University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame du Lac
A Catholic research university where 82% of students live in 33 residence halls and aid is need-blind worldwide.
- Acceptance rate
- 9.4%
- First-years who entered in fall 2025 (Common Data Set 2025-26)
- Students
- 13,204
- 8,950 undergraduates
- Student–faculty
- 8:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- $69,794
- 2026-27
- Founded
- 1842
About Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame was founded in November 1842 by Rev. Edward Sorin of the Congregation of Holy Cross and sits next to South Bend in northern Indiana. It is a private Catholic research university and a member of the Association of American Universities, with 8,950 undergraduates and 4,254 graduate and professional students in fall 2025. Undergraduates start in the First Year of Studies and then join one of six undergraduate colleges and schools: Arts and Letters, Science, Engineering, the Mendoza College of Business, Architecture, or the Keough School of Global Affairs.
Notre Dame is best known for combining serious undergraduate teaching with Catholic identity and an intensely residential culture. About 82% of undergraduates live in 33 residence halls, which replace fraternities and sororities as the centre of social life, and 87.5% of undergraduates study abroad. Its theology and philosophy departments are among its academic signatures, the Mendoza College of Business is ranked 7th nationally for undergraduates by Poets and Quants (2025), and more than a third of undergraduates do original research with a faculty mentor.
Admission is very selective: 3,320 of 35,401 first-year applicants were admitted for fall 2025 (9.4%). Notre Dame is need-blind for all applicants, including international students, meets 100% of demonstrated need with grants rather than loans, and remains test-optional for fall 2027 entry. It suits students who want a tight-knit, faith-informed community, big-time college sport and a campus where most people stay all four years.
Vita, Dulcedo, Spes
“Life, Sweetness, Hope” — university motto
Why students choose Notre Dame
Admission is need-blind for every applicant, including international students, and Notre Dame meets 100% of demonstrated need with scholarships and grants, not loans.
The residence hall system houses 82% of students in 33 halls that serve as the base for social, religious and intramural life, since there are no social fraternities or sororities.
Study abroad is part of the norm: 87.5% of undergraduates study abroad, with programmes in 28 countries and global centres in cities such as London, Rome, Dublin and Jerusalem.
Federally aided students who entered Notre Dame earned a College Scorecard median of $99,980 ten years after entry.
Admissions
First-years who entered in fall 2025 (Common Data Set 2025-26)
About 1 in 11 applicants is admitted
3,320 admitted from 35,401 applicants
Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.
Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.
For the Class of 2030 (entering fall 2026), Notre Dame reports 36,104 applications, a 9% admit rate and a 65% yield. In fall 2025, 288 of 6,784 international applicants were admitted (about 4%). 2,186 applicants were offered a waitlist place and 54 were admitted from it.
Typical entry requirements
| High school coursework | Minimum 16 academic units; the strongest applicants take 4 English, 3-4 mathematics (4 including calculus for STEM, architecture and business), 3-4 history/social science, 3-4 of one world language (minimum 2) and 3-4 science (biology, chemistry and physics for STEM and architecture) |
|---|---|
| British curriculum | GCSE/IGCSE results plus predicted grades in at least three A-level subjects |
| English language | IELTS 7.5 · TOEFL iBT 100 Strongly recommended minimums: TOEFL iBT 100 with 25 in Speaking (pre-February 2026 scale) or 5.5 average with no section below 5.0 (updated scale); IELTS 7.5; Duolingo 125. PTE Academic is also accepted. Waived with SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing of 650+ or ACT English or Reading of 26+. |
Deadlines
- Restrictive Early Action Non-binding Next deadline · In 26 daysNovember 1, 2026
Non-binding, but you may not apply Early Decision I elsewhere (other Early Action and later ED II plans are allowed). Supporting documents and SlideRoom due November 15; financial aid priority date November 15. Decisions mid-December; priority consideration for merit scholarships.
