Duke Fuqua School of Business
Durham, United States - Founded 1969
Duke University chartered its Graduate School of Business in 1969; it was later named The Fuqua School of Business. The school is in Durham, North Carolina. The Daytime MBA is a two-year, STEM-designated program organized into six-week terms, and each first-year student is assigned to a team of four to five classmates. Fuqua also offers an Accelerated Daytime MBA for applicants who already hold a master's degree in management, a 22-month Weekend Executive MBA, and the 10-month MQM: Business Analytics and MMS: Foundations of Business master's programs. The Daytime MBA Class of 2028 has 359 students: 44% women, 38% international citizens, and 35% U.S. underrepresented students of color, with an average of 6.0 years of work experience and a middle 80% GMAT Focus range of 605-715. For the Class of 2025, the median base salary was $160,000, 82.2% of graduates seeking full-time jobs had an offer within 3 months of graduation, and 79% had accepted one. Fuqua is ranked #16 in the Financial Times Global MBA 2026 ranking.
Class size
359
Median salary
$160,000
Class profile
Applications
-
Avg GPA
-
GMAT range
605-715
Intl students
38%
Women
44%
Avg work exp
6.0 yrs
Avg age
29
GRE accepted
Yes
Pre-MBA industries
Employment
Median base salary
$160,000
Signing bonus
$30,000
Placement (3 mo)
79%
Offers at grad
72.4%
Changed industry
-
Changed function
-
| Industry | % of class |
|---|---|
| Consulting | 34% |
| Financial services | 20.9% |
| Technology | 15.6% |
| Healthcare (including products and services) | 7.4% |
| Consumer packaged goods | 4.9% |
| Other | 4.5% |
| Energy | 2.9% |
| Retail | 2.5% |
| Manufacturing | 2% |
| Real estate | 2% |
| Hospitality | 1.2% |
| Transportation and logistics services | 1.2% |
| Non-profit | 0.8% |
Programs
| Type | Program | Duration | Format | Tuition | Class size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time MBA | Daytime MBA | 24 months | Full-time, on campus in Durham | $83,700 (first year, Class of 2028) | 359 |
| Full-time MBA | Accelerated Daytime MBA | 10 months | Full-time, on campus in Durham | $107,900 (Class of 2027) | - |
| Executive MBA | Weekend Executive MBA | 22 months | Hybrid | $185,600 total program cost (Class of 2029) | - |
| Specialized master | MQM: Business Analytics | 10 months | Full-time, on campus in Durham | $87,800 (Class of 2027) | 150 |
| Specialized master | MMS: Foundations of Business | 10 months | Full-time, on campus in Durham | $69,900 (Class of 2027) | 199 |
Admissions
| Round | Deadline | Decision by |
|---|---|---|
| Early Action (binding) | September 2, 2026 | October 15, 2026 |
| Round 1 | September 30, 2026 | December 10, 2026 |
| Round 2 | January 5, 2027 | March 11, 2027 |
| Round 3 | March 25, 2027 | May 6, 2027 |
Application fee
$225
Tuition
$83,700 (first year, Class of 2028, 2026-27)
Total cost
$118,974 (first-year cost of attendance, Class of 2028, 2026-27)
Interview
By invitation. Interviews are conducted by alumni, staff, or trained second-year MBA students called Admissions Fellows, and the interviewer sees only your resume. On-campus interviews are offered in Early Action, Round 1, and Round 2 and are held in person; off-campus interviews are primarily virtual and are offered in every round. Round 3 applicants select a virtual interview. Interviews last 45 to 60 minutes. Every admitted applicant interviews before receiving an offer.
English test
Not required
Deferral
Deferrals are granted only for a significant, unanticipated, and unavoidable personal emergency, are considered only after May 1 for admits who have paid the tuition deposit, are limited to one year, and carry a non-refundable $3,000 fee credited toward tuition.
FAQ
What GMAT score do I need for Duke Fuqua?
Fuqua has no minimum score. The Class of 2028 middle 80% range is 605-715 on the GMAT Focus, 307-330 on the GRE (Verbal plus Quant), and 150-162 on the Executive Assessment.
What essays does Fuqua require?
A 100-word short answer on post-MBA career goals, the 25 Random Things essay (750 words maximum), and The Fuqua community and you (500 words maximum). An optional essay of up to 500 words is available.
Is Fuqua's Early Action binding?
Yes. An applicant admitted in Early Action commits to attend Fuqua and must withdraw applications to other schools. The 2026-2027 Early Action deadline was September 2, 2026, and decisions are released October 15, 2026.
What is the median salary for Fuqua graduates?
For the Class of 2025, the median base salary was $160,000 and the median signing bonus was $30,000.
Sources
- 1Duke Fuqua School of Business, Class profile
- 2Duke Fuqua School of Business, Admissions
- 3Duke Fuqua School of Business, Employment report (checked October 15, 2026)