<p>If I had to hazard a guess, I would say that Duke is as well known as the so called middle ivies. I think that Duke commands more respect than Brown because of its professional schools. Many people around the world associate Duke with excellence in the realms of medical research and graduate education. Brown, a great university in its own right, cannot rely on its professional schools to strengthen its brand. However, it does have ivy league recognition (although most people within and beyond US borders think that Duke is an ivy as well).</p>