- Regular Decision Non-binding In ~3 monthsJanuary 4, 2027
Supporting documents, SlideRoom and financial aid applications due January 15. Decisions mid- to late March; confirmation deadline May 1.
Notre Dame's admissions pages list November 1 and January 4 without a year; applications open August 1. Applicants denied in Restrictive Early Action cannot reapply in Regular Decision.
How to apply
Common App, Coalition on Scoir or QuestBridge; $85 fee (waivers available); Notre Dame Writing Supplement (one required essay of up to 150 words plus two 50-100 word short answers chosen from four prompts); transcript; one teacher evaluation from a core subject plus a counselor (or second) evaluation; optional SAT/ACT; optional Glimpse or InitialView video; optional SlideRoom portfolio for art, architecture or music.
What admissions looks for
- Rigorous coursework and strong grades in the context of your school; rigor, GPA and class rank are rated very important in the Common Data Set.
- Essays that reveal your values, the communities you have shaped and how you would contribute to campus; the admissions office calls essays its favourite part of reading.
- Character and personal qualities, including service to others and commitment to your community.
- Extracurricular depth and leadership, whether in research, athletics, the arts, faith, a job or family responsibilities.
Tips for applying to Notre Dame
- 1 Use the 150-word 'non-negotiable factor' essay to be concrete about what you need from a college, and pick short-answer prompts (faith, service, background, 'what would you fight for') that show different sides of you.
- 2 Apply Restrictive Early Action by November 1 only if your application is ready: it gives priority consideration for merit scholarships, but a denial ends your chances for that year.
- 3 Notre Dame does not interview, so consider the optional 60-90 second Glimpse (US) or InitialView (international) video to add your voice.
- 4 If you apply test-optional, show quantitative strength in other ways, such as AP or predicted IB results; Notre Dame notes that its strongest applicants usually present significant quantitative evidence.
- 5 Plan for the policy change: students entering in fall 2028 or later must submit the SAT or ACT.
What are your chances?
Sign up to see your personalized admission chances for University of Notre Dame
Sign up to see your chancesCosts & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in USD
Notre Dame is need-blind for all applicants, including international students, meets 100% of demonstrated need for all four years, and builds aid offers from grants and scholarships only. Most families earning up to $60,000 pay nothing for tuition, fees, housing and food; families up to $150,000 receive at least full tuition and those up to $200,000 at least half tuition, subject to typical assets. International applicants apply for need-based aid with the CSS Profile.
- Tuition, fees, housing and food covered for most families
- Family income up to $60,000
- At least full tuition / at least half tuition
- Family income up to $150,000 / $200,000
- 100%
- Average need met for aid recipients (CDS 2025-26)
- $60,952
- Average need-based scholarship or grant, first-year students (CDS 2025-26)
- 55%
- Enrolled Class of 2030 receiving need-based aid
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters
Mendoza College of Business (undergraduate)
Ranked 7th nationally for its undergraduate program by Poets and Quants (2025); business was the intended area of 24% of the Class of 2030.
Theology and Philosophy
The university describes these departments as among the finest in the world and central to its Catholic mission.
Architecture (BArch)
Notre Dame established the first architecture programme at an American Catholic university; its School of Architecture takes about 3% of each entering class and invites SlideRoom portfolios.
Global Affairs (BA)
Offered by the Keough School of Global Affairs, which focuses on integral human development and runs an office in Washington, DC.
Engineering
22% of the Class of 2030 intends to study engineering; Notre Dame also established the first engineering programme at an American Catholic university.
Research
- Notre Dame received $217.8 million in research awards in FY2025 and is one of 71 members of the Association of American Universities.
- Its institutes include the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, the Lucy Family Institute for Data and Society, the Harper Cancer Research Institute and the Eck Institute for Global Health.
- The Medieval Institute was the first in the United States, and Notre Dame ranks first in the country for National Endowment for the Humanities fellowships since 1999.
