Duke University vs University of Michigan

This page compares Duke University and University of Michigan across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 73 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 73 applicants admitted to both schools, 53% chose to attend University of Michigan. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

Both schools are closely ranked in U.S. News: #6 and #8, separated by just 2 positions, making cross-admit data especially useful for deciding between them.

University of Michigan is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 8.6% compared to Duke University's 12.9%.

Duke University is located in Durham, North Carolina, while University of Michigan is in Ann Arbor, Michigan. 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 67.9% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 50.3% for the other school. This 18 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

Among cross-admitted applicants, University of Michigan offered a median scholarship of $138,750 compared to $115,500, a difference of $23,250 that may factor into enrollment decisions.