The Duke Fuqua MBA (Fuqua calls it the Daytime MBA) is the two-year, full-time MBA of Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business in Durham, North Carolina, ranked No. 14 in the U.S. News 2026 Best Business Schools list. For fall 2027 entry, the Duke Fuqua MBA Round 2 deadline is 5 January 2027 and Round 3 closes on 25 March 2027. You will write a 100-word goals answer, the well-known “25 Random Things About You” list and a 500-word community essay, send one recommendation and a test score, and interview in person or online. Fuqua does not accept TOEFL or IELTS scores at all.
Fuqua admitted 24.0% of applicants for fall 2025 entry, according to U.S. News data reported by Poets&Quants. The Class of 2028, which started in 2026, is 38% international and comes from 46 countries; the middle 80% scored 605 to 715 on GMAT Focus. The whole Daytime MBA is STEM designated, the official 2026-27 first-year budget is $118,974, and Fuqua offers international students a loan with no cosigner. I checked the figures in this Duke Fuqua guide on 29 October 2026.
Duke Fuqua MBA ranking
U.S. News released its 2026 Best Business Schools ranking, part of its 2026 Best Graduate Schools, on 7 April 2026. Fuqua placed No. 14 for the full-time MBA, between Michigan Ross (No. 13) and Cornell Johnson (No. 15). Poets&Quants (6 April 2026) and Clear Admit (9 April 2026) published the same tables.
Duke Fuqua acceptance rate and class profile
Poets&Quants puts the Duke Fuqua acceptance rate at 24.0% for the class that entered in fall 2025, from about 4,000 applications. The rate rose from 19.5% a year earlier (22.1% the year before that), but it is still lower than Ross (30.2%) or Johnson (29.3%). Fuqua does not publish an average GMAT, GRE or Executive Assessment score, only ranges.
| Daytime MBA Class of 2028 | Figure |
|---|---|
| New students | 359 |
| GMAT Focus (middle 80%) | 605 to 715 |
| GRE Verbal plus Quant (middle 80%) | 307 to 330 |
| Executive Assessment (middle 80%) | 150 to 162 |
| Undergraduate GPA (middle 80%) | 3.15 to 3.90 |
| Average work experience | 6 years |
| International students | 38% |
| Countries and territories represented | 46 |
| Women | 44% |
| Holders of an advanced degree | 14% |
| First-generation college students | 19% |
The class is smaller than Fuqua’s usual intake of more than 400, according to Clear Admit, while the international share rose by about three points. Undergraduate majors were 34% business and accounting, 31% engineering and natural sciences, 19% liberal arts and 11% economics.
Duke Fuqua MBA requirements for international students
The official Fuqua Daytime MBA application instructions list these components:
- Bachelor’s degree: from an accredited institution, completed before the programme starts. No major is preferred.
- Transcripts: scanned unofficial copies from every degree-granting school. Non-English transcripts must be translated and attested; a WES evaluation may be added.
- One-page resume.
- Test score: GMAT, GMAT Focus, GRE or Executive Assessment, self-reported, no minimum, up to five years old.
- Essays: a 100-word short answer, 25 Random Things, The Fuqua Community and You, and an optional essay.
- One recommendation: through the online form, from your most recent professional setting.
- Interview: by invitation.
- Application fee: $225, reduced to $150 or waived in some cases.
English language requirement
Fuqua says plainly that it does not accept ESL test scores for the Daytime MBA. It judges your English through the rest of the application: your essays, your recommendation and especially the interview, which is held in English. The only exception is the MEM/MBA dual degree, where the engineering side needs an English test. This saves you the cost of a TOEFL or IELTS, but it puts more weight on how clearly you speak in the interview.
Application fee and waivers
The fee is $225, paid by Visa or MasterCard. It drops to $150 if you attend a qualifying Fuqua event, such as an online information session or an MBA fair where you sign in at the Fuqua table, or if a current student or alum endorses you through Fuqua’s endorsement form before you apply. A full waiver is available for, among others, citizens of a UN least-developed country, people who attended the Duke MBA International Applicant Symposium, Early Action applicants, Fulbright members and military veterans. Only one discount or waiver applies, and you must select it in the application.