- Researchers at Notre Dame pioneered work on glider aerodynamics, wireless transmission and the formulae for synthetic rubber.
Schools & faculties
- First Year of Studies
- College of Arts and Letters
- College of Science
- College of Engineering
- Mendoza College of Business
- School of Architecture
- Keough School of Global Affairs
- The Law School
- The Graduate School
College Scorecard: median earnings of $99,980 ten years after entry (and $86,210 six years after entry) for federally aided students.
Student life
Notre Dame is one of the most residential national universities: 82% of undergraduates live in 33 residence halls, each with its own identity, traditions and intramural teams, and Holy Cross priests and other religious live in the halls. There are no social fraternities or sororities, so hall life drives social events. Students can join more than 500 clubs, and more than 80% take part in service learning or volunteering. Football weekends at Notre Dame Stadium, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart and the Grotto are shared landmarks of campus life.
- 33 residence halls house 82% of undergraduates; there are no social fraternities or sororities.
- More than 500 clubs and organizations, including the Glee Club; the Notre Dame Marching Band, founded in 1843, is the oldest college marching band still in existence.
- The Fighting Irish compete in NCAA Division I; football is independent, and Notre Dame is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference in most other sports.
- Scholastic, the student magazine, is the oldest college publication in the United States.
Housing. Notre Dame is heavily residential, with about 82% of undergraduates living on campus in 33 residence halls.
Location
Notre Dame's 1,261-acre campus sits next to South Bend in northern Indiana, around two lakes and seven quadrangles, in a metropolitan area of more than 315,000 people. Campus landmarks include the Golden Dome of the Main Building, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, the Grotto and Notre Dame Stadium, and the university owns about 190 buildings on and around campus. Home football weekends bring the biggest crowds.
Nearest airport: South Bend International Airport (SBN)
Notable alumni
- CR Condoleezza Rice66th US Secretary of State; earned her master's degree at Notre Dame
- AC Amy Coney BarrettAssociate Justice of the US Supreme Court; Notre Dame Law School graduate
- EW Eric Wieschaus1995 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine; College of Science graduate
- JM Joe MontanaHall of Fame NFL quarterback and four-time Super Bowl champion
- RP Regis PhilbinTelevision talk show host
- PD Phil DonahueTelevision talk show host
- JW Jim WetherbeeNASA astronaut
- RR Ruth RileyWNBA champion and Olympic gold medallist in basketball
Frequently asked questions
What is Notre Dame's acceptance rate?
For fall 2025, Notre Dame admitted 3,320 of 35,401 first-year applicants, or 9.4%. It reports a 9% admit rate for the Class of 2030, which entered in fall 2026.
Is Notre Dame test-optional for fall 2027?
Yes. Notre Dame is test-optional for students applying in 2026-27 for fall 2027 entry, and will require the SAT or ACT from students entering in fall 2028. The middle 50% of enrolled first-years who submitted scores was 1460-1540 on the SAT and 33-35 on the ACT.
Is Notre Dame need-blind for international students?
Yes. Notre Dame is need-blind for all applicants regardless of citizenship and meets 100% of demonstrated need; international students apply for aid with the CSS Profile.
Is Notre Dame's early action binding?
No. Restrictive Early Action (deadline November 1) is non-binding, but you may not apply to another school's Early Decision I plan at the same time. Regular Decision closes January 4.
Does Notre Dame interview applicants?
No, interviews are not part of the evaluation. You can add an optional 60-90 second Glimpse or InitialView video instead.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
- Notre Dame Undergraduate Admissions: Apply (dates and Class of 2030 profile)
- Notre Dame Admissions: Application Overview
- Notre Dame Admissions: Restrictive Early Action and Regular Decision
- Notre Dame Admissions: Application Considerations
- Notre Dame Admissions: Standardized Testing Policy
- Notre Dame Admissions: FAQs
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