Elite Private · Notre Dame, Indiana
University of Notre Dame
Extremely selective. 11.3% acceptance rate.
Calculate your Notre Dame oddsHow hard is it to get into Notre Dame?
Notre Dame is extremely selective, with a 11.3% acceptance rate. Admitted students typically score 1450–1550 on the SAT and 33–35 on the ACT. The application is read holistically, so essays, recommendations, activities, and demographic context all factor into the decision alongside test scores and GPA.
Quick Facts
| Acceptance rate | 11.3% |
| SAT (mid-50%) | 1450–1550 |
| ACT (mid-50%) | 33–35 |
| Cost of attendance | $84,047 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $26,780 |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 9,112 |
| 6-year graduation rate | 95.2% |
| Median earnings (10 yrs after entry) | $99,980 |
| Type | Private · Elite Private |
| Setting | Suburban (large metro) |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Last verified May 2026.
Getting In
Notre Dame's 11.3% acceptance rate puts it in the extremely selective tier. The mid-50% SAT range of 1450–1550 means a quarter of admitted students scored above 1550, and a quarter scored below 1450. Scores in that range don't guarantee admission. Scores outside it don't rule it out. The application is read holistically.
That number doesn't tell you your odds. A 1550 SAT and a 4.0 GPA put you in the academic conversation. They don't put you in the admit pile. Your actual probability depends on your full profile: coursework rigor, activities, recommendations, demographic context, and what your essays accomplish. The pool average is a starting point, not a forecast.
Personalized estimate
What are your actual odds at Notre Dame?
Enter your SAT/ACT, GPA, activities, and target schools. Get a probability calibrated to real admit data, not a headline acceptance rate.
Run the calculatorNotre Dame Test Score Profile
Admitted students score in the following ranges across SAT sections:
SAT Reading
720–770
25th–75th percentile
SAT Math
735–790
25th–75th percentile
Strong applicants tend to score above the 75th percentile in their stronger section and at or above the 25th percentile in their weaker one. Both numbers are descriptive, not prescriptive. Plenty of admitted students score below the 25th percentile in one section, especially with strong context elsewhere.
Beyond the Numbers
Notre Dame is best known for Catholic intellectual tradition, residence halls that function like houses, and a deeply loyal alumni network. Admissions readers are looking for applicants whose specific interests and ways of working would actually thrive in that environment. Not generic “passion.” Concrete curiosity that already shows up in what you do.
Notre Dame admits roughly 12 to 14 percent. The university's Catholic identity shapes academics (a required philosophy and theology Core) and student life (the residence hall community replaces traditional Greek life). Alumni loyalty is famously strong.
Class Profile
The undergraduate population at Notre Dame breaks down as follows according to federal IPEDS data:
Race & ethnicity
These percentages reflect the enrolled student body, not the applicant pool. Admit rates by demographic differ from the headline rate, and the school's composition is the result of its full holistic review process.
Cost & Financial Aid
The published cost of attendance at Notre Dame is $84,047 per year before aid. After grants and scholarships, the average student pays $26,780per year. The sticker price isn't the number that matters for most families.
Net price by family income
What the average student actually pays per year, after grants:
| Family income $0–30K | $7,244 |
| Family income $30K–48K | $7,254 |
| Family income $48K–75K | $11,432 |
| Family income $75K–110K | $18,670 |
| Family income $110K+ | $45,321 |
Highly selective private universities tend to meet 100% of demonstrated financial need, often without loans, for families below specific income thresholds. The number that matters for your family is your net price, which can be estimated using the school's own net price calculator before applying.
Outcomes
Federal data on what happens after enrollment at Notre Dame:
Graduation rate
95.2%
6-year (federal IPEDS)
Median earnings
$99,980
10 yrs after entry
Median debt
$19,000
Among completers
13.7% of students receive a Pell Grant (federal need-based aid), and 24.7%take federal loans. These rates are useful proxies for the school's socioeconomic mix and how much most families end up borrowing.
Notre Dame Supplemental Essays
Notre Dame requires supplemental essays beyond the Common App personal statement. The most recent prompts include:
- “Notre Dame is a community of scholars, professors, and students alike, who thrive in a rigorous and faith-based environment. What interests you most about Notre Dame?”
- “Notre Dame's strength lies in its diverse and global community. Describe a moment when engaging with people different from yourself led to meaningful growth.”
