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Head-to-head · 82 cross-admits

When applicants got into both, 89% chose Duke. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 82 self-reported decisions and ABA 509 filings.

Choice, not ranking

These are decisions, not opinions. Scholarship offers, location, intended practice, and personal fit are all priced into the split.

82
cross-admits
22
cycles
+9pt
YoY shift

Cross-admit decision

Of 82 applicants admitted to both schools
Last 5 cycles
Duke University logo Chose Duke
89%
Chose GULC Georgetown University logo
11%

Median scholarship (chose Duke)

$120,000 / yr

Median scholarship (chose GULC)

$120,000 / yr
View all-time (288 cross-admits)
74% chose Duke 26% chose GULC

Trend · Duke's share

2004–2025

Lowest cycle

11%

Highest cycle

100%
22 cycles
100 50 0 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 2004: 78% 2005: 50% 2006: 46% 2007: 11% 2008: 86% 2009: 100% 2010: 82% 2011: 78% 2012: 94% 2013: 100% 2014: 75% 2015: 75% 2016: 67% 2017: 59% 2018: 60% 2019: 60% 2020: 43% 2021: 71% 2022: 89% 2023: 100% 2024: 100% 2025: 87%
Duke #11 · GULC #15 LSD n≈12/yr

Admissions

Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield
2026 ABA 509
Metric
Duke University logo
Duke
Durham, North Carolina
Georgetown University logo
GULC
Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.
USN Rank
#7
#18
LSD Rank
#11 (0.657)
#15 (0.179)
LSAT 25th
-
-
LSAT Median
-
-
LSAT 75th
-
-
GPA Median
-
-
Acceptance Rate
-
-
Class Size
-
-
Yield Rate
-
-

Financial

Sticker price, scholarships, and debt burden
2026 ABA 509
Metric
Duke University logo
Duke
Durham, North Carolina
Georgetown University logo
GULC
Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.
Tuition (In-State)
-
-
Tuition (Out-of-State)
-
-
Median Grant
-
-
% Receiving Grants
-
-
Avg. Debt at Graduation
-
-

Employment & outcomes

Post-graduation placement and bar passage
2025 ABA Employment
Metric
Duke University logo
Duke
Durham, North Carolina
Georgetown University logo
GULC
Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.
BigLaw (501+)
70.9%
54.9%
Judicial Clerkships
13.9%
9.2%
Median Salary (Private)
-
-
Employment Rate
99.6%
96.2%
Bar Pass Rate
98.2%
94.5%

Overview

About Duke vs GULC

Across 82 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 89% enrolled at Duke University and 11% at Georgetown University. The split has shifted +9 points across the tracked cycles.

These numbers reflect every factor that goes into a real decision: scholarship offers, geographic preference, intended practice area, and fit. Choosing one school doesn't mean it's "better" — it means the pool of cross-admits, weighing their options, ended up there more often. Pair this with the scholarship distribution and employment outcomes above for full context.

Looking at a different matchup? Browse all comparisons or run a custom pair from the index.

Deciding between Duke and GULC? Work with a consultant who knows both — backed by this exact data.
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Detailed comparison narrative

This page compares Duke University and Georgetown University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 82 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 82 applicants admitted to both schools, 89% 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 #7 compared to #18 — a gap of 11 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

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

Employment outcomes differ substantially: Duke University places 70.9% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 54.9% for the other school. This 16 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.