During the 2024–2025 admissions cycle, the University of Notre Dame admitted a much smaller share of applicants than many families expect – 11.3%. And that number is only going down over time. If your mental image of Notre Dame is shaped by how accessible it felt a generation ago, that number can shock parents, but like a lot of schools, ND has become much more competitive over time. But an acceptance rate alone doesn’t explain what’s really going on, or how Notre Dame arrived at this level of selectivity. While the university does publish some admissions data, understanding the why behind the numbers takes a closer look and a bit of analysis. That’s exactly why we break this data down each year – to help students see the full landscape and build a strategy that reflects today’s reality for students, not the reputation parents might remember.
To do that, we turn to the Common Data Set, or CDS. Most colleges and universities in the U.S. complete this standardized report so organizations like U.S. News & World Report, the College Board, and Peterson’s can compare schools using consistent information. The CDS covers a lot of ground, but for our purposes, we’re going to focus on one specific section of Notre Dame’s 2024–2025 CDS: first-time, first-year admissions.
Trend Spotting: Five Years of Notre Dame Admissions
Before getting into the specifics of this year’s data, let’s take a step back and look at the bigger picture at Notre Dame. The pattern is familiar: more students are applying each cycle, and the percentage admitted continues to lower.
| Year | Total Applicants | Number of Admitted Students | Acceptance Rate* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 29,942 | 3,374 | 11.30% |
| 2024 | 28,353 | 3,510 | 12.40% |
| 2023 | 26,509 | 3,431 | 12.90% |
| 2022 | 23,642 | 3,562 | 15.00% |
| 2021 | 21,253 | 4,035 | 18.90% |
*Denotes our own calculation based on the raw numbers
Key Takeaways for Trend Data:
ND is only getting more competitive each year, with less open spots and more applicants every cycle
Almost 10k more people applied in 2025 than in 2021
Notre Dame is intensely competitive. To rise above the nearly 30k other applicants, you have to differentiate yourself. This is an application pool of driven, high-performing applicants who already check the obvious boxes. So what can you do? Well, step one is clearing the academic bar – because at this level, being solid on paper is assumed, not impressive. And it might be higher than you expect.
C1: First-Time, First-Year Admission, Applications
Before getting into the grades and scores of it all, here’s how the numbers break down for first-time, first-year applicants in the 2024–2025 cycle:
| First-time, first-year applicants | Total | Admitted | Acceptance Rate | Enrolled | Yield rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men | 14,922 | 1,736 | 11.60% | 1,059 | 61.00% |
| Women | 15,020 | 1,638 | 10.90% | 1,023 | 62.50% |
| Total | 29,942 | 3,374 | 11% | 2,082 | 61.70% |
*Denotes our own calculation based on the raw numbers.
| First-time, first-year applicants | Total | In-state | Out-of-state | International |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 29,942 | 1,844 | 24,144 | 3,954 |
| Percent of total applicant pool | 100% | 6.20% | 80.60% | 13.20% |
| Admitted | 3,374 | 226 | 2,884 | 264 |
| Acceptance Rate | 11.30% | 12.30% | 11.90% | 6.70% |
| Enrolled | 2,082 | 157 | 1,766 | 159 |
| Yield Rate | 61.70% | 69.50% | 61.20% | 60.20% |
| Percent of incoming class | 100% | 7.50% | 84.80% | 7.60% |
*Denotes our own calculation based on the raw numbers.
Key Takeaways for Acceptance Rates:
ND is very evenly split across gender, even in application numbers. This surprises us due to ND’s “work-hard, play-hard” vibe, which primarily attracts young men, and the trend of more women pursuing a college education than men
They have a higher yield rate than a lot of their peer institutions – over 60% puts them in the same league as Ivies like Columbia, Brown, and Cornell
Notre Dame is undeniably selective, with an acceptance rate that’s slowly on it’s way to sub-10%. You probably know that already, though we’re sure that for some parents, that reality still feels very different from how the school looked a few decades ago. Either way, it’s hard to build a smart, intentional admissions strategy without a clear sense of how competitive the pool actually is or what successful applicants tend to look like. That’s where the data becomes genuinely useful.