- “What is one part of your background, identity, or personality, not yet shared in this application, that you want us to know about? (Everything Else essay)”
What tends to go wrong
- Writing a Why ND essay about football. Admissions reads this at scale.
- Treating the faith prompt by either overclaiming devout Catholicism or ignoring faith entirely. The middle ground (respectful engagement) works best.
- Using the Everything Else essay as a filler for things you couldn't fit elsewhere. Pick one specific thing worth a whole essay.
Stronger ways to open
- Engage with the faith-based environment seriously in the Why ND essay. You do not need to be Catholic to apply (or be admitted), but you do need to grapple with what it means to attend a university that takes its religious identity as a feature.
- Open the diversity essay inside an actual moment of engagement. Don't pre-explain the category; let the reader watch you encounter someone different and adjust.
- The Everything Else essay is optional but frequently the most memorable part of an application. Use it for the thing that doesn't fit in your resume.
Application Timeline
- REA deadline: November 1. Historically 15.8% acceptance rate.
- Regular Decision deadline: January 1
- Testing: SAT/ACT optional. Submit if your scores fall within or above the mid-50% range.
Notre Dame essay tools
Score, brainstorm, or revise Notre Dame essays with tools tuned to Notre Dame's prompts.
Notre Dame vs. Peer Schools
Side-by-side comparison with similar Elite Private schools applicants typically consider.
| School | Accept | SAT mid-50 | Net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notre Dame This page | 11.3% | 1450–1550 | $26,780 |
| Stanford | 3.7% | 1500–1580 | $13,807 |
| Duke | 5.1% | 1490–1570 | $29,612 |
| Northwestern | 7.2% | 1500–1560 | $29,167 |
| Johns Hopkins | 7.3% | 1530–1570 | $18,809 |
| UChicago | 5.4% | 1510–1580 | $14,860 |
FAQ
How hard is it to get into Notre Dame?
Notre Dame is extremely selective. The most recently published acceptance rate is 11.3%. Admitted students score in the 1450–1550 SAT range. Test scores are necessary but not sufficient. Holistic review weighs essays, activities, recommendations, and demographic context.
What SAT score do I need for Notre Dame?
Admitted students at Notre Dame typically score between 1450 and 1550 on the SAT. A quarter of admits scored above 1550, and a quarter scored below 1450. Scores in this range are competitive but do not guarantee admission.
How much does Notre Dame cost?
The published cost of attendance at Notre Dame is $84,047 per year before financial aid. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $26,780. Most highly selective schools meet 100% of demonstrated need for families below specific income thresholds.
What is the graduation rate at Notre Dame?
95.2% of students at Notre Dame graduate within 6 years (the standard federal graduation rate metric).
Do I need to be Catholic to go to Notre Dame?
No. Roughly 80 percent of undergraduates identify as Catholic, but Notre Dame admits and welcomes students of all faiths and none. Engaging with Catholic intellectual tradition in your essay matters more than personal religious practice.
What is the Everything Else essay?
An optional supplemental where Notre Dame asks you to share something about yourself not yet visible in the rest of your application. Submitting it is highly recommended.
How important is the residence hall system at Notre Dame?
Central. Notre Dame has no Greek life; residence halls function as lifelong communities with their own traditions, teams, and identities. Your hall assignment shapes your social experience.
Does Notre Dame have a core curriculum?
Yes. All undergraduates take courses in philosophy, theology, writing, mathematics, and science as part of the First Year of Studies core.
How competitive is Notre Dame's admissions?
Roughly 12 to 14 percent admit rate, less selective than the Ivies but competitive. The student body skews slightly more Catholic, white, and midwest than peer elite schools.
Sources
All numerical data on this page is sourced from official, primary sources. Admissions stats reflect the most recent publicly published cycle. Verify current figures with Notre Dame's admissions office before applying.
- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard — federally maintained dataset on admissions, cost, demographics, and post-graduation outcomes (IPEDS-derived).
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) — the underlying federal data collection that all U.S. accredited institutions report into annually.
- University of Notre Dame official admissions site — for the most current published figures and application requirements.
- Notre Dame Common Data Set — the standardized annual data document published by the school.
Last verified May 2026. Stats reflect Notre Dame's most recent publicly published admit cycle.