University of Notre Dame: Prestige
Founded in 1842 by the Congregation of Holy Cross, the University of Notre Dame du Lac is a private Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, Indiana, just north of South Bend Research.com+9Wikipedia+9Yocket Study Abroad+9. With an endowment exceeding $16 billion (reportedly over $20 billion as of mid‑2023), Notre Dame ranks among the wealthiest and most financially robust universities in the U.S. Wikipedia visit our website .
Notre Dame consistently appears among top national rankings. In the U.S. News & World Report 2025, it’s tied for #18 among national universities and rated high for undergraduate teaching, value, and overall student satisfaction CollegeAdvisor+2U.S. News+2Wikipedia+2. Its graduate programs are also strong: Mendoza College of Business is often in the top 12, the law school around #22, and engineering and sciences remain well‑ranked U.S. News+4Wikipedia+4Niche+4.
Beyond academics, Notre Dame is renowned for its campus architecture and tradition—landmarks like the Golden Dome, Basilica of the Sacred Heart, the Grotto, and “Touchdown Jesus” mural draw over a million visitors each year reddit.com+4Wikipedia+4CollegeAdvisor+4. Its athletic reputation, especially the iconic Fighting Irish football legacy and multiple NCAA national championships, adds to its national prestige and widespread recognition Wikipedia.
Alumni networks are robust: notable graduates include Condoleezza Rice, Nobel Prize winners, governors, and business leaders. Notre Dame also boasts exceptionally high alumni donation and engagement rates, underscoring loyalty and institutional pride WikipediaScholarships360.
Acceptance
Overall and Early Action Rates
For the Class of 2028, fall 2024 admissions processed 3,324 admitted students out of 29,943 applicants, yielding an overall acceptance rate of about 11.1% Wikipedia. Public sources from U.S. News and Peterson’s report the acceptance rate typically around 12–13% depending on calculation method, with early action at around 17% of those who opted in U.S. News+1CollegeAdvisor+1.
U.S. News specifically lists 12% overall acceptance and an early action rate of about 17.3%, with average SAT scores of admitted students between 1440 and 1540 and ACT scores between 33 and 35 U.S. News+1U.S. News+1.
Profile of Admitted Students
Notre Dame practices need‑blind admissions for domestic applicants and commits to meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted students, including internationals where possible Yocket Study Abroad+2Wikipedia+2reddit.com+2.
The entering class draws from over 1,300 high schools, with 26% planning to study liberal arts/social sciences, 21% engineering, 26% business, 24% sciences, and 3% architecture Wikipedia.
Tuition & Cost of Attendance
Sticker Price (2024–2025 Academic Year)
- Tuition and fees: $65,025 per year financialaid.nd.edu+6admissions.nd.edu+6U.S. News+6
- Room and board: ~$17,900 admissions.nd.edufinancialaid.nd.edu
- Books & supplies: ~$1,250
- Personal expenses: ~$1,200
- Transportation: ~$750
- Estimated total cost of attendance: approximately $86,125 per year Wikipedia+5financialaid.nd.edu+5Scholarships360+5.
Other sources give tuition only slightly lower or higher (e.g. $62,693 or $60,301), depending on rounding and reporting dates Research.com+1Wikipedia+1. But the university’s official published cost of attendance in 2024–25 is the $65,025 / $86,125 figure.
Net Price & Financial Aid
About 46–47% of undergraduates receive need-based financial aid bigfuture.collegeboard.orgScholarships360NicheCollegeAdvisorfinancialaid.nd.edu. Notre Dame promises to meet 100% of demonstrated financial need for admitted students Scholarships360U.S. Newsadmissions.nd.edu.
- Average aid package: around $57,800–$67,855 depending on the metric used bigfuture.collegeboard.org+1reddit.com+1.
- Net price (average student after aid): approximately $28,500–29,500 per year U.S. News.
- Net price varies by family income: e.g. under $30 K: ~$9,200/year; over $110 K: ~$48,000/year bigfuture.collegeboard.orgU.S. News.
For international students, while federal aid isn’t available, Notre Dame still offers institutional need‑based aid and sometimes merit awards; they claim to meet full demonstrated need even for international admitted students Scholarships360admissions.nd.edu.
Prestige Meets Affordability: ROI & Outcomes
Notre Dame students enjoy strong academic support, small class sizes (student‑faculty ratio ~9:1), and prestige that leads to high job placement. Undergraduate alumni earn a mid‑career median salary around $110,000, and typical starting salaries exceed $70,000 Wikipedia. Graduation and retention rates are among the nation’s best: roughly 97% graduation and 98% retention savingforcollege.combigfuture.collegeboard.org.
Notre Dame’s combination of strong alumni network, generous aid, academic rigor, and athletics/school spirit contribute to a high perceived value—often cited in rankings as both a top teaching and best-value school WikipediaU.S. News.
Summary Overview
| Area | Key Data (2024‑25) |
|---|---|
| Prestige | Founded 1842, US News #18 national, strong research, iconic campus and athletics |
| Acceptance Rate | ≈ 12 – 13% overall; early action ~17% |
| Tuition & Fees | $65,025 |
| Total Cost (Sticker) | ~$86,125 (incl. housing, books, expenses) |
| Financial Aid | ~47% receive aid; 100% of demonstrated need met |
| Average Aid Award | ~$60,000 range |
| Net Price (After Aid) | ~$28,000–$30,000 average; varies by income |
| Outcome Metrics | ~97% graduation rate; mid-career median salary ~$110,000; typical starting ~$70K+ |
Final Thoughts
Notre Dame remains one of the most prestigious institutions in the United States—combining academic excellence, Catholic tradition, and a legendary athletics culture. Admission is highly selective (with acceptance rates in the low teens), and academic credentials like SAT/ACT scores and GPA matter. But its need‑blind admissions and commitment to meeting full demonstrated financial need ensure accessibility for qualified students regardless of background.
While the sticker price is high—over **$65,000 for tuition plus nearly $21,000 for room, board and expenses—**its generous aid policies often reduce the real cost significantly, especially for those with demonstrated need. The result: Notre Dame delivers a powerful return on investment through a strong alumni network, high graduation rates, and post‑college earning potential Continue .