Duke University vs University of Chicago

This page compares Duke University and University of Chicago across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 56 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 56 applicants admitted to both schools, 89% chose to attend University of Chicago. 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: #3 and #6, separated by just 3 positions, making cross-admit data especially useful for deciding between them.

Duke University is located in Durham, North Carolina, while University of Chicago is in Chicago, Illinois. 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 48.7% for the other school. This 19 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Duke University offered a median scholarship of $120,000 compared to $45,000, a difference of $75,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.