Notre Dame Acceptance Rate – Introduction
If you’re thinking of applying to Notre Dame, you’re probably wondering about the Notre Dame acceptance rate. As a highly ranked and competitive school, it’s no surprise the University of Notre Dame acceptance rate is low. If the acceptance rate for Notre Dame seems intimidating, don’t worry.
The University of Notre Dame is a highly-rated university located in Notre Dame, Indiana. Notre Dame is a top Catholic research university, providing a world-renowned education rooted in Catholic intellectual and moral traditions. We’ll explain everything you need to know about the Notre Dame University acceptance rate, including:
- The Regular Decision acceptance rate for Notre Dame
- The Early Action acceptance rate for Notre Dame
- How to interpret a college acceptance rate
- Other important Notre Dame statistics, and more!
Let’s start by answering the question: what is the Notre Dame acceptance rate?
What is the University of Notre Dame acceptance rate?
College acceptance rates can vary from year to year, and the acceptance rate for Notre Dame is no exception. Trusted sources like U.S. News or Forbes are good places to find the Notre Dame University acceptance rate. The posted Notre Dame acceptance rate typically doesn’t distinguish between Early Decision and Regular Decision. It also may not factor in numbers from the most recent admissions cycle. However, we still recommend looking at the Notre Dame University acceptance rate on these trusted sites. They can give you a consistent reference point when comparing different universities.
According to U.S. News, the University of Notre Dame acceptance rate is 15%.
This puts Notre Dame among the “most selective” schools in the country. The Notre Dame Early Decision acceptance rate appears nearly double their Regular Decision college acceptance rate at 27.8%. Keep in mind that Notre Dame’s Early Decision program is restrictive non-binding. While students can apply to other Early Action programs, they cannot apply to a binding Early Decision 1 program.
If you take a look at Forbes, they report a University of Notre Dame acceptance rate of 19%. It’s important to realize this Notre Dame University acceptance rate is based on 2020–2021 application data. The Notre Dame acceptance rate has likely decreased over recent years, closer to the 15% figure above.
Self-reported admissions statistics
After each admissions cycle, many schools self-report their admissions statistics to ranking agencies like Forbes and Niche. This trend of a decreasing Notre Dame acceptance rate is not unexpected given recent data. The university published a report on the Notre Dame Early Decision acceptance rate for the Class of 2027.
Notre Dame admissions reviewed 11,163 applications in 2022 across both Regular and Early Decision rounds. Compared to the previous year, there was a 15% increase in applications. When schools receive more applications, college acceptance rates tend to go down, owing to a limited number of available spots.
Of the total Restrictive Early Action applicant pool, 1,701 applicants were admitted. This means the most recent Notre Dame Early Decision acceptance rate is 15.2%. Understanding college acceptance rates will help you build your how to get into Notre Dame strategy. At the same time, we should get to know the school better. Let’s look beyond the Notre Dame acceptance rate and see how the school compares to other top universities.
Is Notre Dame an Ivy League School?
No, the University of Notre Dame is not an Ivy League school. However, that doesn’t mean Notre Dame isn’t on par with other universities that are considered part of the Ivy League. Formerly, the “Ivy League” was simply the name of an athletic conference. These days, these schools are more widely known as some of America’s top institutions.
Certainly, Ivy League schools are generally thought of as top schools that are challenging to get into. However, this doesn’t make these universities inherently better than other universities. Their prestige also doesn’t mean they are a better fit for you. Factors like college size, location, and offerings should also factor heavily into your decision.
Although it is not part of the Ivy League, the Notre Dame acceptance rate still makes it highly selective. Given the Notre Dame acceptance rate and the school’s high rankings, it is still considered a top-tier, prestigious university.
Is Notre Dame prestigious?
Yes, Notre Dame is considered a prestigious university. The Notre Dame acceptance rate makes it a selective university and its high rankings reflect its prestige. U.S. News ranks Notre Dame #18 in National Universities, #9 in Best Undergraduate Teaching, and #22 in Best Value Schools. In essence, a Notre Dame education is not only high quality but also a step toward a successful career.
