Duke University

Duke University, located in Durham, NC is the 9th school in the United States. It’s a private, not for profit that is made up of 12 schools and institutes (including two for undergraduates), 254 buildings, and 8,547 acres. Famous alumni have included Richard Nixon, Ron Paul, Tim Cook of Apple, Melinda Gates of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation as well as Nobel Prize winners, Turing award winners, Rhodes Scholars, Olympic athletes, and CEOs of Fortune 500 companies.

Starting in 1838 as Brown’s Schoolhouse, Duke underwent many name changes throughout the years, including Union Institute, Normal College, and Trinity College, before landing on Duke University named so for the Duke family. Washington Duke was partly responsible for the school’s move to Durham as well as an initial endowment. He continued his generosity with three separate contributions starting in 1896 under the stipulation that the school be available to women with the same educational opportunities that men received.

Washington’s son, James B. Duke, would establish The Duke Endowment in 1924 that would be dispersed among hospitals, orphanages, the church, and four colleges, including what was then known as the Trinity College. Due to these gifts, the president of Trinity suggested the name Duke University. At first, James Duke declined, feeling it would be self-serving, until it was proposed it be named so in memory of his father. The donations from the family lead to the school’s quick expansion in the upcoming years, which included the Gothic style buildings and the famous Duke Chapel finished in 1935.

Duke University’s motto is Eruditio et Religio, or Knowledge and Faith. Currently about 18,000 total students attend. The school offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorates.