University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN 46556
The University of Notre Dame is a private religious university in IN, founded in 1842 and offers Bachelor’s degrees for undergraduates and Master’s and Doctoral degrees for graduate students. The undergraduate enrollment is 8,874, and the graduate enrollment is 3,935. The University of Notre Dame is a hyper-selective school, receiving 21,253 applications and accepting only 19.0% of applicants. University of Notre Dame’s athletics teams competes at the club, intramural, and varsity level. Additionally, the University of Notre Dame employs 1,210 full-time instructional staff (91% of whom hold doctorate degrees) and has an 8:1 student to faculty ratio.
Empowerly Score®
93
University Score
- School Performance
- Extracurriculars
- Standardized Tests
- Essays
Empowerly Score®
At Empowerly, we prioritize data to customize our approach to student counseling. College admissions is becoming more selective by the year, so it’s never been more important than now to prepare in advance and give yourself the best chance for success.
Take the Empowerly QuizESSAYS
Applicants applying to the University of Notre Dame will apply through the Common Application, the Coalition Application, or the QuestBridge Application (if qualified). Applicants will be required to write one personal statement based on a set of prompts within the application and will also be required to answer specific questions pertaining to the university.
Deadlines For Submitting Applications
Restrictive Early Action Application Deadline
November 1st
Regular Application Deadline
January 1st
ATTENDANCE FACTORS
- Rigor of Secondary School Record - Very Important
- Extracurricular Activities - Important
- Character/Personal Qualities - Important
- Application Essay - Important
- Academic GPA - Important
Average Acceptance Rate
19.00%
Empowerly Acceptance Rate
50.00%
STUDENT LIFE
Notre Dame, Indiana, is next to South Bend, the state’s fourth-largest city. The 1,250-acre University of Notre Dame campus offers first-year students the best of student life waiting in every corner: the Main Quad (historical buildings), North-West area (residential buildings), Central-East (academic spaces), and South-East (athletics). Students will find everything needed to make the most of the semester-based academic calendar, whatever their interests may be. The College of Arts and Letters is the hub of undergraduate academic life, with classrooms, art galleries, and a coffee shop. Meanwhile, spiritual life is served by the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, the main campus church. The University of Notre Dame also has a vibrant campus life sprinkled with diverse activities such as the annual Polar Bear Plunge, The Scholastic magazine, founded in 1876, and various student clubs.
Housing
- 78% of students live on campus
- Guaranteed housing for freshmen
- Freshmen required to live on campus
Although only first-year students at the University of Notre Dame are required to live on campus, 73% of undergraduates choose to call campus their home. First-year students find a genuine “home away from home” in the school’s 30 single-sex undergraduate residence halls and its close-knit community. Residential life at Notre Dame was designed to support intellectual development and moral and spiritual development. The residence halls adopt the best features of a mixed residential college and housing system, with each having its events, traditions, mascots, mottos, and sports teams to boost dorm pride. As a result, the University of Notre Dame undergraduates seldom switch houses because of their attachment. Dorm pride is further encouraged by places hosting signature events that have become long-standing campus traditions, like The Dillon Hall Pep Rally.
Life as a Student
Life as a University of Notre Dame first-year student is second to none, whether in academics, athletics, or extracurricular. It’s no wonder that The Princeton Review has ranked it #9 in “Dream Schools” for students to attend. In the classroom, first-year students will benefit from an 8:1 student-faculty ratio that makes professors highly accessible. Notre Dame’s long athletic tradition is likewise apparent within student life, with many athletic buildings located on campus, including Notre Dame Stadium, home of the Fighting Irish football team. Notre Dame’s over 400 student clubs help students connect over shared interests ranging from accounting to water polo.
TOP MAJORS
Finance
Economics
Political Science and Government
Mathematics
Mechanical Engineering
Information Science
SERVICES
Health and Safety
- 24-hour trained security on campus
- Student security patrol
- Late night ride/safe escort service available
Student Services
- Health Center
- Psychological Counseling
- Women's Center
Athletics
Varsity
Varsity
Baseball
Basketball
Fencing
Football
Golf
Ice Hockey
Lacrosse
Soccer
Swimming and Diving
Tennis
Track and Field
Cross-Country Running
Basketball
Crew
Fencing
Golf
Lacrosse
Soccer
Softball
Swimming and Diving
Tennis
Track and Field
Volleyball
Cross-Country Running
Club
Club
Bowling
Crew
Equestrian Sports
Gymnastics
Rugby
Sailing
Skiing (Downhill)
Squash
Volleyball
Water Polo
Wrestling
Skiing (Cross-Country)
Bowling
Equestrian Sports
Fencing
Gymnastics
Ice Hockey
Rugby
Sailing
Skiing (Downhill)
Squash
Volleyball
Water Polo
Skiing (Cross-Country)
Intramural
Intramural
Badminton
Baseball
Basketball
Football
Golf
Ice Hockey
Lacrosse
Racquetball
Soccer
Softball
Tennis
Table Tennis
Ultimate Frisbee
Badminton
Basketball
Football
Golf
Lacrosse
Racquetball
Soccer
Softball
Tennis
Table Tennis
Ultimate Frisbee
FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION
The University of Notre Dame is committed to meeting 100% of every student’s demonstrated financial need.
*All costs below are estimates and may differ depending on your circumstances.
- Tuition and Fees - $60,301
- Room and Meals - $16,710
- Books and Supplies - $1,250
- Personal Expenses - $1,200
- Transportation - $750
- Total Estimated Cost of Attendance - $80,211
CORPORATE PARTNERSHIP / AFFILIATES
HISTORY
The University of Notre Dame, more simply known as Notre Dame, was founded in 1842 in Notre Dame, IN (near South Bend) by Father Edward Sorin, Congregation of Holy Cross. Sorin was provided land for the school, donated by the Bishop of Vincennes with the condition that he establish a university in two years. His order’s concern over a lack of a Catholic higher education institution in the region inspired Sorin to accept the challenge. He officially opened the—then all-male—college in 1844 as the University of Notre Dame du Lac (University of Our Lady of the Lake). Also appointed as the school’s first president, Sorin dedicated himself to building the college, often facing numerous hardships during Notre Dame’s early history that threatened its survival.
Fortunately, the University of Notre Dame grew with every new president, adding new buildings and programs to serve the growing community. It would be its seventh president, Thomas E. Walsh (1881–1893), though, who would set the burgeoning university on the path to the distinguished academic reputation and highest of standards Notre Dame is known for today. Father Walsh started a program that brought many well-known, non-clergy professors to teach. He also revamped the business and law schools, now highly ranked today. It was also during his tenure that the University of Notre Dame’s “Fighting Irish” football program was born. The school continued to grow with the addition of more colleges, programs, and athletic teams. By 1972, Notre Dame even admitted female undergraduates, which would ensure its steady growth into the 21st century.
Today, the University of Notre Dame is ranked #15 in National Universities by U.S. News Best Colleges. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 8,874 and a graduate enrollment of 2,200. With a 15.8% acceptance rate, the school is consistently very selective. As one of the “25 New Ivies,” Notre Dame offers students a place to pursue their academic goals and enjoy its history and traditions, from cheering on the 22 national championship-winning Fighting Irish football team to participating in nearly 400 student organizations. While a student’s religious affiliation is never a factor in admissions, spiritual life plays an active role throughout the campus. The University of Notre Dame has notable alumni in every field, including talk show host Regis Philbin; cardioprotective effects of aspirin discoverer Philip Majerus; and former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.