Duke University Reviews

  • 154 Reviews
  • Durham (NC)
  • Annual Tuition: $62,688
95% of 154 students said this degree improved their career prospects
97% of 154 students said they would recommend this school to others
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Student & Graduate Reviews

Ross Smith
  • Reviewed: 7/3/2014
  • Degree: Religious Studies
"For such a prestigious institution Duke Divinity's interest in instilling in future church leaders a spirit of critical thinking and rigorous theological engagement is severely lacking. Indoctrination is the name of the game, albeit, it is a very good indoctrination program, despite the negative connotation that that word has. The reality is Duke has only three years to prepare pastors who more often than not have little-to-no theological or biblical training, a difficult feat for any seminary. Unfortunately the school requires 8 out of 24 courses to be lecture hall courses with graduate or post graduate TAs. This portion of the program is often disappointing, a result of sub-par instruction and poor facilitation. Coupled with the other required courses within the M.Div. paradigm, in addition to possible denominational course requirements and/or language requirements, there is little opportunity for students to take any close to full advantage of the phenomenal faculty that Duke has acquired. Lastly, the course restrictions and poor quality of lecture hall courses make the MTS program atrocious. MTS students are required to take many classes that assume a pastoral intent and, overall, fail to prepare students for a competitive academic career."
Elizabeth Desmond
  • Reviewed: 6/27/2014
  • Degree: Health Sciences
"Mostly great. Very challenging, very diverse."
Tendai Kwaramba
  • Reviewed: 5/16/2014
  • Degree: Public Health
"The program is very fast paced but globally relevant which makes it healthily competitive but also very unique. The work load is very high but there are remarkable opportunities available once you graduate both locally and abroad."
Casey Herdson
  • Reviewed: 4/27/2014
  • Degree: Physician Assistant
"Duke University Physician Assistant Program is top notch! The education you receive is incredible, easily accessible from classes and online resources and filled with networking potential. The faculty is ever present and eager to help you succeed. Duke stands by its name and truly is number one!"
Ben Atria
  • Reviewed: 4/23/2014
  • Degree: Marketing
"Duke is great. Great networking, lots of opportunities to get a job on campus, affordable, friendly, international, etc. The school does not have strong operations classes."
Laura Beth Casey
  • Reviewed: 4/12/2014
  • Degree: Religious Studies
"Commuting from an hour away in conjunction with less than optimal library weekend hours are the two most difficult variables in my graduate school experience. Otherwise, I enjoy Duke."
Robert Williams
  • Reviewed: 3/12/2014
  • Degree: Philosophy
"Little to no investment in the grad student body. Though the Philosophy Department is making attempts to change, there is little to no official policy oversight and little to no guidance from faculty. The secretaries know more about the policies affecting grad students than the Head of the Department or the Director of Graduate Studies. Oh, and they cannot get anyone a job."
Marcus R
  • Reviewed: 3/9/2014
  • Degree: Psychology
"Professors in our program are leading scholars in their respective research areas. We receive excellent hospital-based clinical trainig, with multiple practicum options. Tuition is paid and the stipend is more than sufficient for life in Durham."
Angel Mira
  • Reviewed: 2/9/2014
  • Degree: Political Science
"Very collegial atmosphere. Faculty are very approachable and are great resources."
Zihe Zhang
  • Reviewed: 2/9/2014
  • Degree: Political Science
"It's a highly competitive and high-quality program."
Marie-Pier Boucher
  • Reviewed: 2/2/2014
  • Degree: Art & Design
"my program is terrific. i think its the student's responsibility to make it a good program. i wish we had 6 years of funding but 5 is already good."
Camille Ratliff
  • Reviewed: 1/27/2014
  • Degree: Health Sciences
"Duke Medicine is a fantastic program with excellent students, staff and faculty. A huge advantage of the program for me is the condensed pre-clinical coursework that is completed in the first 11 months. This allows us to start clinical rotations at the beginning of our second year, a full year before most medical schools. The third year is dedicated to independent research, and many students choose to pursue a Masters or other second degree during this time. Cons: given the rapid pace, the curriculum can seem overwhelming at times. To ease the pain, it helps to have some prior knowledge of physiology, anatomy, microbiology and immunology, classes that are not necessarily required for admission."
Marcus Steer
  • Reviewed: 12/31/2013
  • Degree: Religious Studies
"Duke Divinity School offers students a chance to work with some of the top theological minds in the country. By striking a unique balance between rigorous academic work and practical ministry, Duke Divinity School prepares seminarians for a variety of vocations. It is true that this is not the cheapest seminary, and the scholarships provided by the university typically cover less than half the cost of tuition. Because of this, everyday life can be a bit of a struggle, but the reward for the struggle is great."
Johannes Maus
  • Reviewed: 12/19/2013
  • Degree: Economics
"Approachable faculty and a diverse student body are the greatest strengths of this program. Master students are an important part of the department and people will care about your career and research goals. You will meet students from a huge variety of backgrounds with diverse goals and this fosters the academically stimulating environment."
Sheng JIANG
  • Reviewed: 12/18/2013
  • Degree: Mathematics
"overall, it's great, except for high tuition."
Can Evren
  • Reviewed: 12/18/2013
  • Degree: Anthropology
"In an awkward social setting but great academic quality"
Kilian Zimmermann
  • Reviewed: 11/18/2013
  • Degree: MBA
"pro: student body is extremely helpful - big network contra: Durham is a college town - not much else to do here"
Mallory Roman
  • Reviewed: 11/13/2013
  • Degree: Psychology
"The psychology program is well structured and the faculty are both accessible and influential in their fields. The research opportunities are endless and Duke has a ton of amazing resources to take advantage of. Students end orientation with an all day human subjects and ethics training and continue to receive such training throughout the program. There is an emphasis on mentorship and many students continue to have connections with their advisors after graduation. It's an extremely supportive program that offers all of the foundational knowledge and research skills you need to be successful. Durham is a little sketchy, it's important to look at crime maps when you are finding a place to live. There is a police presence on campus but there are crimes committed on campus, often at disturbing times of day, like 8PM or 12PM. If you stay vigilant and choose a good place to live it won't be an issue."
Juan Pablo
  • Reviewed: 11/13/2013
  • Degree: Biomedical Sciences
"Coming to Duke has been a pleasant yet intellectually challenging experience. My capability to conduct and critique science has been significantly improved not solely through personal experiences but also through social interactions, which Duke provides plenty of opportunities for."
Brandi Ripp
  • Reviewed: 11/11/2013
  • Degree: Law
"The quality of life and social aspects of this program are terrific, however the student body could be much more diverse."