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. 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.
A directional estimate — not a prediction
Admitted students at Notre Dame demonstrate exceptional academic preparation across standardized testing measures. SAT scores typically range from 1440-1540, with a median of 1510, placing most admitted students well above the 99th percentile nationally. Within this range, SAT Math scores span 730-780 while SAT Verbal scores range from 710-760, indicating balanced strength across both sections. ACT scores range from 33-35 with a median of 34, again reflecting performance among the top 1% of all test takers. These ranges represent the middle 50% of enrolled students, meaning 25% score below the lower bound and 25% score above the upper bound. Compared to the peer median SAT of 1256, Notre Dame's admitted students score 254 points higher, demonstrating the substantial academic gap between Notre Dame and typical four-year institutions. Students scoring below 1440 SAT or 33 ACT should expect to face competitive disadvantage but are not automatically excluded from consideration. The admissions process considers factors beyond test scores, including essays, recommendations, extracurricular involvement, and fit with Notre Dame's mission and values. If your scores fall within the 1440-1540 SAT range or 33-35 ACT range, you are academically competitive for admission, though admission remains highly uncertain due to the volume of qualified applicants. Students should consider whether their academic profile aligns with these ranges when building their college list and developing realistic expectations.
Understanding institutional priorities and student support
Notre Dame enrolls 12.5% Pell-eligible students and 10.2% first-generation students, indicating that while the majority of students come from higher-income backgrounds, the university does admit students from diverse economic circumstances. These access rates are lower than at public flagships or less selective institutions, but remain within typical ranges for highly selective private universities. The 8.5% transfer student share suggests limited opportunities for students seeking to enter Notre Dame after starting elsewhere. Geographic diversity draws from a national applicant pool, though specific regional breakdowns are not available in the admissions data. The student composition reflects Notre Dame's position as a highly selective institution that attracts academically accomplished students from various backgrounds, with some concentration toward higher-income families typical of elite private universities. First-generation students should know that 10.2% of enrolled students share their background, providing a meaningful community of peers with similar experiences. Students from lower-income families should consider the 12.5% Pell share when assessing whether they would find adequate support and community at Notre Dame. The relatively low transfer enrollment suggests that admission as a first-year student represents the primary pathway to Notre Dame, making the initial application particularly important for prospective students.
Given Notre Dame's 12.4% acceptance rate, most applicants—even highly qualified ones—will need backup options. The schools below deliver comparable career outcomes with more accessible admission or different advantages.
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Notre Dame demonstrates exceptional student success rates across all measures, with 98.2% of freshmen returning for sophomore year compared to a peer median of 83.1%. This 15-percentage-point advantage indicates outstanding academic support, campus satisfaction, and student engagement. The six-year graduation rate reaches 96.8% compared to a peer median of 70%, representing a 26.8-percentage-point advantage that places Notre Dame among the top performers nationally. Pell-eligible students graduate at 93.8%, creating a gap of only 3.0 percentage points compared to the overall graduation rate. This relatively small gap indicates strong institutional support for lower-income students, particularly impressive given Notre Dame's academic rigor and competitive environment. The high retention and completion rates suggest that students who gain admission find the academic and social environment supportive of their success. These outcomes reflect Notre Dame's comprehensive approach to student support, including academic advising, residential life programming, and career services. Students who gain admission can expect strong institutional support for degree completion, with success rates that exceed national averages by substantial margins. Lower-income students should view the 3.0 percentage point Pell gap as evidence of Notre Dame's commitment to supporting diverse students through graduation. Prospective students should interpret these retention and completion rates as indicators of the supportive academic environment they would experience if admitted.
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