Highly selectiveUpdated for the 2025-2026 cycle

University of Notre Dame acceptance rate and admissions profile

With an acceptance rate near 11%, University of Notre Dame is a highly selective private college in Indiana. Because it turns away most applicants, admission turns on the strength of your whole profile rather than any one number.

Use this page to see what University of Notre Dame weighs, where it ranks among Indiana schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1550, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
11%
Highly selective
Admitted SAT (75th pct)
1550
of admitted students
Type
Private
Indiana
Selectivity in state
#1
of 40 in IN
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Will I get into University of Notre Dame?

Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into University of Notre Dame, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.

What are my chances of getting into University of Notre Dame?

University of Notre Dame admits about 11% of applicants, but that overall rate is not your personal chance. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for University of Notre Dame in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is University of Notre Dame hard to get into?

University of Notre Dame is highly selective: it turns away most applicants, with about a 11% acceptance rate. Strong academics are expected here, so the rest of your profile usually decides the outcome.

What GPA do you need to get into University of Notre Dame?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at University of Notre Dame, but most admitted students present roughly a 3.8 to 4.0 GPA with a rigorous course load. University of Notre Dame reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.

What SAT score do you need for University of Notre Dame?

University of Notre Dame does not publish a required score, but the admitted-student 75th-percentile SAT is around 1550. A score at or above that range strengthens your application, while a lower score puts more weight on your rigor, activities, and essays. CollegeCalcAI shows how your exact score shifts your odds at University of Notre Dame.

Calculate your chances at University of Notre Dame

What University of Notre Dame looks for

What University of Notre Dame weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.

In its review, University of Notre Dame leans most on rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores. At this level of selectivity, the difference between admits is rarely the transcript alone; essays, recommendations, and a coherent story matter. These ratings come from University of Notre Dame's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.

Rigor of secondary school record
Very important
Academic GPA
Very important
Class rank
Important
Standardized test scores
Very important
Application essay
Very important
Recommendations
Very important
Interview
Considered
Extracurricular activities
Very important
Talent / ability
Very important
Character / personal qualities
Very important
First-generation status
Considered
Alumni / legacy relation
Considered
Geographical residence
Considered
State residency
Considered
Religious affiliation / commitment
Considered
Volunteer work
Considered
Work experience
Considered
Level of applicant interest
Important

SAT score positioning at University of Notre Dame

How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability — your full profile determines the real estimate.

SATWhere it sits at University of Notre Dame
1600Above the admitted 75th percentile
1500Below the middle, makes the rest of the profile matter more
1400Well below the admitted range
1300Well below the admitted range
1200Well below the admitted range
1100Well below the admitted range
Colleges for a 1550 SAT →Colleges for a 35 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How University of Notre Dame compares in Indiana

University of Notre Dame ranks #1 most selective of 40 schools in Indiana in our database.

Among the 40 Indiana schools we track, University of Notre Dame ranks the most selective by acceptance rate. Nothing else in the state is harder to get into; the next tier down includes Purdue University at 50%.

Purdue University
50%acceptance · IN
DePauw University
57%acceptance · IN
Wabash College
63%acceptance · IN
Calumet College of St. Joseph
65%acceptance · IN
U of Indianapolis
67%acceptance · IN
IU East
67%acceptance · IN
Franklin College
70%acceptance · IN
Indiana Tech
70%acceptance · IN
See all Indiana schools →

Similar to University of Notre Dame

Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.

Build around University of Notre Dame with peers at a comparable selectivity, such as Boston University, Emory University, and Middlebury College. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.

Boston University
11%acceptance · MA
Emory University
11%acceptance · GA
Middlebury College
11%acceptance · VT
Tufts University
11%acceptance · MA
University of Southern California
10%acceptance · CA
Carnegie Mellon University
12%acceptance · PA

Frequently asked questions

What does University of Notre Dame value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, University of Notre Dame weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

Does University of Notre Dame consider legacy or demonstrated interest?

Many private colleges weigh legacy relationships and demonstrated interest. University of Notre Dame's full factor profile is charted on this page, and CollegeCalcAI models a legacy effect scaled to a school's selectivity.

How can I improve my chances at University of Notre Dame?

Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at University of Notre Dame specifically.

Is University of Notre Dame test-optional?

Test-optional policies change year to year, so confirm University of Notre Dame's current policy on its official admissions site. If you do submit scores, the admitted 75th-percentile SAT is around 1550; if you do not, more weight falls on your GPA, course rigor, and essays.

Acceptance rate and admitted test ranges reflect publicly reported data (U.S. Department of Education / NCES IPEDS / Common Data Sets). Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.