Duke Sanford is one of the nation's premiere schools of public policy, recognized both nationally and abroad for teaching, policy engagement and research. Our students and alumni are passionate change-makers, using the skills they learned here to make a difference. Our multi-disciplinary faculty includes former policy-makers and noted scholars. Their research addresses some of the world’s most pressing problems.
Durham, NC is a top 10 place to live and has been named America’s Foodiest Small Town.
Here are some of our other recent accolades:
Master of Public Policy
- #3 in Environmental Policy - 2021 U.S. News and World Report
- #6 in Public Policy Analysis - 2021 U.S. News and World Report
- #6 in Social Policy - 2021 U.S. News and World Report
- #7 in Health Policy - 2021 U.S. News and World Report
- Complete your degree in two years
- 65+ students per cohort
- Tuition fellowships via AmeriCorps, City Year, Peace Corps, Teach for America, and Yellow Ribbon
- 26 centers and programs across the university are led by Sanford faculty
- 5 Dual Degrees – MPP/JD, MPP/MD, MPP/MBA, MPP/MEM, MPP/MDIV
Master of International Development Policy
- Duke University is #10 in U.S. universities and #20 in world universities
- Complete your degree in one or two years
- 40 fellows per cohort
- Alumni from more than 100 countries
- 7 focus areas - Applied Economics, Development Management & Governance, Environmental Management & Policy, Law & Development, Peace & Conflict Resolution, Social Policy, Innovation & Entrepreneurship.
- 9 certificates available
- Partnerships with Oxfam America, Peace Corps, World Bank and more
- Home of the Duke-UNC Rotary Peace Center
Master of Environmental Policy (International)
- Duke University is #3 in Environmental Policy - 2020 U.S. News and World Report
- 2-year program, in English, based at Duke’s 200-acre LEED-certified green campus in Kunshan, China
- Degree offered in partnership with Duke Nicholas School of the Environment
- One semester at Duke University campus in Durham, NC
- Networking and internships in China and U.S.
- Work closely with the Environmental Research Center at Duke Kunshan University
- Generous merit and need-based scholarships
PhD Program
- 100% job placement rate
- 6-8 candidates matriculate each year
- 100+ alumni
- Focus on one of these areas: social policy, global policy, health policy, environmental policy
- 40 world-class faculty advisors
- Personalized advising
Undergraduate Program in Public Policy
- 3rd largest undergraduate major at Duke
- #1 Best Colleges for Public Policy in America - 2020 Niche.com
- 2 certificates offered - child policy and policy journalism and media studies
- Study in Washington, DC or Glasgow
- Assistance landing prestigious internships: The White House, U.S. State Dept., Congressional offices, WGBH, Microsoft and more
- Special programs include the Hart Leadership program; Duke in DC; Duke’s Center for Politics (Polis); Duke Program in American Grand Strategy
- Eligible for 4+1 Accelerated Master of Public Policy – complete both undergraduate and masters in 5 years