Duke Divinity School

What Duke Divinity School does

Duke Divinity School is a private theological school founded in 1926 as the first professional school at Duke University, located in Durham, North Carolina. It delivers graduate-level theological education across five degree programs (Master of Divinity in residential and hybrid formats, Master of Arts in Christian Practice, Master of Theological Studies, Master of Theology) plus doctoral programs (Th.D., D.Min., Ph.D.), nine dual-degree options, and 15+ specialized certificates in areas such as Black Church Studies, Chaplaincy, Theology and Medicine, and Prison Studies. The curriculum is anchored by seven denomination- and culture-specific Houses of Study (Anglican Episcopal, Asian, Baptist, Hispanic, Methodist, Black Church, Presbyterian/Reformed) and supplemented by interdisciplinary centers including the Center for Reconciliation, Duke Initiatives in Theology and the Arts, and the Theology, Medicine, and Culture Initiative.

The school operates a hybrid delivery model combining week-long residential immersion sessions on the Durham campus with Zoom-based synchronous online classes and self-paced learning modules, supported by a faculty of approximately 91 across regular rank, emeritus, adjunct, administrative, and consulting categories. Technology infrastructure is conventional: Zoom for synchronous delivery, no proprietary AI/ML capabilities, no external API or SDK offerings. Field education placements span local, national, and international contexts, with many paid ministerial internships. The 2024 cohort produced 180 graduates at the 98th Baccalaureate Service.

Revenue is generated through tuition, an Annual Fund (100% earmarked for student financial aid), endowed scholarships and professorships, and planned giving instruments. The school provides scholarship support to 99% of students, with 100% of accepted M.Div. students receiving aid upon admission. The go-to-market is sales-led via traditional academic admissions (September–April rolling applications), supplemented by event-driven recruitment (Convocation on the Rural Church, campus visits, information sessions) and multi-channel content marketing through Divinity Magazine, Medium, Faith & Leadership, and social media. It is governed and funded within Duke University's institutional framework, with no independent corporate structure.

Name

Duke Divinity School

Legal name

Duke Divinity School

Website

https://divinity.duke.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1926

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Duke Divinity School is a graduate theological school within Duke University that trains clergy and lay leaders through M.Div., M.T.S., M.A., Th.M., and doctoral programs, serving students from Methodist, Baptist, Anglican, Presbyterian, and other Christian denominations with hybrid and residential delivery.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Theological Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Divinity Schools (University-Affiliated) (EDAHAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Seminaries (Graduate Theology & Ministry) (EDAHAKAA), Denominational Theological Colleges (e.g., Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Evangelical) (EDAHAKAM)

Keywords

• Graduate theological education
• Ministerial training programs
• Divinity degree programs
• Ordained ministry preparation
• Continuing theological education

Headquarters

HQ city

Durham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Graduate theological education programs charged at per-term tuition rates. All M.Div., M.T.S., and M.A. students receive scholarship support covering between 25% and 100% of tuition costs.
2. Annual Fund and Donations: Divinity Annual Fund provides essential financial aid enabling students to pursue their callings. 100% of Divinity Annual Fund gifts are used for student financial aid.
3. Endowed Scholarships and Professorships: Endowed scholarship funds invested to provide earnings for student support. Named professorships support faculty compensation and research.
4. Planned Giving: Wills and living trusts, beneficiary designations, charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, IRA gifts, real estate gifts, and donor advised funds support long-term financial sustainability.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Duke Divinity School delivers graduate theological education through degree programs (Master of Divinity, Master of Theological Studies, Master of Arts in Christian Practice, Master of Theology, Th.D., D.Min., Ph.D.), dual degree combinations, and more than 15 specialized certificates in areas such as Anglican Studies, Black Church Studies, Chaplaincy, Preaching, and Theology/Medicine/Culture. Programs are offered in residential and hybrid formats, with field education placements and Houses of Study organized by denomination and culture.

