Our Impact

Duke lives here, works here, cares here.

Duke student athletes support a Durham Public Schools student

Duke is fully invested in the future of Durham and everyone in it. We are proud to support the issues that matter most to our community. We do this by providing significant financial resources for patients who need help with medical costs, full tuition grants for North Carolina and South Carolina students from middle and low-income backgrounds, millions of dollars each year to support local non-profits, and through decades-long partnerships with our neighbors.

In collaboration with local government, education institutions, and non-profits, we are proud to play our part in developing and supporting a talented workforce and tackling housing affordability in Durham and beyond.

As the largest employer in Durham County and the second largest private employer in North Carolina, Duke employs more than 57,000 people, with over half residing in Durham County.

More about Duke’s impact in Durham and beyond

Support for Durham*

in medical financial assistance for Durham residents from Duke Health

invested in local nonprofit organizations

in purchases with Durham-based businesses

annual tax-related contributions, despite Duke's tax-exempt status

total Durham wages attributable to Duke

taxpaying Durham residents employed by Duke

*Figures from data collected in 2023

Duke is fully invested in the future of Durham and everyone in it. We are proud to support the issues that matter most to our community. We do this by providing significant financial resources for patients who need help with medical costs, full tuition grants for North Carolina students from middle and low-income backgrounds, millions of dollars each year to support local non-profits, and through decades-long partnerships with our neighbors.

Duke supports Durham Public Schools with tutoring, mentoring, and donations.

In addition to the hundreds of Duke students who each year provide tutoring and mentoring services in DPS PreK-12 classrooms, we are partnering with DPS and Durham Tech to open a new high school for students interested in careers in healthcare and actively addressing nursing shortages with Durham Tech.

Millions in grants and investments to support affordable housing projects in Durham

Duke recognizes that housing affordability is an issue in Durham. We have invested with our local CDFI partners to create new sources of capital for projects that help ensure that Durham’s low-income residents and seniors can live in high-quality housing in great neighborhoods at prices they can afford.

Duke in NC

Over the past 100 years, Duke ambitiously evolved into a leading education and research institution, a world-renowned academic medical center and health system, and a major employer and economic engine for North Carolina. Today, Duke’s impact in North Carolina extends far beyond its home in Durham, with a presence in communities across the state. Through education, collaborative research, community service, and meeting the health care needs of our communities, Duke is committed to advancing the prosperity of the state it calls home. Each day, Duke students, faculty, staff, and alumni make history in their own way and continue to write the story of Duke for the next 100 years and beyond.

Learn more about Duke in NC

Duke and Durham are Teammates

Duke football coach Manny Diaz speaks about the importance of having three players from Durham who are stars of the Duke defense. Vincent Anthony Jr., Tre Freeman, and Aaron Hall all grew up in Durham and proudly represent the Bull City for Duke fans.

Local Spending

Duke and Duke Health spent $1.1 billion in 2023 with NC-based entities, $233 million of which was spent with Durham-based businesses. Duke’s local vendor spending generated $71.3 million in income and created and supported 738 resident jobs in 2023.

Visitor Impact

Several parts of campus are among the top 5 destinations in Durham. Visitor spending in 2023 spurred the creation of 505 resident jobs, $25 million in earnings, and $117 million in Durham County sales.

Duke Research Saves Lives

From biomedical engineering and understanding the health impacts of climate change to clinical trials and life-saving breakthroughs, Duke's groundbreaking research saves lives. From our labs to the ones you love, there are countless stories about Duke's patients surviving and thriving.

See How Duke Research Saves Lives

Employment and wages*

35,099 taxpaying residents are employed by Duke.
$2.48 billion of total Durham wages are attributed to Duke.
62.4% of Duke employees are Durham residents.
57 active startup companies spun out of Duke create 926 resident jobs, $84.5 million in resident earnings, and $387 million in Durham County sales.

*Per 2023 data

For every two jobs Duke creates, one additional job is created in Durham.
Due to this multiplier effect, an additional 17,407 Durham residents are employed and $790m in resident earnings are generated elsewhere.
Duke and Duke Health spent $1.1 billion in 2023 with NC-based entities, $233m of which was spent with Durham-based businesses.