Duquesne University

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Rankings & Lists

Students Say - Academics
Cosmopolitan yet caring, you get the best of both worlds at Duquesne University. Located in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh, this Catholic school unites "the diversity and opportunities of an urban university with the community and comfort of a small liberal arts college." "Well respected in the Pittsburgh area," health fields are particularly strong at Duquesne. "The physician assistant program is world-renowned and selective," while pharmacy students say it is unique to find such a "good pharmacy program [at] a smaller university." The music school also receives ample praise and benefits from studio teachers who are "some of the best in the world." Regardless of the specific program, "Professors are eager to really engage with students and are avail- able for extra support whenever you need it." Course work can be challenging, yet "The school wants [its] students to do well, and it offers many different services to aid in this." In fact, "every department offers free tutors" to help students make the grade. On the flip side, the school's academic advisors often fall short, and many students struggle to schedule classes and meet graduation requirements. A music student admits, "One semester I was not even a full-time student because my advisor failed to schedule three of my classes!" Fortunately, the majority of the school's staff is accessible, visible, and friendly; "The administrators, the professors, and the school ministers can be seen walking around campus. All of them have been known to stop and talk to groups of students around the school."

Students Say - Campus Life
Located "on a very pretty, secluded campus in the middle of downtown Pittsburgh," students at Duquesne love their school's location, just steps out- side a city with "a rich cultural district and an even better nightlife." During the week, "life at school consists of going to classes, spending many hours at the library, and going to Starbucks for social interactions." During the weekend, things get more exciting. Thanks to "the free campus buses that shuttle students to the Oakland and South Side areas on Friday and Saturday nights," students enjoy "bars, movie theaters, concerts (big names and locals), and tons of restaurants." While the Duquesne campus is dry, "Many people go out on the week- ends, typically to parties on the south side or at the University of Pittsburgh." In addition, "Students also attend a lot of sporting events, including the Pittsburgh Steelers and Penguins, Duquesne games and Pitt games." If you don't feel like straying too far from home, the school manages a campus club called Nite Spot, "where they show movies that haven't come out on DVD yet, have bizarre activities like pillow-making that actually turn out to be really fun, and dance lessons." Another popular hangout is the Power Center-the "nicest facility on campus"- where "the exercise equipment is new and the classes are free."

Students Say - Student Body
From Greek organizations to the table tennis club, "many of the students at Duquesne are very involved in campus organizations and service-oriented activities." At the same time, students are "driven to succeed" academically, and "show up to every class with his or her work complete." "Well mannered and well dressed," Duquesne students don their best duds to go to lecture, and "the majority of people look like they just walked out a fashion catalogue." Students admit the school is not particularly diverse, and "the typical student at Duquesne is white, from the Pittsburgh area (or at least Pennsylvania), and Catholic." However, "Not all of the student body has Catholic values, and I have found that the student body doesn't push their own values onto anyone else." With 5,800 undergraduates, "the school is big enough that you can meet a lot of different people, but small enough that you have a sense of community by being able to see people you know anywhere you go on campus." Still, most students divide into smaller cliques, and "unless you join a frat or sorority, making a large networked group of friends is difficult."

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