Duke University vs New York University

This page compares Duke University and New York University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 113 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 113 applicants admitted to both schools, 71% chose to attend New York University. 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.

Duke University is located in Durham, North Carolina, while New York University is in New York City, New York. 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 54.1% for the other school. This 14 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Duke University offered a median scholarship of $114,000 compared to $78,000, a difference of $36,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.