Now, normally, this is where we’d put ED and RD data, but for some reason, Notre Dame does Restricted Early Action, which is non-binding, but limits where students can apply EA and bans them from applying ED. The CDS doesn’t require them to publish how many students are accepted through REA. Which, btw, we hate. Knowing how many students are accepted REA helps students form solid strategy, and why wouldn’t you want kids who want to go to your school knowing that info? Come on, Notre Dame!!!!!
Waitlist
Thankfully, unlike some peer schools, ND gives us their waitlist data:
| Students placed on waitlist | 2,206 |
|---|---|
| Percent of applicants waitlisted | 7.40% |
| Students accepting a spot on the waitlist | 1,385 |
| Percent of students accepting a waitlist spot | 62.80% |
| Students admitted off the waitlist | 42 |
| Waitlist acceptance rate | 3.00% |
| Percent of total accepted students who were admitted from the waitlist | 2% |
*Denotes our own calculation based on the raw numbers
Why This Matters: ND doesn’t waitlist many students, and very few get off the waitlist. However, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. We help students get off the waitlist and into ND every year, and we can help you too.
Getting placed on the waitlist can mess with your head. Some students read it as a polite no, while others convince themselves it’s basically a yes that just hasn’t happened yet, and neither is quite accurate. A waitlist decision at Notre Dame means the admissions office believes you could thrive there; they just don’t have the space right now – and you can tell that’s legit because of how few students they waitlist to begin with. Openings tend to appear unevenly and in small batches, but movement can happen.
C9-C2: First-Time, First-Year Profile, or Scores and Grades
Notre Dame is currently test-optional, but let’s be very clear about what that does not mean. It does not mean test scores are irrelevant. In today’s admissions landscape, “optional” really translates to “here’s an opportunity for you to give us another reason to let you in.” And Notre Dame will use that information if you choose to submit it. Many colleges have started walking back test-optional policies after seeing that students who enroll without scores sometimes struggle more once coursework ramps up. Notre Dame hasn’t reversed course (yet) but the message is still obvious – academic strength matters, a lot!
Even when testing isn’t required, the enrollment data tends to tell the real story. If a meaningful portion of the incoming class is submitting SAT or ACT scores, that’s a strong signal that those results still carry weight in the evaluation process. In other words, if your scores help you, Notre Dame wants to see them.
Breakdown of enrolled students who submitted test scores:
| Percent | Number | |
|---|---|---|
| Submitting SAT Scores | n/a | 684 |
| Submitting ACT Scores | n/a | 541 |
| Total Submitting Scores* | n/a | 1,225 |
*Denotes our own calculation based on the raw numbers
Why This Matters: While ND doesn’t give us the percentage of enrolled students who submitted scores, based on the numbers from that incoming class – it’s a little less than half. But test optional doesn’t really mean optional – you should submit, especially with a strong score.
Now, let’s take a look at the score breakdowns for each section of the ACT and SAT:
| Test | 25th Percentile | 50th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Composite | 1470 | 1510 | 1540 |
| SAT Evidence-Based Reading + Writing | 720 | 750 | 770 |
| SAT Math | 735 | 770 | 790 |
| ACT Composite | 33 | 34 | 35 |
Why This Matters: To be competitive for ND, having a 1500+ or a 34+ is mandatory.
First-time, first-year students with scores in each range
| Score Range | SAT Evidence-Based Reading + Writing | SAT Math |
|---|---|---|
| 700-800 | 90% | 91.50% |
| 600-699 | 10% | 8.20% |
| 500-599 | 0% | 0.30% |
| Score Range | ACT Composite |
|---|---|
| 30-36 | 98.20% |
| 24-29 | 1.80% |
Standardized Test Score Takeaways:
Their 50th percentile scores are in the 98th-99th percentile nationwide
Because these numbers reflect enrolled students, plenty of admits who chose other schools likely posted even higher results
ND has less variation than we’d expect – especially for a school that cares about legacy and sports. That means standards are high across the board
Scores that look excellent in a national context can still land you on the lower end of Notre Dame’s usual admit range, which surprises a lot of families. You see the same pattern when you look at class rank as well:
| Class Rank | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Top 10th of HS graduating class | 92.00% |
| Top Quarter of HS graduating class | 98.00% |
| Top Half of HS graduating class | 100.00% |
Key Class Rank Takeaways:
Most enrolled students come from the top 10th of their graduating class
Class rank is often not reported by high schools, and ND isn’t telling us how many enrollees submitted class rank
No students enrolled (who reported class rank) were in their HS’s bottom half
Before anyone starts pointing to a random stat and saying, “See? Someone got in with this,” let’s reset expectations. Those tiny slivers of lower numbers represent extreme edge cases, not a usable blueprint. We have no idea who those students are or what circumstances shaped their admission. They might be recruited athletes or legacies. They might be first-generation students. They might attend severely under-resourced schools, hold national-level distinctions, or bring context that could never be presented in a data table. The bottom line is that you cannot game admissions by studying the anomalies, and trying to do so is a losing strategy.
