College Profiles/ University of Notre Dame
College Profile · Fall 2027 Entry
University of Notre Dame Admissions: Acceptance Rate, Cost, Financial Aid and Deadlines
Notre Dame, IN · 8,818 undergraduates. Everything families need to apply to University of Notre Dame for fall 2027, verified against the school’s own Common Data Set, cost of attendance and admissions pages, with ConnectPrep’s strategic read.
By Jeremy Fine, Founder of ConnectPrep
Updated October 11, 2026 · Data verified against official sources
✓ Every figure cited
Quick answer
University of Notre Dame admitted 9.0% of 36,104 first-year applicants.[1] The middle 50% SAT range for enrolled first-years is 1460 to 1540.[1] The 2026-2027 cost of attendance is $91,986.[2] For fall 2027 entry, deadlines are Restrictive Early Action Nov 1, Regular Decision Jan 4.[1]
9.0%
Overall admit rate[1]
1460 to 1540
Middle 50% SAT[1]
$91,986
Cost of attendance, 2026-2027[2]
95.2%
Six-year graduation rate[3]
University of Notre Dame at a Glance
- Location
- Notre Dame, IN
- Type
- Private nonprofit
- Student to faculty ratio
- 8:1[3]
- Endowment
- $18.2 billion (federal data)[3]
- SAT/ACT, fall 2027
- Optional (2026-27 cycle); Required starting Fall 2028 entry[1]
- Application
- Common App, Coalition (Scoir), QuestBridge[1]
- First-year retention
- 99.1%[3]
The ConnectPrep Take on University of Notre Dame
The ConnectPrep take
Notre Dame says its admissions goal is twofold: to build an engaged community of scholars and to treat every applicant with dignity and care. That community language is a cue, so your student should show how they would contribute, not only what they have achieved. Notre Dame admitted 9.0% of 36,104 applicants, and 65.0% of admits enrolled. Restrictive Early Action on Nov 1 is nonbinding. Testing is optional this cycle, but scores will be required for fall 2028 entry; with a middle 50% SAT of 1460 to 1540, submit at 1500 or higher and aim for 1540. Admission is need-blind for all applicants, domestic and international, and aid is loan free. The mistake we see is the Regular Decision aid date, since FAFSA, CSS Profile and IDOC priority falls on Jan 15.
What to do this fall
- Apply Restrictive Early Action by Nov 1 once the file is ready; it is nonbinding.
- Submit an SAT of 1500 or higher this cycle, and aim for 1540.
- File the FAFSA, CSS Profile and IDOC by Nov 15 for REA or Jan 15 for RD.
- Arts applicants send SlideRoom submissions with supporting documents, two weeks after the application deadline.
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University of Notre Dame Admissions Statistics
| Applicant pool |
Applied |
Admitted |
Admit rate |
| All first-year applicants[1] |
36,104 |
|
9.0% |
- Yield, the share of admitted students who enrolled, was 65.0%.[1]
Testing and academic profile
| Academic profile of enrolled first-years |
Middle 50% or share |
| SAT composite[1] |
1460 to 1540 |
| ACT composite[1] |
33 to 35 |
ConnectPrep score target
Aim for 1540 on the SAT, the 75th percentile here, or 35 on the ACT. When testing is optional, we generally advise submitting scores at or above about 1500, the middle of the range. A higher score is always better, and the test can be retaken. Not there yet? Take a free practice test and we will build the plan to close the gap.
What University of Notre Dame looks for
In its own words: Notre Dame's admissions office says its goal is twofold: to build an engaged community of scholars and to treat every applicant with dignity and care.[1]
University of Notre Dame Application Deadlines 2026-2027
| Round |
Deadline |
Decision |
| Restrictive Early Action |
Nov 1 |
mid-Dec |
| Regular Decision |
Jan 4 |
mid to late Mar |
Insider deadlines families miss
These scholarship, honors, program, interview and aid deadlines come from University of Notre Dame’s own pages. Anything tagged Before RD is due before the Regular Decision deadline.
| Program or rule |
Deadline |
What to know |
| SlideRoom submissions |
Nov 15 (REA); Jan 15 (RD) |
SlideRoom arts submissions are due with supporting documents, two weeks after each application deadline.[1] |
| FAFSA, CSS Profile, IDOC priority |
Nov 15 (REA); Jan 15 (RD) |
RD financial aid priority date is Jan 15, earlier than many schools' February dates.[1] |
| Merit scholarships |
See note |
Every admission application is considered; no separate application unless you are notified that you are a merit semifinalist.[4] |
See how University of Notre Dame compares with other colleges in the Midwest deadlines database or the full 2026-2027 college application deadlines hub.