Notre Dame remains highly ranked across other top college lists, including Forbes’ lists of top colleges. It’s ranked #36 in Top Colleges, #24 in Private Colleges, #34 in Research Universities, and #6 in the Midwest. Students can expect to receive a quality education from Notre Dame, with many students becoming top performers in their fields. Some of the most popular majors include finance, economics, mechanical engineering, and political science and government.
Additionally, some of the best programs at Notre Dame include their business and pre-med tracks. 84% of Notre Dame pre-med students are admitted to medical schools. Meanwhile, graduates from the Mendoza College of Business work in lucrative fields like finance, accountancy, marketing, consulting, and business analytics. As you can see, overcoming the Notre Dame acceptance rate nets you a chance at a very bright future.
What does the Notre Dame acceptance rate actually mean?
Now that you’ve seen the Notre Dame acceptance rate stats, you may be wondering where these figures come from and what they mean. The University of Notre Dame acceptance rate depends on the number of applicants and the number of admitted students.
For example, if we look at the 2023 First-Year Applicant Pool, you’ll see 28,354 students submitted a Notre Dame application. Of these students, only 3,402 were offered a spot in Notre Dame’s incoming freshman class. Divide the number of students admitted by the number who applied. With these numbers, we can calculate the 2023 Notre Dame acceptance rate for first-year applicants: 12%.
As previously stated, the more students who apply, the lower the college acceptance rate will be. After all, Notre Dame admissions can only accept so many students per cycle.
Now, you may be wondering if there’s any way to boost your chances against the Notre Dame acceptance rate. Obviously, you should have a well-crafted Notre Dame application. Furthermore, if you feel strongly about attending, you can boost your admissions odds by applying Early Decision.
Notre Dame Acceptance Rates: Early Decision vs. Regular Decision
The Notre Dame acceptance rate can actually be further divided into two statistics. Namely, the Regular Decision Notre Dame acceptance rate and the Notre Dame Early Decision acceptance rate. Generally, both the applicant pool and the number of accepted students are lower in the Early Decision cycle. Consequently, the Notre Dame acceptance rate for that cycle is slightly different.
Across many schools, the Early Decision college acceptance rate tends to be higher than the Regular Decision rate. As we saw from the Class of 2027 Early Decision acceptance rate for Notre Dame, this is not always the case. At just 15%, the Notre Dame University acceptance rate shows how admissions is receiving more and more applications, resulting in increased selectivity. By applying early, you can increase your odds against the low Notre Dame acceptance rate.
If you’re making a plan for how to get into Notre Dame, you have to decide when to apply. The Notre Dame requirements are the same no matter which application deadline you choose. Generally speaking, applying during a school’s Early Decision cycle can boost your admissions odds. With that being said, this is not necessarily the case for every school and every student.
Which admissions round should I choose?
As you choose whether to apply ED or RD at Notre Dame—or any school—you should consider a variety of factors.
Early deadlines are, well, earlier, and some schools have restrictive early application programs. As a result, fewer students submit applications to Early Decision deadlines whether you’re looking at state schools or Ivies. So, you’ll be competing against fewer students in the early admissions cycle compared to the regular admissions cycle. While early college acceptance rates are often higher, you’ll have to complete your application and essays much earlier.
Moreover, Early Decision applicants tend to be high-performing students who are passionate about attending a specific university. This means that the EA/ED pool at a school like Notre Dame will be more competitive. Certainly, the Notre Dame acceptance rate for Early Decision may seem like it’s boosting your odds at first glance. However, you’ll only benefit from applying early if you have a strong, well-rounded, competitive application.
Non-binding restrictive early action
Additionally, Notre Dame has a non-binding Restrictive Early Action policy rather than a binding Early Decision program. Under this policy, you can apply to other schools’ Early Action, as long as they’re not restrictive. However, you can’t apply to any binding Early Decision 1 programs—i.e. ones that deliver decisions by December 31st. You may, on the other hand, apply Early Decision 2 anywhere, with that application taking precedence over Notre Dame. In sum, an early Notre Dame application, while non-binding, does require a level of commitment to the school.
