Duke University vs Washington University in St. Louis

This page compares Duke University and Washington University in St. Louis across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 29 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 29 applicants admitted to both schools, 86% 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 #14 — a gap of 8 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: Washington University in St. Louis has a median LSAT of 175 compared to 171, a gap of 4 points. This suggests applicants to Washington University in St. Louis face a more competitive admissions pool.

Duke University is located in Durham, North Carolina, while Washington University in St. Louis is in St. Louis, Missouri. 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 39.3% for the other school. This 29 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, Washington University in St. Louis has lower tuition at $72,792 per year compared to $80,100. Combined with employment rates of 98.2% (Duke) and 96.8% (WUSTL), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Washington University in St. Louis offered a median scholarship of $205,500 compared to $112,000, a difference of $93,500 that may factor into enrollment decisions.