Notre Dame combines highly selective admissions with exceptional career outcomes, ranking in the 98th percentile for graduate earnings. As a Selective Achievers institution, the university delivers outstanding return on investment while maintaining manageable debt levels well below peer institutions.
Modestly below average performance due to higher net costs relative to typical institutions
Well above average enrollment of diverse students despite the university's selective admission standards
Strong economic advancement outcomes for students from various backgrounds
Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Full AnalysisExceptional return on investment nationally
Notre Dame delivers exceptional earnings outcomes while maintaining manageable debt levels relative to graduate income. Graduates earn a median of $99,980 ten years after enrollment, ranking in the 98th percentile nationally.
Earnings range from $67,690 at the 25th percentile to $141,307 at the 75th percentile, reflecting varied career paths across disciplines with consistently strong outcomes. The institution generates $2,934 in earnings beyond expectations, placing it in the 67.2nd percentile nationally on this measure.
Students seeking exceptional post-graduation outcomes at a highly selective Catholic research university. Well-suited for high-achieving applicants who can navigate competitive admission (12.4% acceptance) and prioritize strong earnings potential over affordability.
Notre Dame's Selective Achievers profile reflects outstanding career outcomes with limited enrollment of low-income students.
Notre Dame admits approximately 12.4% of applicants, meaning roughly 1 in 8 applicants receives an offer of admission. This places Notre Dame among the most selective universities in the United States, falling within the Highly Selective tier (10-25% admission rate).
The peer median admission rate of 70.6% highlights the stark difference between Notre Dame's selectivity and typical four-year institutions. Even among elite private research universities, Notre Dame's 12.4% acceptance rate represents substantial competitive pressure.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Notre Dame's published cost of attendance is $80,211 per year—that's $62,693 in tuition, $17,378 for room and board, and $1,250 for books and supplies. However, the average student pays $27,823 after financial aid, representing savings of $52,388 from the sticker price.
This net price sits slightly below the peer median of $27,143, indicating competitive pricing relative to similar institutions. The substantial gap between sticker price and average net cost reflects Notre Dame's significant financial aid program, which provides meaningful support across income levels.
Net prices vary dramatically by family income, ranging from $8,873 for the lowest-income families to $46,879 for the highest-income bracket. This $38,006 spread demonstrates Notre Dame's commitment to income-based aid while reflecting the reality that higher-income families pay closer to full price.
The financial aid savings of $52,388 represents one of the largest aid packages among peer institutions, though the final net cost remains substantial for many families. Notre Dame's cost structure reflects its position as a highly selective private university with significant endowment resources dedicated to financial aid, making attendance possible for students across economic backgrounds while requiring substantial family contribution for most enrolled students.
Artificial Intelligence.
128 graduates
Banking and Financial Support Services.
235 graduates
Information Resources Management.
36 graduates
Mathematics and Statistics, Other.
125 graduates
Electrical and Electronics Engineering.
41 graduates
Consider these schools with similar outcomes but higher acceptance rates:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Villanova University Higher acceptance rate (12.7 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | PA | 25% | $100,423 | Compare |
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This is the University Of Notre Dame hub overview page. For comprehensive institutional data including detailed charts and metrics, visit the full analysis at /school/university-of-notre-dame/analysis.
University of Notre Dame ranks #93 nationally in Azimuth's analysis, with return performance at the 98.8th percentile—among the highest we track. Located in Notre Dame, Indiana, this medium-sized private nonprofit university maintains highly selective admission standards with a 12.4% acceptance rate while delivering exceptional post-graduation outcomes.
Notre Dame enrolls 12.5% Pell-eligible students and 10.2% first-generation students, placing it below typical peers on access measures but within the range for highly selective institutions. Graduates earn $2,934 beyond expectations relative to similar students, ranking at the 67.2nd percentile nationally.
Median earnings reach $99,980 ten years after enrollment, placing Notre Dame in the 98th percentile for long-term earnings. Compared to a peer median of $63,066, graduates earn $36,914 more annually.
