Duke Fuqua
Why Fuqua?
At Fuqua, leadership is rooted in connection. "Team Fuqua" isn't just a slogan, it's a real ethos that shows up in the way students support one another in and out of the classroom. Collaboration here isn't just encouraged, it's expected, and it's what gives Fuqua its strong reputation for cultivating leaders who thrive in teams. Whether you're working on a case competition, a startup idea, or a consulting project, you'll be surrounded by people who push each other to be better while having each other's backs.
Fuqua stands out with its strength in healthcare through the Health Sector Management program, one of the best in the country for students targeting biotech, pharma, or healthcare consulting. The school also has a global mindset, offering programs like the Global Academic Travel Experience that immerse students in international business firsthand. Combine that with a tight-knit Durham community, top-tier faculty, and strong recruiting pipelines, and it's easy to see why so many students say they found their people at Fuqua.
🎓 MBA Class Profile (Class of 2026)
Key Demographics
- Enrolled Students: 427
- Acceptance Rate: 19.5%
- Yield Rate: 57.4%
- Women: 51%
- International Students: 41%
Academic Profile
- Average GMAT Score: 660-760
- GRE Total: 305-330
- Average Undergraduate GPA: 3.17-3.89
- Average Work Experience: 6 years
Note: Ranges indicate middle 80% of scores
💼 Employment Statistics (Class of 2024)
Job Placement
- Median Base Salary: $175,000
- Median Signing Bonus: $30,000
- Received Offers (within 3 months): 85%
*Not all offers included a signing bonus
Top Industries
- Consulting: 39%
- Financial Services: 25%
- Technology: 12%
- Healthcare: 7%
- CPG / Retail: 7%
🎤 Interview Tips
Unique Interview Feature:
Duke Fuqua's interviews strongly emphasize fit with its "Team Fuqua" culture, which centers around collaboration, support, and ethical leadership. A distinctive aspect is their focus on Decency Quotient (DQ) — the idea of "achieving greatness through doing right by others." Candidates are often evaluated on how they embody values like empathy, humility, integrity, and respect for others.
| Unique Questions Common to Fuqua | Prep Tips |
|---|---|
| What does the Decency Quotient (DQ) mean to you? | Reflect deeply on how you've demonstrated empathy, fairness, or kindness in your professional or personal life. For example, you could share how you helped a struggling colleague prepare for a presentation, showing care and patience despite your own workload. |
| Tell me about a time when you faced an ethical dilemma at work. How did you handle it? | Choose a story that highlights your commitment to integrity even when it wasn't easy. For instance, describe a moment when you pushed back on a sales tactic that misrepresented product capabilities, even though it risked losing a deal. Emphasize how your decision reflected your long-term values over short-term gains. |
| What does "Team Fuqua" mean to you? | Share a story that shows you've thrived in a team-oriented culture and supported others even when it didn't benefit you directly. For instance, describe how you helped a teammate overcome imposter syndrome, which allowed the team to perform better as a whole. |
Note: For a full list of potential interview questions, check out our MBA interview guide.
📅 Application Deadlines
| Round | Application Deadline | Decision Notification |
|---|---|---|
| Early Action | September 6, 2024 | October 17, 2024 |
| Round 1 | October 11, 2024 | December 12, 2024 |
| Round 2 | January 3, 2025 | March 13, 2025 |
| Round 3 | March 14, 2025 | April 30, 2025 |
Note: All deadlines are at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Fuqua conducts interviews by invitation only after reviewing applications.