Programs & majors brief
Duke University Majors & Programs
Which majors earn the most at Duke University?
35 of 35 programs shown
Each bar is a field’s median. Program size counts degrees awarded, not unique people or the earnings sample.
Compare all matching programs
| Program | Degrees awarded | 4-yr earnings | Field rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 53 | $297,029 | #1 |
| Computer Science | 370 | $195,809 | #9 |
| Computer Engineering | 134 | $174,522 | #3 |
| Economics | 209 | $161,149 | #3 |
| Statistics | 48 | $152,782 | #3 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 79 | $120,991 | #3 |
| History | 41 | $112,377 | #3 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 67 | $105,921 | #13 |
| Public Policy Analysis | 181 | $103,071 | #3 |
| Public Health | 41 | $101,771 | #1 |
| Political Science and Government | 91 | $88,459 | #20 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services small degree count | 19 | $88,098 | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 155 | $87,763 | #157 |
| Biology, General | 160 | $83,192 | #6 |
| Anthropology | 21 | $81,120 | — |
| International and Comparative Education | 32 | $79,640 | — |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 36 | $73,435 | #7 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 96 | $73,140 | #6 |
| Sociology | 35 | $61,425 | — |
| Area Studies | 36 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies small degree count | 7 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Civil Engineering small degree count | 12 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics small degree count | 8 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| English Language and Literature, General | 29 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Literature small degree count | 8 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | 23 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General | 20 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Cognitive Science small degree count | 7 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Mathematics and Computer Science small degree count | 6 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Philosophy | 24 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Chemistry | 35 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Physics | 22 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 151 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Visual and Performing Arts, Other small degree count | 13 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts small degree count | 9 | Too few graduates to report | — |
Program data and definitions · How to evaluate program rankings
What are the largest programs at Duke University?
Counts describe degrees awarded in the reporting period, not current enrollment. Program data and definitions
How do Duke University majors rank nationally?
National program rankings
- Mathematics#1
- Public Health#1
- Computer Engineering#3
- Mechanical Engineering#3
- Statistics#3
- Public Policy Analysis#3
- Economics#3
- History#3
- Biology, General#6
- Neurobiology and Neurosciences#6
- Natural Resources Conservation and Research#7
- Computer Science#9
- Biomedical/Medical Engineering#13
- Political Science and Government#20
Programs ranked in the national top 50, supplemented by the largest ranked programs when needed to show ten. Fewer appear when fewer ranks are reported. Each rank compares bachelor’s programs in the same field; field sizes differ.
Further analysis
Outcomes at Duke University vary sharply by field, and Azimuth's program rankings evaluate four-year earnings among federally aided completers, debt, and cohort size rather than reputation. Of the 19 programs with published earnings data, 15 carry an Azimuth national rank.
The three largest program families are Computer & Information Sciences, at 16.2% of bachelor's degrees awarded, Social Sciences at 15.6%, and Engineering at 12.8%. Computer Science is the largest single program, with 370 degrees awarded.
Azimuth ranks it #9 nationally and #1 in North Carolina, and its completers earn a median of $195,809 four years after completion. The highest earnings belong to a smaller program: Mathematics completers earn a median of $297,029 four years after completion, from 53 degrees awarded a year.
Mathematics holds the strongest national rank at #1, with 53 degrees awarded and earnings of $297,029. Across all fields, 43.1% of degrees awarded are in STEM.
Data & methodology
Sources and reporting periods: methodology.
Analysis and methodology by Daniel Rogers, founder of College Azimuth.
Explanatory text is AI-assisted drafting checked against those figures; it is not an additional data source.
Figure notes link to sources and limitations. About College Azimuth.