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Head-to-head · 97 cross-admits

When applicants got into both, 63% chose NYU. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 97 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.

97
cross-admits
23
cycles
-20pt
YoY shift

Cross-admit decision

Of 97 applicants admitted to both schools
Last 5 cycles
New York University logo Chose NYU
63%
Chose Duke Duke University logo
37%

Typical aid · ABA 509 · 2025

per year
$20,000
66.0% get a grant
$63,952 net tuition
$35,000
94.0% get a grant
$45,100 net tuition

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

$91,000
n = 55
$120,000
n = 33
View all-time (444 cross-admits)
78% chose NYU 22% chose Duke

Trend · NYU's share

2003–2025

Lowest cycle

55%

Highest cycle

94%
23 cycles
100 50 0 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 2003: 83% 2004: 83% 2005: 78% 2006: 91% 2007: 94% 2008: 83% 2009: 88% 2010: 92% 2011: 91% 2012: 78% 2013: 67% 2014: 79% 2015: 58% 2016: 70% 2017: 73% 2018: 87% 2019: 84% 2020: 87% 2021: 63% 2022: 68% 2023: 55% 2024: 65% 2025: 64%
NYU #8 · Duke #11 LSD n≈19/yr

Admissions

Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield
2025 ABA 509
Metric
New York University logo
NYU
New York City, New York
Duke University logo
Duke
Durham, North Carolina
USN Rank
#7
#7
LSD Rank
#8 (1.250)
#11 (0.661)
LSAT 25th
169
169
LSAT Median
172
171
LSAT 75th
174
172
GPA Median
3.92
3.91
Acceptance Rate
13.4%
12.9%
Class Size
452
227
Yield Rate
30.4%
27.6%

Financial

Sticker price and scholarship aid
2025 ABA 509
Metric
New York University logo
NYU
New York City, New York
Duke University logo
Duke
Durham, North Carolina
Tuition (In-State)
$83,952
$80,100
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$83,952
$80,100
Median Grant
$20,000
$35,000
% Receiving Grants
66.0%
94.0%

Employment & outcomes

Post-graduation placement and bar passage
2025 ABA Employment
Metric
New York University logo
NYU
New York City, New York
Duke University logo
Duke
Durham, North Carolina
BigLaw (501+)
62.1%
70.9%
Federal Clerkships
5.5%
11.7%
State & Local Clerkships
2.2%
2.2%
Median Salary (Private)
-
-
Employment Rate
99.3%
99.6%
Bar Pass Rate
96.7%
97.5%

Overview

About NYU vs Duke

Across 97 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 63% enrolled at New York University and 37% at Duke University. The split has shifted -20 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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Compare another pair

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Detailed comparison narrative

This page compares New York University and Duke University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 97 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 97 applicants admitted to both schools, 63% 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: #7 and #7, separated by just 0 positions, making cross-admit data especially useful for deciding between them.

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

Among cross-admitted applicants who enrolled, those choosing Duke University reported a higher median scholarship — $120,000 versus $91,000 over three years — though aid is one of several factors behind the enrollment decision.