Not being in a major city does NOT hurt Duke graduates with regards to job prospects, trust me. Top notch firms and companies from all around the country recruit actively on Duke’s campus. The #1 destination for Duke seniors upon graduating is NYC with DC being #2. San Fran, Boston, Atlanta, LA, and RDU are also well represented. Duke is a national (really international) school and companies (and grad programs) are sure to tap it for top talent regardless of location.
Having said all that, I agree that the programs and prospects are largely equal. Does Penn only have a BA degree in econ? If so, I’d say Duke’s BS degree will provide you with more academic rigor and certain companies may prefer it as it shows more demonstrated quantitative skills. If there’s a BS option at Penn, I’d recommend that. But, yes, I’d agree to choose based on fit and where you think you’d be happier.
Duke and Penn were my top two choices coming out of high school – I chose Duke for BME but the factors besides academics that weighed heavily for me were school spirit and sense of community, beautiful campus and weather, and just general overall feel and pride. I really liked Penn too, but just thought Duke would provide me with a more enriching and enjoyable experience.
Can’t go wrong – good luck!