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:

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Master of Public Policy 

  • 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
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Environmental Policy

2024 US News & World Report

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Public Policy Analysis

2024 US News & World Report

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Social Policy

2024 US News & World Report

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Health policy

2024 US News & World Report

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Master of International Development Policy

  • Complete your degree in one or two years
  • 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
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Duke University

Duke is #10 in U.S. universities, and #20 in World University Rankings.

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40 fellows per cohort

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Alumni in 100 countries

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International Master of Environmental Policy

  • 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
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Environmental Policy

2024 U.S. News and World Report

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Based at Duke Kunshan, China

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Nicholas School

Program is in partnership with the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University

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Doctoral Program

  • 6-8 candidates matriculate each year
  • Focus on one of these areas: social policy, global policy, health policy, environmental policy
  • Personalized advising
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Job Placement

100% job placement rate.

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40 World-Class Faculty Advisors

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100+ Alumni

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Undergraduate Program in Public Policy

  • 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
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Best College for Public Policy

2020 Niche.com

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Top major at Duke

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Prestigious internships

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