This combination of highly selective admissions, lower access rates, and exceptional economic outcomes places Notre Dame firmly within the Selective Achievers quadrant, where institutions serve fewer low-income students while delivering strong post-graduation results.
This level of selectivity means that even exceptionally qualified students—those with near-perfect test scores and outstanding academic records—face significant uncertainty in the admission process. Many students who would thrive at Notre Dame do not receive admission simply due to the volume of highly qualified applicants competing for limited spots.
The university's Catholic identity and distinctive campus culture add additional dimensions to the selection process beyond pure academic metrics. For this reason, students considering Notre Dame should build comprehensive college lists that include schools with higher acceptance rates but comparable academic quality and career outcomes.
Treating Notre Dame as a reach school regardless of qualifications represents sound application strategy, given that admission decisions at this selectivity level involve factors beyond statistical predictors.
Notre Dame graduates demonstrate steady earnings growth over time, with outcomes based on substantial cohort sizes providing high confidence in reported figures. Median earnings rise from $86,210 six years after enrollment to $94,844 at eight years and $99,980 at ten years, representing 16.0% growth from the six-year mark.
These outcomes reflect data from 1,610 graduates in the ten-year cohort, 1,331 in the eight-year cohort, and 1,135 in the six-year cohort. Graduates earn $2,934 beyond expectations compared to similar students nationally, placing Notre Dame in the 67.2nd percentile for earnings uplift.
Low-income graduates earn $106,000, ranking among the top 5% nationally for this critical mobility measure. Earnings span from $67,690 at the 25th percentile to $141,307 at the 75th percentile, reflecting differences in program choice and career trajectory but with consistently strong outcomes across the distribution.
Approximately 22.2% of graduates continue to graduate or professional study, indicating strong preparation for both advanced education and immediate workforce entry. Compared to the peer median of $63,066, Notre Dame graduates earn $36,914 more annually, demonstrating substantial value creation.
Notre Dame offers 20 bachelor's degree programs with sufficient federal earnings data for ranking analysis. Artificial Intelligence ranks #20 nationally and #1 in Indiana, producing 128 graduates with median earnings of $118,767 and a value score of 90.5.
Banking and Financial Support Services ranks #9 nationally and #1 in Indiana, graduating 235 students with median earnings of $111,893 and a value score of 96.1. Mathematics and Statistics, Other ranks #2 nationally and #1 in Indiana, with 125 graduates earning $106,786.
Applied Economics ranks #27 nationally and #1 in Indiana, graduating 243 students with median earnings of $100,568. Psychology, General ranks #1 nationally with 84 graduates earning $66,756, achieving a perfect value score of 100.0.
Multiple programs achieve #1 rankings in Indiana across diverse fields including Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Accounting, demonstrating Notre Dame's comprehensive academic strength and consistent ability to deliver exceptional outcomes across disciplines.
Rose-Hulman Institute Of Technology Higher acceptance rate (60.4 percentage points higher); similar graduate earnings | IN | 73% | $101,253 | Compare |
Illinois Institute Of Technology Same region (72 miles away) (earnings difference: 17.4%); same institution type | IL | 55% | $82,592 | Compare |
University Of Chicago Same region (70 miles away) with similar earnings; same institution type | IL | 5% | $91,885 | Compare |
Northwestern University Same region (78 miles away) (earnings difference: 10.6%); same institution type | IL | 7% | $89,363 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Duke University Similar quality tier (#93 ranked) | NC | 7% | $97,800 | #93 | Compare |
Rice University Similar quality tier (#90 ranked) | TX | 8% | $89,718 | #90 | Compare |
Northwestern University Similar quality tier in Midwest (#102 ranked) | IL | 7% | $89,363 | #102 | Compare |
Washington University In St Louis Similar quality tier in Midwest (#104 ranked) | MO | 12% | $86,182 | #104 | Compare |
Carnegie Mellon University Similar quality tier (#106 ranked) | PA | 11% | $114,862 | #106 | Compare |
