Duquesne University, located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a prestigious private Catholic research university. Established by individuals from the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Duquesne University began its journey as the Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost in October 1878. It started with a modest enrollment of 40 students and a faculty of six. In 1911, the college achieved the distinction of being the first Catholic university-level institution in Pennsylvania. The name of this place pays homage to Michel-Ange Duquesne de Menneville, a governor of New France during the 18th century.
Duquesne University has experienced significant growth, now boasting a student body of over 9,300 graduate and undergraduate students. The university is located on a spacious 49-acre hilltop campus in Pittsburgh’s Bluff neighbourhood. The school has an associate campus in Rome and offers a wide range of academic programmes. The university attracts a diverse range of students from over 80 countries, with a majority of them hailing from Pennsylvania or the surrounding region. Duquesne is classified as an R2 university, indicating its high level of research activity. The university boasts an impressive network of over 93,000 living alumni, which includes notable figures such as two cardinals and the current bishop of Pittsburgh.
The Duquesne Dukes are a formidable force in NCAA Division I. Duquesne men’s basketball had the honour of competing in not one, but two national championship games during the illustrious 1950s. Additionally, they showcased their exceptional skills by clinching the NIT championship in 1955.
Duquesne University has experienced significant growth, expanding from its original 12.5-acre site on Boyd’s Hill to its current 49-acre main campus in Pittsburgh’s Uptown neighbourhood. Among the 31 buildings that comprise the Bluff campus, there are a number of recent constructions and renovations. These include a state-of-the-art health sciences facility (Rangos Hall), two top-notch recording studios, two convenient parking garages, a versatile multipurpose recreation centre (Power Centre), and a modern theater-classroom complex (Bayer Hall).
Duquesne University boasts an impressive student enrollment of 9,344 undergraduate and graduate students. The university has expanded its reach to include nine schools and various institutions, providing a wide range of degree programmes at the baccalaureate, professional, masters, and doctoral levels in 189 academic programmes. It stands out as the sole Spiritan institution of higher education globally, attracting students from over eighty diverse countries.