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Facts and Rankings

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

Top Ten Public Policy

  • #3 in Environmental Policy - 2022 U.S. News and World Report
  • #6 in Public Policy Analysis - 2022 U.S. News and World Report
  • #6 in Social Policy - 2022 U.S. News and World Report
  • #8 in Health Policy - 2022 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

Icon #10 in the nation

  • 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)

In China

  • Duke University is #3 in Environmental Policy - 2022 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

Icon 100% job placement rate

  • 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 

top Internships

  • 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