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Head-to-head · 85 cross-admits

When applicants got into both, 89% chose Duke. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 85 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.

85
cross-admits
22
cycles
+11pt
YoY shift

Cross-admit decision

Of 85 applicants admitted to both schools
Last 5 cycles
Duke University logo Chose Duke
89%
Chose GULC Georgetown University logo
11%

Typical aid · ABA 509 · 2025

per year
$35,000
94.0% get a grant
$45,100 net tuition
$35,000
61.0% get a grant
$48,576 net tuition

Cross-admits who enrolled · self-reported, 3-yr award

$120,000
n = 67
$165,000
n = 9
View all-time (291 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: 89%
Duke #11 · GULC #15 LSD n≈13/yr

Admissions

Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield
2025 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
169
166
LSAT Median
171
171
LSAT 75th
172
173
GPA Median
3.91
3.93
Acceptance Rate
12.9%
15.8%
Class Size
227
672
Yield Rate
27.6%
28.7%

Financial

Sticker price and scholarship aid
2025 ABA 509
Metric
Duke University logo
Duke
Durham, North Carolina
Georgetown University logo
GULC
Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.
Tuition (In-State)
$80,100
$83,576
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$80,100
$83,576
Median Grant
$35,000
$35,000
% Receiving Grants
94.0%
61.0%

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%
Federal Clerkships
11.7%
5.0%
State & Local Clerkships
2.2%
4.3%
Median Salary (Private)
-
-
Employment Rate
99.6%
96.2%
Bar Pass Rate
97.5%
93.0%

Overview

About Duke vs GULC

Across 85 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 89% enrolled at Duke University and 11% at Georgetown University. The split has shifted +11 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.

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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 85 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 85 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.

Among cross-admitted applicants who enrolled, those choosing Georgetown University reported a higher median scholarship — $165,000 versus $120,000 over three years — though aid is one of several factors behind the enrollment decision.