Law at Duke University
Durham, NC · Doctoral Degree
Duke University graduates in law earn 148% more than the national median for the same major four years after graduating. Their median federal debt equals about 60% of one year’s pay at that point.
How Duke University Compares for Law
All 26 colleges reporting law earnings at this degree level, ranked by median pay four years after graduation. “Wage-adjusted” divides pay by the square root of the state’s wage index so colleges in low-wage states aren’t penalized for local pay.
| # | College | 4 yrs after | Wage-adjusted | Adj. rank | 1 yr after |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duke University Durham, NC | $261,230 | $280,337 | #1 | $205,891 |
| 2 | Cornell University Ithaca, NY | $259,851 | $247,324 | #2 | $213,356 |
| 3 | Yale University New Haven, CT | $188,189 | $169,430 | #4 | $139,244 |
| 4 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX | $173,114 | $176,006 | #3 | $103,039 |
| 5 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL | $130,428 | $128,145 | #5 | $84,855 |
| 6 | Pepperdine University Malibu, CA | $126,561 | $115,162 | #7 | $79,243 |
| 7 | Baylor University Waco, TX | $121,715 | $123,748 | #6 | $85,368 |
| 8 | University of San Francisco San Francisco, CA | $120,485 | $109,633 | #10 | $53,016 |
| 9 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ | $111,668 | $114,741 | #8 | $72,119 |
| 10 | Rutgers University-New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJ | $106,575 | $93,539 | #20 | $61,595 |
Other Majors at Duke University by Graduate Pay
| Major | 4 yrs after | 1 yr after | Rank in major |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $161,843 | $156,275 | #27 of 126 |
| Genetics | $116,130 | $62,465 | — |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | — | $114,307 | — |
| Theological and Ministerial Studies | $97,542 | $97,602 | #1 of 14 |
| Medicine | $92,928 | $67,570 | #27 of 28 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $80,920 | $68,778 | #108 of 177 |
| English Language and Literature | — | $49,440 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Duke University law graduates make?
Graduates earn a median $205,891 one year after graduating and $261,230 four years after graduating. Figures are from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How does Duke University rank for law?
Among 26 colleges reporting earnings for law graduates, Duke University ranks #1 by median pay four years after graduation, and #1 after adjusting for state wage levels.
Is law at Duke University worth it?
Its graduates earn 148% more than the national median for law ($105,518), and the median federal debt at graduation is $158,000.
← All data for Duke University · Methodology
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are medians for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled; programs with few graduates are not reported. Wage adjustment uses Census ACS state median household income.