University Of Notre Dame

University of Notre Dame's published cost of attendance is $83,271, but need-based aid reshapes that figure meaningfully across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $7,244 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $11,432, and higher-income families pay approximately $45,321.

Azimuth ranks University of Notre Dame #961 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.

Notre Dame's aid structure is need-based, and the university participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile, and the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay can be substantial for qualifying households — though the [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) is worth understanding before comparing headline costs across institutions.

Financial aid savings relative to the published cost of attendance average $56,491 for aided students. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $19,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $40,731; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.

For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $100,684, median federal debt of $19,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $215 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).

Graduates of University of Notre Dame earn median earnings of $100,684 four years after enrollment, placing University of Notre Dame in the 94.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs well above the $67,139 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).

Graduates earn about $9,813 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Notre Dame in the 21.4 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks University of Notre Dame #51 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.

The earnings pattern reflects University of Notre Dame's concentration in applied and professional fields. Business is the dominant program family, accounting for 20% of graduates, followed by Social Sciences at 18% and Engineering at 12%.

Finance combines the largest cohort scale with strong earnings, anchoring the institution's return profile. Azimuth ranks Finance #3 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), with 260 graduates earning median earnings of $160,313 — 1.9x the national benchmark for the field.

The Economics program graduates 245 students with median earnings of $122,637, and Azimuth ranks Political Science #7 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning median earnings of $94,297 — 1.5x the national benchmark. Artificial Intelligence and Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods round out the top programs, with 140 and 132 graduates respectively and median earnings of $142,970 and $124,557 four years after enrollment.

University of Notre Dame's program mix is anchored in Business, which accounts for 20% of graduates — a concentration that shapes the institution's overall earnings profile. Social Sciences represents 18% of degrees and Engineering accounts for 12%, rounding out a portfolio that leans applied-professional and quantitative.

Finance combines the largest cohort with strong earnings, making it the program that contributes most to University of Notre Dame's aggregate return. Azimuth ranks Finance #3 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with 260 graduates earning $160,313.

The Economics program graduates 245 students with median earnings of $122,637, and Azimuth ranks the program #28 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions. Artificial Intelligence follows with median earnings of $142,970 from 140 graduates, ranked #17 nationally by Azimuth among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Several of University of Notre Dame's strongest programs feed directly into high-mobility career paths — particularly Finance and Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods. Political Science, with 177 graduates earning $94,297, is more likely a grad-school-dependent pathway.

The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how University of Notre Dame's dominant program families align with national wage trends, and [how Azimuth evaluates programs](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) explains the ranking methodology behind these figures.