Duke University vs University of Notre Dame

This page compares Duke University and University of Notre Dame across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 38 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 38 applicants admitted to both schools, 92% 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 #20 — a gap of 14 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

Duke University is located in Durham, North Carolina, while University of Notre Dame is in South Bend, Indiana. 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 39.6% for the other school. This 28 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, University of Notre Dame has lower tuition at $73,430 per year compared to $80,100. Combined with employment rates of 98.2% (Duke) and 95.2% (ND), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, University of Notre Dame offered a median scholarship of $120,000 compared to $96,000, a difference of $24,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.