall Scholarships, which are among the most competitive global academic awards.

The examples below show how Duke continues to lead in academic and institutional excellence.

Beyond academic awards, Duke also receives honors tied to campus experience, student engagement, and support networks.

Community and Lifestyle Recognitions

Duke University strengthens its campus by rewarding service-driven leadership. The In the Spotlight Awards honor standout students and groups for year-round contributions. The Duke Employee Community Service Award also recognizes staff who serve the local Durham community with lasting impact.

The awards below highlight how Duke promotes leadership, volunteerism, and civic engagement across all levels.

This strong campus recognition culture supports Duke’s overall performance and visibility in national evaluations. Understanding how rankings are assigned helps you interpret them better.

Cultural and Creative Excellence

Duke University fosters a strong creative environment across literature, arts, and visual storytelling. In 2025, Professor Anne‑Gaëlle Saliot was honored as a Knight in France’s Ordre des Palmes Académiques for her work in French studies and culture. 

With multiple awards and grants for student artists, Duke ranks among the best places to study abroad creative writing and the liberal arts.

The recognitions below show how Duke rewards creativity, research, and artistic innovation.

These cultural honors contribute to Duke’s reputation across global evaluations. You now need to see how Duke compares against its acceptance rate and institutional standing.

Duke University: Ranking V/S Acceptance Rate

High rankings often come with competitive admissions. Duke University’s top-ranked programs, like Anatomy & Physiology (5th) and Nursing (7th), admit only a small percentage of applicants. 

For example, the acceptance rate across Duke programs stands at just 7 percent, making it a selective option for students pursuing degrees like Bachelors of Social Science or pre-med pathways.

Below, you can see how Duke’s academic rankings align with its program selectivity.

Understanding how ranking bodies evaluate universities helps you interpret these numbers better. You’ll now learn how those methodologies work.

Ranking Bodies Methodologies

Duke University rankings are not based on a single metric. They reflect performance across teaching, research, employment outcomes, and student resources. 

For example, U.S. News assigns 16% weight to graduation rates, while QS gives 30% weight to academic reputation. These variations explain why Duke’s position shifts across ranking platforms and influence how applicants evaluate the Duke University admission experience.

Let’s understand how each ranking body measures performance. The methods below reveal what matters most in these global evaluations.

U.S. News and World Report Methodology

U.S. News prioritizes student outcomes, peer reputation, and faculty support. It places 20% weight on peer assessment and 16% on graduation rates, making it highly outcome-oriented. Financial factors like debt and resources also carry significant weight.

Below is the breakdown of performance indicators used by U.S. News to assign national rankings.

You now move to the QS rankings, where global perception and research output take the lead.

QS World University Rankings Methodology

QS evaluates universities through global reputation and academic influence. Academic reputation accounts for 30%, followed by citations per faculty at 20%. It also considers faculty-student ratio, sustainability, and employment outcomes.

The indicators below show how QS measures university performance across international dimensions.

The Times Higher Education rankings offer a broader perspective by combining research, teaching, and industry partnerships.

Times Higher Education (THE)  University Rankings Methodology

THE rankings combine academic environment, research volume, and global outlook. For example, Teaching Reputation weighs 15%, while Citation Impact carries another 15%, making research visibility a major factor. Industry links and patents are also considered.

The table below presents the full indicator set used in THE rankings.

Now, let’s understand how expert guidance from upGrad can help you study abroad at Duke University. 

Conclusion

Duke University ranks 6th nationally (U.S. News 2025), 61st globally (QS 2025), and 27th in THE World Rankings 2025. Subject-wise, it holds 3rd in Biomedical, 5th in Anatomy & Physiology, and 7th in Nursing. It also ranks 16th in Best Value Schools and 1st in North Carolina. 

With strong placements across global and national charts, Duke proves its academic strength, research output, and campus quality. If you're aiming high, Duke University remains a strong and competitive choice.