Product overview

Duke Divinity School offers a comprehensive theological education portfolio consisting of five core degree programs (Master of Divinity in residential and hybrid formats, Master of Arts in Christian Practice, Master of Theological Studies, and Master of Theology), doctoral programs (Th.D., D.Min., Ph.D.), and multiple dual degree options. The school provides over 15 specialized degree-based certificates spanning Anglican, Baptist, Black Church, Catholic, Chaplaincy, Gender/Sexuality, Latinx, Methodist/Wesleyan, Missional, Preaching, Prison Studies, Theology and the Arts, Theology/Medicine/Culture, and Worship studies. Additionally, the school offers continuing education programs, field education placements, houses of study organized by denomination and culture, and interdisciplinary centers focused on reconciliation, theology and the arts, theology/medicine/culture, and other specialized areas. The portfolio is designed to prepare students for ordained ministry, lay ministry, teaching, research, chaplaincy, and various forms of Christian service.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Master of Divinity (M.Div.) - Residential A three-year residential degree program providing broad academic preparation for leadership of flourishing ministries, creative institutions, and thriving communities. Designed for students pursuing ordination and vocational ministry.
• Hybrid Master of Divinity (M.Div.) A four-year hybrid degree combining remote coursework with week-long residential immersion sessions, designed for students who need flexibility while remaining in full-time ministry or employment.
• Master of Arts in Christian Practice (M.A.) A two-year hybrid degree combining intensive on-campus immersion weeks with live online learning, designed for students to enhance lay vocations while remaining in full-time ministry or professional positions. Meets requirements for United Methodist deacon ordination.
• Master of Theological Studies (M.T.S.) A two-year degree tailored for students pursuing advanced doctoral studies, teaching or research careers, or lay ministry roles. Includes M.T.S. Core and M.T.S. Focus tracks.
• Master of Theology (Th.M.) An advanced theological degree for graduates of accredited theological schools, designed for specialized academic or ministerial preparation, typically completed in two semesters.
• Doctoral Programs (Th.D., D.Min., Ph.D.) Advanced doctoral degrees including Doctor of Theology (Th.D.), Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.), and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) for scholarly and professional advancement.
• Degree-Based Certificates Specialized certificates including Anglican Studies, Baptist Studies, Black Church Studies, Catholic Studies, Chaplaincy, Faith and Food/Environment, Faith-Rooted Advocacy, Gender/Sexuality/Theology, Latinx Studies, Methodist/Wesleyan Studies, Missional Innovation, Preaching, Prison Studies, Reflective Teaching, Theology and the Arts, Theology/Medicine/Culture, and Worship.
• Dual Degree Programs Combined degree programs including M.Div./M.P.P., M.Div./M.S.W., M.T.S./J.D., M.T.S./M.P.P., M.T.S./M.D., C.T.H.C./M.D., C.T.H.C./O.T.D., M.Div./M.E.M. or M.F., and M.T.S./M.E.M. or M.F.
• Continuing Education Lifelong learning opportunities including in-person courses, certificate programs, and self-paced online learning designed for Divinity alumni and practitioners.
• Field Education Contextual learning opportunities including Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE), Communities of Learning, International Field Education, and student placements in churches and organizations locally and globally.

Quantifiable outcome

• Graduates placed at Ph.D. and D.Min. programs at schools including Duke University, Princeton Theological Seminary, Baylor University, Asbury Theological Seminary, Boston University, and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Methodist Theological University (MTU) in KoreacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026Partnership celebrating 140 years of Methodist mission work. President Kyung-dong Yoo of MTU visited Duke Divinity School marking a new chapter in the schools' growing international partnership focused on deepening global Methodist mission collaboration.
• Wake Forest University School of DivinitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDuke Divinity D.Min. graduate Tarsha Banister works at Wake Forest University School of Divinity's Faith COMPASS Center, working at the intersection of faith-based leadership and public health advocacy to address HIV/AIDS disparities in the U.S. South.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Princeton Theological Seminary: One of the largest and most prominent mainline/PCC seminaries in the U.S., offering M.Div., M.T.S., Th.M., and doctoral programs. Highly comparable to Duke Divinity in denomination breadth, residential research model, and graduate placement track record.
• Emory Candler School of Theology: Major Methodist-affiliated seminary within a research university, offering M.Div., M.T.S., Th.M., and doctoral programs. Closely comparable denominational base (United Methodist) and university-integrated model.
• Vanderbilt Divinity School: University-affiliated divinity school offering M.Div., M.T.S., and doctoral programs as a non-denominational professional school within a research university. Directly comparable in scale, funding model, and academic positioning.
• Yale Divinity School: University-affiliated divinity school offering graduate theological degrees (M.Div., M.A.R.) within a top research university. Closely comparable to Duke Divinity in combining rigorous scholarship with multi-denominational reach and interdisciplinary opportunities.
• Southern Methodist University Perkins School of Theology: University-affiliated Methodist seminary in Texas offering M.Div., M.T.S., and doctoral programs. Closely comparable in United Methodist denominational heritage, residential program model, and ordination-track focus.
• Harvard Divinity School: University-affiliated divinity school offering graduate theological degrees within Harvard. Comparable in interdisciplinary opportunities, faculty reputation, and ability to attract students from multiple faith traditions.
• Baylor University Truett Theological Seminary: University-affiliated seminary with Baptist heritage offering M.Div., M.T.S., and Th.M. programs. Comparable in graduate placement success (referenced by Duke Divinity's own outcomes) and university-integrated formation.
• Boston University School of Theology: University-affiliated seminary offering M.Div., M.T.S., and doctoral programs with strong Methodist ties. Comparable in graduate placement outcomes (referenced in Duke's own placement data) and denomination breadth.

Broad incumbents

• Fuller Theological Seminary: Largest multi-campus evangelical seminary in the U.S., offering extensive M.Div. and doctoral programs with significant online enrollment. Comparable as a graduate theological institution but with a broader evangelical rather than mainline focus.

Regional players

• Wake Forest University School of Divinity: University-affiliated divinity school in the same U.S. Southeast region, with explicit workforce alignment to faith-based public health (the Faith COMPASS Center). Comparable in audience and programs; geographically adjacent and a documented partner/relationship institution.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/DukeDivinitySchool
• Facebookfacebook.com/DukeDivinity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/duke-divinity-school
• Instagraminstagram.com/dukedivinity

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles22 records

Subsidiaries12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Duke Divinity School