Head-to-head comparison
Emory University vs. University of Notre Dame
Real published data on acceptance rates, cost, and outcomes. Side by side.
Calculate your odds at bothIs Emory or Notre Dame harder to get into?
Emory is harder to get into than Notre Dame. Emory's 10.7% acceptance rate is lower than Notre Dame's 11.3%.
Which is cheaper, Emory or Notre Dame?
Emory costs less on average. After grants and scholarships, Emory's average net price is $22,585 vs $26,780 at Notre Dame.
Which has higher post-graduation earnings?
Notre Dame graduates earn more on average. Median earnings 10 years after entry are $80,137 at Emory and $99,980 at Notre Dame.
Full Comparison
| Metric | Emory | Notre Dame |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 10.7% | 11.3% |
| SAT mid-50% | 1470–1550 | 1450–1550 |
| ACT mid-50% | 32–35 | 33–35 |
| Cost of attendance | $83,622 | $84,047 |
| Avg net price (after aid) | $22,585 | $26,780 |
| Undergrad enrollment | 7,298 | 9,112 |
| 6-yr graduation rate | 91.1% | 95.2% |
| Median earnings (10yr) | $80,137 | $99,980 |
| Setting | Atlanta, Georgia | Notre Dame, Indiana |
Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (IPEDS) and school-published admit cycle data. Last verified May 2026.
The Real Differences
Selectivity is essentially the same. Emory's 10.7% acceptance rate and Notre Dame's 11.3% are within a percentage point of each other. For an unhooked applicant, the difference is statistical noise. Apply to whichever you genuinely prefer.
Notre Dame graduates earn $19,843 more on average at the 10-year mark. This usually reflects major distribution more than school quality — schools that concentrate in CS, engineering, and finance pull higher medians than schools with more humanities and social science graduates. Emory grads' earnings within the same major category are typically comparable.
Geographic difference matters more than the campus tour suggests. Emory is in Atlanta, Georgia; Notre Dame is in Notre Dame, Indiana. Climate, cost-of-living, and proximity to job markets in your target field shape the four-year experience and post-grad pipeline more than most prospective students realize.
Emory has a more international student body (15.8% non-resident students vs 6.9%). For applicants who value global exposure or have international academic interests, that mix shows up in classroom culture and alumni network.
Notre Dame's graduation rate is meaningfully higher (95.2% vs 91.1% 6-year completion). Graduation gaps at this level usually reflect support-system differences, financial aid adequacy, or degree-flexibility — worth verifying with each school's first-year retention and major-change policies.
Student Body Composition
The two schools have different student body compositions. Emory is 56.8% women, 15.8% international, and 25.1% Asian-American. Notre Dame is 48.7% women, 6.9% international, and 5.7% Asian-American.
| Demographic | Emory | Notre Dame |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 56.8% | 48.7% |
| International | 15.8% | 6.9% |
| White | 29.9% | 59.4% |
| Asian | 25.1% | 5.7% |
| Hispanic | 12.1% | 15.3% |
| Black | 10.4% | 4.7% |
Personalized estimate
What are your odds at Emory vs. Notre Dame?
Get a probability for both schools calibrated to your full profile, not the headline rate.
Run the calculatorThe Verdict
Pick Emory if
- Net price matters: Emory costs $4,195 less per year on average
- the Emory and Oxford College campuses
Pick Notre Dame if
- Your odds are realistic at Notre Dame (slightly easier admit)
- Higher median post-grad earnings ($99,980 vs $80,137)
- Higher 6-year graduation rate
- Catholic intellectual tradition
Headline numbers favor one school or the other on each axis, but neither is unambiguously “better.” The right answer depends on your major fit, geographic preference, financial need, and personal odds at each. Most applicants who get into one of these schools also get into the other.
Full School Pages
For complete admissions data, supplemental essay strategy, and class profile breakdowns:
Full profile
Emory University
10.7% accept · Atlanta, Georgia
Full profile
University of Notre Dame
11.3% accept · Notre Dame, Indiana
Sources
- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard for acceptance rates, test ranges, financial aid, demographics, completion, and earnings.
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) for the underlying federal data.
- Each school's most recent published Common Data Set for cycle-specific admissions stats.
Last verified May 2026. Stats reflect each school's most recent publicly published admit cycle.