Are you considering applying Early Action to Notre Dame? Make sure Notre Dame is one of your top schools and you can submit a strong application by the deadline. A strong early application is more than just high grades all through high school. You also need letters of recommendation and thoroughly edited application essays.
Notre Dame acceptance rate and balancing your college list
By now, you have a clear picture of the University of Notre Dame acceptance rate. Now, you may be wondering how the Notre Dame acceptance rate impacts your college application process. One of the best reasons to look at college acceptance rates is to create a balanced college list.
As you start your college search, you’ll probably look for schools that fit your needs. Maybe they are a particular size, offer the specific academic program you’re interested in, or have exciting extracurricular opportunities. Ideally, your college list should be full of schools you are excited about and could see yourself attending. Equally important is having a balanced list to secure your place at a good school.
A balanced college list is divided into “safety,” “match,” and “reach” schools. These categories represent how likely you are to gain admission to a school. After all, even the strongest applications can never be guaranteed. Therefore, it’s important to have a mix of more and less selective schools that you are excited to attend. With acceptance rates decreasing at top schools nationwide, a balanced list should be a top priority.
Since the University of Notre Dame acceptance rate is low, Notre Dame is considered a “reach” school for most students. In addition to comparing the acceptance rate for Notre Dame to other schools, consider your profile. Think about how your grades and test scores match up with the average student accepted to Notre Dame.
Other Notre Dame admissions statistics to consider
Along with the Notre Dame University acceptance rate, you might also want to look at statistics like Notre Dame’s average GPA and test scores. Although Notre Dame is test-optional for the 2023–2024 application cycles, you may submit scores if they’ll strengthen your application. The Class of 2027 Enrolled Students Profile shows the mid-50% range of scores were 1450–1530 for the SAT and 33–35 for the ACT.
In addition to test scores, you can learn even more about the most recently admitted class of students, including stats like:
- 87% participated in community service
- 44% involved in music, drama, fine arts, or dance
- 20.5% were first-generation/Pell Grant recipients/<$65,000 household income
Besides considering the University of Notre Dame acceptance rate, you may also be interested in Notre Dame enrollment rates. Also known as a yield rate, the Notre Dame enrollment rate is the percentage of students who accepted admissions offers. To put it differently, the Notre Dame enrollment rate shows how many applicants choose Notre Dame over other schools. The Notre Dame yield rate for the 2023 admissions cycle was 60%.
If these statistics or the acceptance rate for Notre Dame are intimidating, remember there is always a chance to beat the odds. We have countless success stories of students who got into their dream schools—like one of our success stories, the Whitakers!
Both Ashby and Sebastian worked with our CollegeAdvisor.com experts to craft their college applications and secure their spots at Notre Dame. Even though the Notre Dame acceptance rate can be daunting, that doesn’t mean you can’t give yourself a good shot. This family is a great example of how with guidance and dedication, you can overcome the odds. You can find yourself on the right side of the Notre Dame University acceptance rate with the right strategy.
Notre Dame acceptance rate – Final Thoughts
The University of Notre Dame acceptance rate makes it a selective and challenging school. If you include Notre Dame on your college list, make sure you consider the Notre Dame acceptance rate. In addition, think carefully about whether you want to apply through the Early Action program.
If you want to learn more beyond the Notre Dame University acceptance rate, check out our Notre Dame panel. You can hear from students who went to Notre Dame and beat the University of Notre Dame acceptance rate.
If Notre Dame is already your dream school, that’s great! Decide which admissions round is right for you and be sure to double-check the Notre Dame requirements. Start working on your application early—recommendation letters and test scores can sneak up on you. If you’re ready to draft essays, check out our essay guide for Notre Dame for plenty of tips.
This guide to the Notre Dame Acceptance Rate was written by Stefanie Tedards. Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.
