Duke Pratt School of Engineering – Duke University

Duke University’s Pratt School of Engineering is counted among the most respected engineering institutions in the US. It was founded in 1939 as the College of Engineering. It was later renamed the Pratt School of Engineering in 1999 after the former Chairman and CEO of Pfizer Inc – Edmund T. Pratt Jr. The school is also popular as  Duke Engineering, Pratt, and Pratt School. 

Today, the Pratt School is widely recognized for its excellent faculty members, cutting-edge research programs, award-winning research centres, and more. It continues to be one of Duke University’s most popular schools—attracting top students from around the globe. 

The university is tied for the 24th position in the rankings for Best Engineering Schools in the US, according to the US News & World Report 2023. Keep reading further for details about the faculty, courses, fees, and much more at Duke Engineering. 

Courses and Faculty

Duke Engineering is organised into four academic departments and one institute dedicated to ‘Enterprise Learning,’ as mentioned below.

• Department of Biomedical Engineering
• Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
• Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
• Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science
• Institute for Enterprise Engineering

These departments offer various undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees. They also provide opportunities for online learning. Pratt School has been ranked among the top schools for its online master’s degree in Engineering Management by the US News & World Report 2023. Also, most of the courses offered at Pratt School rank among the top 25 degree programs in their fields. Some of them are Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering.

In addition to top-ranking courses, Pratt School also provides several opportunities for students to get involved in extracurricular activities through competitions, design projects, and research.  The school’s close ties with industry partners ensure its curriculum is always up-to-date with the latest technological advances. 

Another unique aspect about Duke Engineering is its focus on hands-on learning. Students have access to some of the best facilities and equipment in the world, which allows them to get real-world experience working on complex projects. Owing to the constant development of advanced technologies by faculty members through their groundbreaking research, the university’s research laboratories have gained value immensely. Some of their contributions include the world’s first gigapixel camera as well as the first-ever invisibility cloak! 

Therefore, it is safer to pronounce that the faculty members at Duke Engineering play a vital role in ensuring that the school’s reputation as a premier educational institution is upheld. Ten faculty members from Pratt are members of the prestigious American non-profit – National Academy of Engineering. They teach students how to apply theories to solve real-world problems and contribute to society through innovation and research. The faculty members also guide students to become entrepreneurs as the members have launched over 50 spin-off companies. In 2021, a total of 39 patents were issued to the faculty members of Duke Engineering. 

Careers and Placements

Graduates from the Pratt School of Engineering are known to have excellent job prospects upon graduation. Most of them work at top companies such as Apple Inc., Google Inc., Lockheed Martin Corp., Microsoft Corp., SpaceX LLC, and Tesla Motors Inc. or have embarked upon the entrepreneurial route of establishing their own startups. Thus, Pratt’s strong alumni network provides valuable networking opportunities to students. 

Moreover, Pratt graduates are highly sought after by employers because of their skills and abilities to succeed in Pratt’s rigorous coursework. Pratt’s challenging curriculum prepares students for high-impact and complex fields of work. The school also focuses on entrepreneurship and offers several programs to help students establish their own firms. Furthermore, the Career Services at Pratt work diligently to place graduates in jobs that match their skills and interests. 

Numerous graduates also choose to pursue further research or academic degrees post-graduation. While some alums serve as university professors, others work for government agencies or private laboratories researching new technologies or innovative approaches to solve global challenges. 

Fees and Scholarships

Pratt School of Engineering is one of the most expensive schools in the country. The approximate tuition cost for undergraduate programs was fixed at  $55,575 annually for the academic session 2022-2023, while the tuition cost for graduate programs was fixed at $61,272, depending on the program. Besides tuition, other related fees include room and board costs, books, recreation fees, and transportation, among others.  

However, the university strives to assist students in every possible way so that they achieve their educational goals. Almost 80 per cent of students seeking financial assistance are awarded scholarships. The various financial assistance options for students include need-based & merit-based scholarships, grants, fellowships, as well as loans, and work-study opportunities. 

Pratt also has tuition management programs that can help students plan their payments over time. Financial assistance is available to both undergraduate and graduate students, so no one has to miss out on the opportunity to attend Pratt because of monetary concerns. 

Admission Requirements 

The Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, has some of the most stringent admission requirements for students in the country. In order to be admitted to Pratt, students must have a GPA of 3.5 or higher, submit standardized test scores, and scores of a recognised English proficiency test, and complete an extensive application form that includes essays and letters of recommendation. The school is highly selective and only admits around 20% of applicants yearly.

Ensure that you are writing a strong personal statement. This essay gives you an opportunity to share your story and explain why you are interested in attending Pratt. Make sure to highlight your academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and any other unique qualities that make you stand out from the rest of the applicant pool. 

Duke Engineering provides an excellent education combined with top-notch facilities and an impressive alumni network, making it one of the best options for anyone interested in pursuing a career in engineering. So if you are interested in earning an engineering degree of value and repute, Duke Engineering is an excellent choice. All the best!