University of Notre Dame Cost and Financial Aid
| Cost and aid |
Figure |
| Cost of attendance (2026-2027)[2] |
$91,986 |
| Tuition[2] |
$69,280 |
Average cost of attendance: tuition $69,280, mandatory fees $514, housing and food $18,992, books $1,250, personal $1,200, transportation $750.[2]
- University of Notre Dame states that it meets 100% of demonstrated financial need.[5]
- Aid packages are loan-free.[5]
- Families earning $60,000 or less have tuition, fees, housing and food covered; families earning up to $150,000 have tuition covered; up to $200,000 receive at least half of tuition.[5]
- International students: 'the University practices need-blind admissions for all applicants, domestic and international.'[5]
What families actually pay: net price by income
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus the average grants and scholarships for first-year students receiving aid, by family income. It comes from federal data, which runs a year or two behind the school’s current cost figures.[3]
| Family income |
Average net price per year |
| $0 to $30,000 |
$7,244 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 |
$7,254 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 |
$11,432 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 |
$18,670 |
| Over $110,000 |
$45,321 |
| All aided students |
$26,780 |
Academics and Majors at University of Notre Dame
Signature programs
School of Architecture (5-year program)
A five-year professional architecture degree with fourth-year concentrations and study in Rome.[6]
Mendoza College of Business
Undergraduate business college offering accountancy, business analytics, finance, marketing and strategic management.[6]
Keough School of Global Affairs
One of six undergraduate colleges and schools, focused on global affairs.[6]
Need-blind, loan-free aid for all applicants
Need-blind for domestic and international applicants, meets full need, and includes no loans in aid packages.[5]
Choosing a major and getting in
Notre Dame has six undergraduate colleges and schools (Arts and Letters, Engineering, Mendoza Business, Science, Keough Global Affairs, Architecture) and more than 70 paths to a bachelor's degree.[6]
Special admission paths
- Restrictive Early Action (deadline November 1, 2026).[7]
- Need-blind admission for domestic and international applicants.[7]
University of Notre Dame Retention and Graduation Rates
| Outcome |
Figure |
| First-year students who returned for sophomore year[3] |
99.1% |
| Graduated within six years[3] |
95.2% |
| Median earnings 10 years after starting college[3] |
$99,980 |
| Median federal loan debt of graduates[3] |
$19,000 |
| Undergraduates receiving Pell Grants[3] |
14% |
Make University of Notre Dame a realistic goal
ConnectPrep builds the full plan: the right round, a score target and test schedule, essays that sound like your student, and every scholarship and program deadline on one calendar. Start with a free consultation or a free practice test.
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University of Notre Dame FAQs
What is the University of Notre Dame acceptance rate?
University of Notre Dame admitted 9.0% of first-year applicants.
When are the University of Notre Dame application deadlines for 2026-27?
For students entering in fall 2027: Restrictive Early Action Nov 1; Regular Decision Jan 4.
How much does University of Notre Dame cost?
The 2026-2027 cost of attendance is $91,986. The school states it meets 100% of demonstrated need.
What SAT score do you need for University of Notre Dame?
The middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1460 to 1540 on the SAT and 33 to 35 on the ACT. ConnectPrep advises aiming for 1540, the 75th percentile. Testing policy for fall 2027 entry: Optional (2026-27 cycle); Required starting Fall 2028 entry.
What does Notre Dame cost for a family earning under $75,000?
Families earning $60,000 or less have tuition, fees, housing and food covered, and families earning up to $150,000 have tuition covered. Federal data shows an average net price of $11,432 for families earning $48,001 to $75,000. Aid packages include no loans, and admission is need-blind for all applicants.
Will Notre Dame require test scores?
Not for fall 2027 entry. Notre Dame announced on September 9, 2026 that applicants seeking to enroll in fall 2028 must submit ACT or SAT scores. For this cycle, we advise submitting at 1500 or higher, the midpoint of a middle 50% SAT of 1460 to 1540, and aiming for 1540.
About the author
Jeremy Fine
Jeremy Fine founded ConnectPrep in 2013 and brings more than 20 years of experience in education, spanning test preparation, college advising and academic program management. He holds a BA from Washington University in St. Louis and an MPA from the University of Pittsburgh.
ConnectPrep is based in Westport, Connecticut, and works with students from kindergarten through graduate school, in person and online. Meet the team.
This profile is an independent ConnectPrep resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by University of Notre Dame. Figures come from the sources listed above as published when checked in October 2026; the Common Data Set year is noted where used. Policies and costs change, so confirm with the school before applying.
