UNIVERSITY · CDS 2024-2025
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN 8,880 undergrad Updated 2026-04-22
Top 20Catholic Mission
Accept
11.3%
Yield
61.7%
Test
Required
Academic Profile · CDS C9 / C11
The numbers a parent will ask about first.
SAT Total (mid 50%, computed)
1455–1560
SAT EBRW (mid 50%)
720–770
SAT Math (mid 50%)
735–790
ACT Composite (mid 50%)
33–35
GPA
Not reported
GPA NOTE92% of enrolled in top 10% of HS class; School does not report GPA.
METHODTotal SAT range is computed by summing the reported EBRW and Math mid-50% ranges from the school’s CDS (Section C9). Use as an approximation — a student’s actual total places them within, not at, the summed endpoints.
Decision Plans · CDS C1 / C21
When and how the school reads applicants.
| Plan | Deadline | Accept rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| REA | Nov 1 | — | REA: Nov 1, NR |
| Rolling | Jan 1 | — | RD: Jan 1, rolling notification from Apr 1 |
Cost & Aid · CDS H Series
What it costs and what families actually pay.
Tuition
$69,280
Total COA
$91,986
Avg need-based aid
$49,575
Avg merit award
$25,000
Net price after avg need aid
$42,411
Notre Dame meets 100% of demonstrated need on average.
Named merit programs
Stamps Scholars ProgramFull ride
$25,000 / yr (renewable)
Highly competitive
Awarded to top applicants, covers full tuition and fees, and includes a discretionary fund for enrichment activities.
AP Impact Calculator
What the student's APs are actually worth here.
Notre Dame's AP Policy
Notre Dame awards credit for AP exams with scores of 4 or 5, and in some cases 3. The amount of credit varies by subject. There is no limit on the number of AP credits a student can earn, but a maximum of 30 can be applied to the degree.
Min score
4
Credit cap
32 credits
Mode
Credit + placement
Per-score grid
Exam-level
Add the student's APs
No APs selected. Click Add AP exam to start, or use the sample profile to see what a strong student might recover.
What They Value · CDS C7
Every CDS factor, weighted exactly as the admissions office files it.
- Rigor of secondary school recordVery Important
- Class rankImportant
- Academic GPAVery Important
- Standardized test scoresVery Important
- Application EssayVery Important
- Recommendation(s)Very Important
Mission & Narrative
What this school says it is — in their own words.
The University of Notre Dame is a Catholic academic community of higher learning, animated from its origins by the Congregation of Holy Cross. The University is dedicated to the pursuit and sharing of truth for its own sake. As a Catholic university, one of its distinctive goals is to provide a forum where, through free inquiry and open discussion, the various lines of Catholic thought may intersect with all the forms of knowledge found in the arts, sciences, professions, and every other area of human scholarship and creativity.
Distilled Themes
Strengthening foundationsGlobal CatholicismScience and engineering for a world in needDiversity, equity, and inclusionService to the Church
The Coach's Read
What 'what they value' actually means at the table.
- 01Notre Dame is looking for students who are not only academically gifted but also have a strong moral character and a desire to use their talents to serve others.
- 02They value students who have challenged themselves with a rigorous curriculum and have demonstrated a commitment to their faith and community.
- 03A strong application will show a student who is intellectually curious, compassionate, and has a desire to make a positive impact on the world.
Application Targets
What a strong application here should signal.
- 01Demonstrated intellectual curiosity through research or independent projects.
- 02A commitment to service and social justice.
- 03Leadership in extracurricular activities.
- 04A strong sense of faith and moral character.
- 05A well-written essay that reflects on personal values and experiences.
Quiet Disqualifiers
Things that hurt applicants here, even when they look fine on paper.
- A generic application that does not show a genuine interest in Notre Dame's Catholic mission
- A lack of challenging coursework
- A focus on personal achievement without a demonstrated commitment to serving others
- An essay that is not reflective or personal
Signature Programs
Where this school is genuinely best-in-class.
Aerospace EngineeringArchitectureBusinessIrish StudiesLawMathematicsMedieval StudiesPhilosophySacred MusicTheology
Application calendar
Every date the family needs to know.
Deadlines & Decision Dates · 2025-2026
Family deadline matrix
Plan
Deadline
Decision release
Restrictive Early Action
Non-binding, restrictive
Decision release is mid-December.
Nov 1, 2025
→ Dec 15, 2025
Regular Decision
Non-binding
Decision release is by late March.
Jan 2, 2026
→ Mar 31, 2026
Early Decision I
Not offered
—
Early Decision II
Not offered
—
Early Action
Not offered
—
Rolling Admission
Not offered
—
See every school side-by-side on the Deadline Tracker →
CDS C7 · Level of applicant's interest
Does effort toward this school move the needle?
Demonstrated Interest·CDS C7 (N/A)
Not trackedWeight: Not Considered
Notre Dame's official policy is that they do not track demonstrated interest; all applicants are evaluated on the same criteria regardless of engagement.
Save the energy
Focus on academics and essays; do not spend time on interest-signaling activities for Notre Dame.
Provenance