Duke Fuqua MBA deadlines 2026-2027
Early Action closed on 2 September 2026 and Round 1 on 30 September 2026. These are the rounds still open, from Fuqua’s facts and dates page:
| Round | Application deadline | Interview invitations by | Final decision | Deposit due |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round 2 | 5 January 2027 | 11 February 2027 | 11 March 2027 | 23 April 2027 |
| Round 3 | 25 March 2027 | 14 April 2027 | 6 May 2027 | 1 June 2027 |
Round 2 is your last safe round
Fuqua’s facts and dates page tells international applicants to apply in Early Action, Round 1 or Round 2 to leave time for the visa. A Round 3 decision on 6 May 2027 leaves only about three months before classes, and Round 3 interviews are virtual only.
Duke Fuqua essays and how to answer them
Fuqua asks for 1.5 line spacing and at least a 10-point font, and says not to repeat the question in your upload. It checks essays for plagiarism and AI-generated content.
| Essay | What it asks | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Short answer (required) | Your post-MBA career goals, with a first-choice plan and an alternate plan | 100 words |
| 25 Random Things About You (required) | A numbered list of 25 facts, experiences, hobbies or achievements that show who you are beyond your resume | 750 words (about 2 pages) |
| The Fuqua Community and You (required) | Three ways you expect to contribute to the Fuqua community, based on what you know of its culture | 500 words (1 page) |
| Tell Us More (optional) | Circumstances such as work gaps, recommender choice or academic concerns | 500 words (1 page) |
Short answer: goals and a backup plan
One hundred words is about five sentences. Give your first-choice role and industry, one reason it fits your background, then an alternate plan that uses similar skills. The alternate plan shows you understand that recruiting does not always go to plan, which matters more for international students who depend on employers willing to sponsor visas.
Sample opening, for illustration: “After Fuqua, I want to join a health care consulting team such as ZS or the life sciences practice of a strategy firm; if that path closes, I will move into commercial strategy at a pharmaceutical company.”
25 Random Things About You
This is the essay Fuqua is known for, and it is where you can be most yourself. Mix serious and light entries: a family tradition, the food you cook best, a failure, a strange skill, a person who shaped you. Some entries can be one line; three or four can run longer. Avoid repeating your resume. Read your list aloud to a friend; if they say “I didn’t know that” several times, you are on the right track.
Sample entries, for illustration: “7. I learned to drive in my father’s 1998 Peugeot 406 on the Enugu-Onitsha expressway, which explains my calm in negotiations.” “8. I can recite every Super Eagles squad since 1994.”
The Fuqua Community and You
Give three distinct contributions, each tied to something you have already done. Name a specific club, conference or student activity for each, and say what you would do in it. Research matters here: talk to current students or attend an event (which also cuts your fee) so your examples are current.
Duke Fuqua interview format
Interviews are by invitation, sent on a rolling basis. You choose in-person or virtual when you apply. In-person interviews in Durham are offered in Early Action, Round 1 and Round 2; Round 3 is virtual only. Interviewers are alumni, admissions staff or trained second-year students called Admissions Fellows, and they see only your resume, not your full application. Interviews last 45 to 60 minutes in English, in business casual dress, and Fuqua says all formats count equally. For a virtual interview you are matched with an alum or student in a similar time zone and schedule directly with them.
What the Fuqua admissions committee looks for
- Teamwork and community contribution, which the community essay and 25 Random Things are built to reveal.
- Clear goals with a realistic backup plan.
- Readiness for a quantitative core, shown through your test score and transcript.
- Confident spoken English and genuine interest in Fuqua, shown in the interview.
- A recommendation with specific examples of your performance and how you take feedback.
