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Head-to-head · 24 cross-admits

When applicants got into both, 100% chose Duke. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 24 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.

24
cross-admits
4
cycles
+20pt
YoY shift

Cross-admit decision

Of 24 applicants admitted to both schools
Last 5 cycles
Duke University logo Chose Duke
100%
Chose UGA University of Georgia logo
0%

Median scholarship (chose Duke)

$112,500 / yr

Median scholarship (chose UGA)

$97,453 / yr
View all-time (47 cross-admits)
98% chose Duke 2% chose UGA

Trend · Duke's share

2009–2024

Lowest cycle

80%

Highest cycle

100%
4 cycles
100 50 0 09 22 23 24 2009: 80% 2022: 100% 2023: 100% 2024: 100%
Duke #11 · UGA #24 LSD n≈6/yr

Admissions

Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield
2025 ABA 509
Metric
Duke University logo
Duke
Durham, North Carolina
University of Georgia logo
UGA
Athens, Georgia
USN Rank
#7
#26
LSD Rank
#11 (0.657)
#24 (0.031)
LSAT 25th
169
159
LSAT Median
171
169
LSAT 75th
172
171
GPA Median
3.91
3.92
Acceptance Rate
12.9%
12.7%
Class Size
227
186
Yield Rate
27.6%
31.2%

Financial

Sticker price, scholarships, and debt burden
2025 ABA 509
Metric
Duke University logo
Duke
Durham, North Carolina
University of Georgia logo
UGA
Athens, Georgia
Tuition (In-State)
$80,100
$18,044
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$80,100
$38,944
Median Grant
$35,000
$19,460
% Receiving Grants
94.0%
84.0%
Avg. Debt at Graduation
-
-

Employment & outcomes

Post-graduation placement and bar passage
2024 ABA Employment
Metric
Duke University logo
Duke
Durham, North Carolina
University of Georgia logo
UGA
Athens, Georgia
BigLaw (501+)
67.9%
17.5%
Judicial Clerkships
13.4%
14.3%
Median Salary (Private)
-
$120,000
Employment Rate
98.2%
92.6%
Bar Pass Rate
97.5%
90.4%

Overview

About Duke vs UGA

Across 24 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 100% enrolled at Duke University and 0% at University of Georgia. 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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Detailed comparison narrative

This page compares Duke University and University of Georgia across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 24 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 24 applicants admitted to both schools, 100% 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 #26 — a gap of 19 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

Duke University is located in Durham, North Carolina, while University of Georgia is in Athens, Georgia. 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 17.5% for the other school. This 50 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, University of Georgia has lower tuition at $18,044 per year compared to $80,100. Combined with employment rates of 98.2% (Duke) and 92.6% (UGA), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Duke University offered a median scholarship of $112,500 compared to $97,453, a difference of $15,047 that may factor into enrollment decisions.