Duke University vs University of North Carolina

This page compares Duke University and University of North Carolina across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 20 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 20 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 #6 compared to #18 — a gap of 12 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

Both schools are located in North Carolina — Duke University in Durham and University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.

Employment outcomes differ substantially: Duke University places 67.9% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 24.8% for the other school. This 43 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, University of North Carolina has lower tuition at $28,082 per year compared to $80,100. Combined with employment rates of 98.2% (Duke) and 96.2% (UNC), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Duke University offered a median scholarship of $105,000 compared to $60,000, a difference of $45,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.