Duke Fuqua tuition and cost of attendance
Fuqua’s official budget for the Class of 2028’s first year (2026-27, nine months):
| Item (2026-27, year 1) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $83,700 |
| Student medical insurance | $4,290 |
| Pre-term fee | $2,625 |
| Health, MBA Association, activity, recreation, services and transcript fees | $2,219 |
| Direct costs | $92,834 |
| Housing, including utilities and phone | $14,220 |
| Food | $4,428 |
| Miscellaneous | $4,500 |
| Transportation | $2,142 |
| Books and course packs | $850 |
| Total cost of attendance | $118,974 |
A $4,000 tuition deposit is due on admission and is credited to fall tuition. The medical insurance can be waived only if you have other qualifying cover. Durham’s lower rents keep Fuqua’s living budget well below New York schools. The page shows only first-year costs.
Duke Fuqua scholarships for international students
Fuqua’s merit scholarships are open to all applicants with no separate application; you are considered when admitted. The tuition and costs page does not list award names or amounts for merit aid, and it does not separate international eligibility. Other named funding on the page includes:
- CASE Social Sector Scholarship: for people with social sector backgrounds who want business skills for social impact.
- Peace Corps Coverdell Fellows Program: for returned Peace Corps volunteers.
- Yellow Ribbon Program: for eligible US veterans.
- Rex and Ellen Adams Loan Assistance Program: help repaying loans for alumni who work in nonprofits, government or certified B Corporations.
For undergraduate and PhD funding at the wider university, see our Duke University scholarships guide, and for outside money, our list of scholarships for African students.
Loans without a US cosigner
Fuqua’s tuition page lists an International Student Loan Program with “no cosigner needed”. The page does not name the lender or the rate, and it does not mention Prodigy Finance or MPOWER, so read Fuqua’s international financing FAQ or ask the financial aid office for the terms before you rely on it for your I-20.
Is the Duke Fuqua MBA STEM designated?
Yes. Fuqua’s Daytime MBA page says the entire programme carries the official STEM designation, replacing its earlier MSTeM concentration; Poets&Quants reported the change in September 2022. Fuqua says this gives international students whose jobs meet the requirements two more years to work in the US, which is the 24-month STEM OPT extension on top of the standard 12 months of OPT. You do not need to choose special electives to qualify.
Duke Fuqua MBA salary and employment
These are the Class of 2025 results, as summarised by Clear Admit from Fuqua’s employment report (December 2025). Of 350 graduates, 315 were seeking jobs.
| Class of 2025 outcome | Figure |
|---|---|
| Had an offer within 3 months | 82.2% |
| Accepted an offer within 3 months | 79% |
| Median base salary | $160,000 |
| Median signing bonus | $30,000 (85.1% received one) |
| Consulting | 34% (median base $190,000) |
| Financial services | 20.9% (median base $175,000) |
| Technology | 15.6% (median base $144,000) |
| Health care | 7.4% (median base $140,000) |
| Consumer packaged goods | 3.9% (median base $125,000) |
The median base fell from $175,000 a year earlier, and the 3-month offer rate is lower than at Ross or Johnson, so read these numbers carefully. Graduates went to 106 employers, including Accenture, Amazon, Bain, BCG, Deloitte, Goldman Sachs and Microsoft. Within the US, placements were spread across regions, from the Northeast (21.3%) to the Midwest (10%), and 7.3% of graduates took jobs outside the US. Fuqua does not publish a separate offer rate for international graduates.
Costs not covered by the budget
- The application fee if you get no waiver, plus test and score report fees.
- Transcript translation and attestation, and an optional WES evaluation.
- The SEVIS I-901 fee and the US visa fee.
- Flights, a rental deposit and furniture. A car, if you decide to buy one, costs far more than the $2,142 transport line.
- Travel to an in-person interview in Durham, if you choose that option.
- The second year, which is not in the published budget.
Common mistakes international applicants make
- Uploading a TOEFL or IELTS score and thinking it helps. Fuqua does not use them; prepare for the interview instead.
