University of Notre Dame

• Sep 9, 2026 · Announced

  Notre Dame will require the SAT or ACT again, starting with applicants for fall 2028

  Juniors applying to Notre Dame next year will need a test score. Seniors applying now do not. Juniors who can't test because of hardship or no nearby test center can ask for an exception.

  Starts with the class of 2028.

  Source: University of Notre Dame, Sep 9, 2026 (opens in a new tab)

For Fall 2025, 35,401 first-year students applied to Notre Dame, 3,320 were admitted and 2,118 enrolled: an acceptance rate of 9.4%.

Source: Notre Dame Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C1. Read Oct 1, 2026.

By residency, first-year applicants, Fall 2025

Source: Notre Dame Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C1, residency table. Read Oct 1, 2026.

By school or major. Notre Dame's Common Data Set reports one first-year acceptance rate for the whole university, with no rate by college or major.

Source: Notre Dame Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

Restrictive early action. Notre Dame has no early decision plan, and the Common Data Set does not report how many applied or were admitted in restrictive early action, so it gives no early acceptance rate.

Source: Notre Dame Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), sections C21 and C22. Read Oct 1, 2026.

For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027

You name the college and major you intend when you apply. Two areas work differently:

• Mendoza College of Business. If you say you intend to major in business, you learn at admission whether you are pre-approved to do so. Without pre-approval, the chance to move into business after the first year is extremely limited.

  Source: Notre Dame Admissions, Business Major Policy (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

• Art, music and architecture. Optional: Notre Dame encourages supplementary material only from students interested in art, music or architecture, sent through SlideRoom after you submit the application.

  Source: Notre Dame Admissions, FAQs (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

SlideRoom submissions are due November 15 for Restrictive Early Action and January 15 for Regular Decision.

Source: Notre Dame Admissions, Application Overview (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

67 majors across 6 schools. Every undergraduate major in Notre Dame's official 2026-2027 Academic Catalog, grouped by the college or school that offers it, with the degree it leads to. Minors, supplementary and second majors (which you add to a first major) and graduate programs are left out.

For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027

Supporting documents are due November 15 for Restrictive Early Action and January 15 for Regular Decision. Admitted students confirm by May 1.

Source: Notre Dame Admissions, Application Overview (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

Restrictive Early Action is not binding: if admitted, you have until May 1 to decide. You may apply to other early action programs, public or private, but not to any college's binding Early Decision I program. You may apply to an Early Decision II program; if admitted there, withdraw your Notre Dame application. If you are denied in Restrictive Early Action, you cannot apply again in Regular Decision.

Source: Notre Dame Admissions, Restrictive Early Action and Regular Decision (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027

Notre Dame is test-optional for students applying to enroll in fall 2027. If you send SAT or ACT scores, they are considered, and Notre Dame superscores: you are evaluated on your highest score in each section across sittings. You may self-report scores on the application.

Source: Notre Dame Admissions, Standardized Testing Policy (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

The Common Data Set also marks the SAT or ACT as not required for fall 2027 applicants, but considered if submitted, with scores due by February 28.

Source: Notre Dame Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C8. Read Oct 1, 2026.

For students applying in fall 2027, entering fall 2028

• Testing. Notre Dame requires the SAT or ACT from first-year applicants seeking to enroll in fall 2028, starting with the 2027-2028 admissions cycle.

  Source: Notre Dame Admissions, Standardized Testing Policy (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

We found nothing else announced for fall 2028 entry. The deadlines and rules above are for fall 2027 entry.

Source: Notre Dame Admissions, Application Overview (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

The published cost of a year at Notre Dame, 2026-2027:

Source: Notre Dame Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), sections G1 and G5. Read Oct 1, 2026.

Average net price per year, by family income, 2023-24:

What first-year, full-time students who received federal aid paid after grants and scholarships, by family income, in 2023-24, the latest year the Department of Education publishes. Your own price comes from Notre Dame's aid offer.

Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

Chosen for how close each is to University of Notre Dame on acceptance rate, public or private, location and majors offered.

• Northwestern UniversityEvanston, IL · Private7.5% admitted$29,167 average net price
• BC
  Barnard CollegeNew York, NY · Private10.1% admitted$28,800 average net price
• Williams CollegeWilliamstown, MA · Private8.6% admitted$17,716 average net price
• Emory UniversityAtlanta, GA · Private10.3% admitted$22,585 average net price
• Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY · Private8.4% admitted$28,690 average net price

Admitted: each school's latest first-year acceptance rate, so the year can differ from school to school; each school's page names its year and source. Average net price: what federal aid recipients paid per year after grants, 2023-24, and the in-state figure for a public university.