TL;DR: If Notre Dame is your target, your plan should assume near-perfect grades and the strongest test scores you’re capable of earning. Anything less puts you in a much riskier position.
Considerations
This is where the Common Data Set stops feeling tidy and starts feeling human. Yes, Notre Dame weighs the concrete academic pieces – course rigor, GPA, and test scores when provided – but those alone don’t determine outcomes. Layered on top are broader “considerations” that aren’t easily measured and don’t come with a formula. While we love the numbers, we also love this part. Because this is where your story, presentation, and positioning suddenly matter a lot. Let’s start with academics:
| Academic Factors | Very Important | Important | Considered | Not Considered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rigor of secondary school record | X | |||
| Class rank | X | |||
| Academic GPA | X | |||
| Standardized test scores | X | |||
| Application Essay | X | |||
| Recommendation(s) | X |
Key Takeaways for Academic Factors:
Notre Dame expects students to challenge themselves with the toughest curriculum their high school offers
Submit strong scores if you have them
Many schools don’t report class rank, so its absence won’t automatically count against you
A GPA hovering as close to a 4.0 as possible puts you in the strongest academic posture
| Nonacademic Factors | Very Important | Important | Considered | Not Considered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interview | X | |||
| Extracurricular activities | X | |||
| Talent/ability | X | |||
| Character/personal qualities | X | |||
| First generation | X | |||
| Alumni/ae relation | X | |||
| Geographical residence | X | |||
| State residency | X | |||
| Religious affiliation/commitment | X | |||
| Volunteer work | X | |||
| Work experience | X | |||
| Level of applicant’s interest | X |
Key Takeaways for Nonacademic Factors:
ND does not pay attention to demonstrated interest
Going to a Catholic HS or being raised Catholic will help you with Notre Dame
Legacy and first-gen both play a role in admissions
Volunteer work is super important to ND, which is in line with their Catholic values
Some nonacademic factors are simply baked in: geography, legacy connections, that kind of thing. Those details live in your file whether you like it or not, and there’s zero upside to spiraling over them. Where things get more fluid are traits like character, skill, and talent. Those aren’t measured on a scale. Admissions officers are assembling impressions from your essays, recommendations, activities, and the overall feel of your application. You can’t dictate how they interpret you, but you can decide what evidence you give them and whether it genuinely aligns with Notre Dame’s values, mission, and campus culture.
And let’s be clear: extracurriculars are doing far more than just checking a box at Notre Dame. They really care about how you spend your time outside the classroom. This is where you differentiate yourself – because the strongest applicants aren’t dabbling in everything under the sun. They’re investing deeply in a small number of pursuits, demonstrating leadership, momentum, and purpose that naturally connect to their academic interests, worldview, or long-term goals. Especially for students interested in niche or competitive programs. Building that kind of focused, intentional profile is exactly what we help students do every year.
Conclusion
Notre Dame is highly selective. That part isn’t news. What is useful is having a clearer, more concrete understanding of what competitiveness actually looks like, so you’re not guessing or applying based on vibes alone.
That said, there’s no spreadsheet that guarantees admission. Numbers can outline the academic neighborhood you need to be in, but they can’t capture Notre Dame’s priorities or who you are as a person. When we work with students – whether they’re applying REA, RD, pursuing specialized programs, coming in as recruits, or navigating complex circumstances – there’s no cookie-cutter strategy. The strongest plans are always personalized, built around the student’s interests, strengths, voice, and direction. There’s no universal formula for getting into Notre Dame. But there are smart, intentional choices that meaningfully change how your application is read, and we can help you make them
One way to increase your odds? Working with college consultants who are experts in the field and have a high rate of success getting students into Notre Dame. We help countless students gain admission to top universities every single year – reach out to us today to get started.