- Turning 25 Random Things into a second resume.
- Leaving out the alternate career plan in the 100-word answer.
- Writing generic community contributions with no Fuqua club or event named.
- Paying the full $225 when an online information session or a UN least-developed country waiver would cut it.
- Applying in Round 3 and losing both visa time and the in-person interview option.
Who should apply to Duke Fuqua
Fuqua suits you if you want consulting, health care or general management, value a team-centred culture, and want STEM OPT without planning electives around it. Its no-cosigner international loan and lower living costs also matter if you are funding the degree yourself. It is a weaker fit if you want Wall Street finance on the doorstep, or if your spoken English is not yet strong enough to carry a 45 to 60 minute interview with no test score behind it.
Duke Fuqua compared with similar MBA programs
| School | U.S. News 2026 rank | GMAT Focus | Acceptance rate (fall 2025 entry) | First-year cost (2026-27) | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duke Fuqua | No. 14 | 605 to 715 (middle 80%) | 24.0% | $118,974 | 5 Jan 2027 |
| Michigan Ross | No. 13 | 687 average | 30.2% | $115,939 | 4 Jan 2027 |
| Cornell Johnson | No. 15 | Not published (710 median classic GMAT) | 29.3% | $127,278 | 5 Jan 2027 |
| UVA Darden | No. 11 (tie) | 671 average | 30.7% | $125,420 | 7 Jan 2027 |
| UNC Kenan-Flagler | No. 21 | 652 average | 37.9% | $74,192 tuition and fees only | 6 Jan 2027 |
Acceptance rates are from Poets&Quants’ August 2026 analysis of U.S. News data; costs are each school’s own 2026-27 figures. UNC Kenan-Flagler, a short drive from Durham, is included as the nearby public option; its figure covers non-resident tuition and mandatory fees only, not living costs.
FAQ on the Duke Fuqua MBA for international students
What is the Duke Fuqua MBA acceptance rate?
About 24.0% for fall 2025 entry, according to U.S. News data reported by Poets&Quants. Fuqua does not publish its own figure.
Does Duke Fuqua require TOEFL or IELTS?
No. Fuqua does not accept English test scores for the Daytime MBA and assesses your English through your essays, recommendation and interview. Only MEM/MBA dual degree applicants need a test score.
Is the Duke MBA STEM designated for OPT?
Yes. The whole Daytime MBA is STEM designated, so eligible F-1 graduates can apply for two extra years of work authorisation through the STEM OPT extension.
When is the Duke Fuqua MBA deadline for 2027 entry?
Round 2 closes on 5 January 2027 with decisions on 11 March 2027. Round 3 closes on 25 March 2027, but Fuqua advises international applicants to apply by Round 2.
Sources and updates
Checked on 29 October 2026. Ranking: U.S. News 2026 Best Business Schools (released 7 April 2026), as tabulated by Poets&Quants (6 April 2026) and Clear Admit (9 April 2026). Essays, recommendation, tests, English policy, fee, interview and transcripts: Fuqua Daytime MBA application instructions. Deadlines: Fuqua Daytime MBA facts and dates page. Cost, scholarships and international loan: Fuqua Daytime MBA tuition and costs page (Class of 2028, 2026-27). STEM: Fuqua Daytime MBA programme page and Poets&Quants (September 2022). Class of 2028 profile: Clear Admit (September 2026). Acceptance rate and applications: Poets&Quants (August 2026). Employment: Clear Admit’s summary of Fuqua’s Class of 2025 employment report (December 2025). We will update this guide if Fuqua publishes second-year costs or names its international loan lender.
I am Jude Chinecherem, a final-year MBBS student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I know what it feels like to want an education your family cannot afford. When my parents could not pay for my schooling, I had to learn how to find scholarships and work the system out on my own, with nobody to guide me. I came out the other side, and now I share everything I learned so the next student does not have to figure it out alone. This is the advice I wish someone had given me back then.
