About our namesake
We are named for Terry Sanford, who is remembered as a visionary who helped transform North Carolina into a national leader in fighting poverty and Duke into a world-class research institution. He served as governor of North Carolina, U.S. Senator and President of Duke University. Terry lived his life with outrageous ambition.
The Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy consistently ranks as one of the nation's leading public policy schools.
“I initially came to Sanford for the Master of Public Policy (MPP) program. I was drawn in by the program’s built-in opportunities to directly apply what I was learning to real-world challenges through the first-year client project and second-year master’s project, as well as the close-knit community feel of the program’s students and faculty.”
– Andrew Trexler. Andrew not only earned his MPP, he earned a PhD too.
Duke is a world-class university
A leading teaching and research institution accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), Duke is home to more than 17,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students.
Students have access to resources across campus including with the Nicholas School of the Environment, The Fuqua School of Business, Duke Divinity School, Pratt School of Engineering, The Margolis Center for Health Policy, Kenan Institute for Ethics, and many more.
Gorgeous Facilities
The Sanford School is primarily housed in the Sanford building and Rubenstein Hall, across from Duke Law School, and near the Fuqua School of Business. Duke’s famous basketball court, Cameron Indoor Stadium is behind us (and yes, we do run into coaches and players on occasion!) We can easily walk to the Chapel, the library, Brodhead Center dining, spectacular gardens and more.
Many students, including those in the Master of Public Affairs program will spend time at Duke in DC, the university’s home in the nation’s capital, conveniently located on Pennsylvania Ave.
A Vibrant Hometown
Durham, North Carolina, is recognized as one of the best places to live in the U.S. It's a part of Research Triangle Park, known worldwide for outstanding research universities, innovative technologies and entrepreneurial spirit.
The area has a great food scene along with attractions like the Durham Performing Arts Center, Durham Bulls Baseball, Duke Performances, verdant state parks and more. Durham is a short flight from D.C., Atlanta and New York, and students enjoy a lower cost of living and high quality of life.
World Class Faculty
Duke Sanford faculty are ranked among the most research-productive of any public policy school in the world. Our faculty will be your mentors and advocates throughout your time in the program and beyond.
Sanford has a mix of academic scholars and professors of the practice whose practical experience is highly valued.
Faculty members are accessible to students. They often collaborate across disciplines within Sanford and the broader Duke community.
Manoj Mohanan, interim Dean of the Sanford School.
An Involved and Caring Alumni Community
Sanford offers connections to the world-class, worldwide Sanford and Duke alumni networks. Sanford has more than 10,000 alumni in over 100 countries, and Duke university has over 180,000 alumni around the world, paving the way for unparalleled networking opportunities.
All students have access to programs like "Ask a Blue Devil" that connect you with the best Duke alumni experts who can help you with advice and introductions.