Which has a higher LSAT median, Cornell University or Duke University?

Cornell University has a higher median LSAT of 173, compared to 171. This is a difference of 2 points.

When admitted to both Cornell University and Duke University, which do students choose?

Of 40 applicants admitted to both schools, 80% chose Duke University. This is based on cross-admit decisions self-reported by LSD.Law users.

Which school has better BigLaw placement, Cornell University or Duke University?

Cornell University places 71.9% of graduates into large law firms (501+ attorneys), compared to 67.9% for the other school.

Cornell University vs Duke University

Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes

Cross-Admit Decision Data

Of 40 applicants admitted to both schools:

Chose Cornell University Chose Duke

20%

80%

Median scholarship: $126,000 Median scholarship: $123,000

Based on 40 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles

View all-time data (194 cross-admits)

24% chose Cornell University 76% chose Duke

194 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)

Cornell University is #14 · Duke is #11 in the LSD rankings

See full LSD.Law school rankings →

About this comparison

This page compares Cornell University and Duke University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 40 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 40 applicants admitted to both schools, 80% chose to attend Duke University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, Duke University is ranked #6 compared to #18 — a gap of 12 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

Cornell University is located in Ithaca, New York, while Duke University is in Durham, North Carolina. Regional placement matters: graduates tend to find employment near their law school, so location should factor into your decision alongside rankings and cost.

Compare Another Pair

Admissions Financial Employment Trends Related

Admissions Comparison

2025 ABA 509

How these schools compare on LSAT, GPA, selectivity, and class composition.

Metric	Cornell University	Duke
USN Rank	#18	#6 ▲
LSD Rank	#14 (0.214)	#11 (0.711) ▲
LSAT 25th	168	169 ▲
LSAT Median	173 ▲	171
LSAT 75th	175 ▲	172
GPA Median	3.92 ▲	3.91
Acceptance Rate	18.2%	12.9% ▲
Class Size	217	227
Yield Rate	25.1%	27.6% ▲

Financial Comparison

2025 ABA 509

Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.

Metric	Cornell University	Duke
Tuition (In-State)	$84,722	$80,100 ▲
Tuition (Out-of-State)	$84,722	$80,100 ▲
Median Grant	$30,000	$35,000 ▲
% Receiving Grants	91.0%	94.0% ▲
Avg. Debt at Graduation	-	-

Employment Outcomes

2024 ABA 509

Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.

Metric	Cornell University	Duke
BigLaw (501+)	71.9% ▲	67.9%
Judicial Clerkships	7.1%	13.4% ▲
Median Salary (Private)	-	-
Employment Rate	98.0%	98.2% ▲
Bar Pass Rate	96.4%	97.5% ▲

Cross-Admit Decisions by Cycle

How cross-admit preferences have shifted over recent application cycles.

Cornell University Duke

Cycle	Split	Total
2024-2025	0% 100%	6
2023-2024	23% 77%	13
2022-2023	9% 91%	11
2021-2022	25% 75%	8
2020-2021	33% 67%	18
2019-2020	0% 100%	7
2018-2019	20% 80%	5
2017-2018	0% 100%	7
2016-2017	25% 75%	8
2015-2016	33% 67%	9
2014-2015	50% 50%	14
2013-2014	29% 71%	14
2012-2013	0% 100%	12
2011-2012	20% 80%	10
2010-2011	14% 86%	7
2009-2010	13% 87%	8
2008-2009	33% 67%	6
2007-2008	75% 25%	8
2005-2006	17% 83%	12