University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, Indiana, USA · The University of Notre Dame is one of the top twenty universities in the United States and the only major private university with a need-blind admissions policy for all students—including international ones. As of September 2024, Notre Dame became the first leading U.S. university with a religious mission to completely eliminate loans from financial aid packages; students receive only grants that do not need to be repaid. Admission to the University of Notre Dame offers access to top-20 academic standards, a powerful alumni network, and financial support comparable to that of the best Ivy League universities.

  • Bachelor's degree: $67,607 per year (tuition + fees, 2025–2026)
  • Master’s degree: depends on the program — $72,000–$80,000 per year
  • Doctoral studies: the majority of PhD programs are fully funded through departmental fellowships and assistantships
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Ranked 294th in the worldQS World University Rankings 2026
Ranked 196th in the worldTimes Higher Education 2025
No. 20 in the USUS News & World Report 2026

About the university

The University of Notre Dame was founded in 1842 by members of the Congregation of the Holy Cross. It is located in the city of Notre Dame, Indiana, 150 kilometers from Chicago. The 1,265‑acre campus is considered one of the most beautiful in the country: it features Gothic architecture, the famous Golden Dome, the Sacré‑Cœur Basilica, and two lakes on the grounds.

Notre Dame is not just a Catholic university; it is a world‑class academic institution that consistently ranks among the top 25 national universities in the United States. According to US News 2026, Notre Dame ranks #20 in the country and #10 in terms of the quality of undergraduate education. According to the QS Subject Rankings, Notre Dame’s theology and religious studies program is #1 in the world.
Notre Dame has produced 27 Rhodes Scholars — the second‑highest number among all universities in the United States. 80% of students in pre‑med programs go on to medical school — twice the national average.

Level of education
Bachelor's degree, master's degree, doctoral studies, professional programs
Percentage of admitted students
9% (клас 2029, 35 401 заявка); REA — 12,9%, Regular Decision — 6,7%
Median salary after 6 years
$86,210
Scholarships
Need-blind for everyone, including international students; 100% of the needs met without loans; Pathways to Notre Dame program.
Key areas
business (Mendoza), engineering, law, architecture, humanities, theology, pre‑med
Type
a private research Catholic university
Size of the student campus
approximately 8,880 bachelor’s students; approximately 4,000 postgraduate students
% of international students
8% in the class of 2029 (students from 82 countries)
Student campus
1,265 acres in Notre Dame, Indiana-150 km from Chicago

Tuition costs at the University of Notre Dame

Bachelor’s degree: $67,607 per year (tuition + fees, 2025–2026)

Master’s degree: depends on the program — Mendoza MBA is about $72,000–$80,000 per year; Law School JD is about $70,000; other programs vary

Doctoral program: most PhD programs are fully funded through departmental fellowships and assistantships
The total estimated cost of attendance (Cost of Attendance) for 2025–2026 is approximately $87,000 per year, including tuition, housing, meals, and personal expenses.

The actual costs for most students are significantly lower thanks to the Pathways to Notre Dame program:

  • Families with an income of up to $60,000 typically receive full coverage of tuition, fees, housing, and meals.
  • Families with an income of up to $150,000 receive tuition completely free of charge.
  • Families with an income of up to $200,000 — at least half of the tuition is covered by grants.
  • 100% of the confirmed need is covered without loans — only grants.
  • 47% of freshmen receive need‑based financial aid. The average net price for aid recipients is about $29,974 per year.

Variety of educational programs

Bachelor’s degree

  • STEM and Exact Sciences
  • Natural sciences and Biomedicine
  • Engineering
  • Computer Science and IT
  • Business and Management
  • Economics, finance and management
  • Arts and Humanities
  • International Relations and Diplomacy
  • Social Sciences and Public Policy
  • Psychology
  • Architecture
  • Ecology and Geosciences
  • Creative direction
  • Musical education

Master’s degree

  • STEM and Exact Sciences
  • Natural sciences and Biomedicine
  • Engineering
  • Computer Science and IT
  • Business and Management
  • Economics, finance and management
  • Arts and Humanities
  • International Relations and Diplomacy
  • Social Sciences and Public Policy
  • Psychology
  • Law and Legal Research
  • Architecture
  • Pedagogy
  • Ecology and Geosciences
  • Creative direction

Doctoral studies

  • STEM and Exact Sciences
  • Natural sciences and Biomedicine
  • Engineering
  • Computer Science and IT
  • Business and Management
  • Economics, finance and management
  • Arts and Humanities
  • International Relations and Diplomacy
  • Social Sciences and Public Policy
  • Psychology
  • Law and Legal Research
  • Architecture
  • Pedagogy
  • Ecology and Geosciences

Faculties

  • Mendoza College of Business is one of the leading business schools in the USA. The undergraduate business program is among the top 10 in the country. MBA, Executive MBA, and specialized master’s programs in finance, consulting, and entrepreneurship.
  • College of Engineering offers programs in chemistry, aerospace, computer, biomedical, and other engineering fields. Close ties with leading industrial companies in the USA.
  • Notre Dame Law School is among the top 25 law schools in the USA. It is particularly strong in international law and human rights. 90% of law students successfully build a career in their field.
  • College of Arts and Letters is the largest college. Political science, economics, history, philosophy, psychology, sociology, foreign languages, theater, music, and other humanities disciplines.
  • College of Science — biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, computer science. The strongest pre‑med track: 80% go on to medical school.
  • School of Architecture is one of the few in the USA that teaches traditional and classical architecture. A mandatory semester in Rome for all students.
  • Keough School of Global Affairs — international relations, peacekeeping, global politics with a focus on ethics.

Arrangement

Campuses

The Notre Dame campus spans 1,265 acres in Notre Dame, Indiana. The Golden Dome, the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, “Touchdown Jesus” (the famous mosaic on the library building), and two lakes create a unique atmosphere. It is one of the most picturesque campuses in the United States.

Freshmen are required to live on campus. The system of 31 residential residences (dorm) is unique for American universities: each dormitory is a self—governing community with its own chaplain, sports teams and long-standing traditions.

Student Life

More than 500 student clubs and organizations operate on campus. Notre Dame Fighting Irish football games at the stadium, which has a capacity of 77,000 people, are an integral part of student culture.

The Notre Dame admissions process

Admission to the University of Notre Dame is a competitive process: the acceptance rate is 9% with 35,401 applications. Applications are submitted via the Common App.

Selecting a program.

The student is admitted to a specific college: Mendoza, Engineering, Arts and Letters, Science, or Architecture.

Academic documents.

GPA 3.95+ for most admitted students. SAT mid-50%: 1470–1540; ACT: 33–35. Test-optional starting in 2026–2027.

An essay on the Catholic mission.

Notre Dame poses a mandatory question about one’s attitude toward the Catholic mission. Students of any faith are accepted and welcomed — the question requires sincerity, not religious affiliation.

Volunteering is a priority.

Notre Dame is one of the few top‑25 universities that consider volunteer experience to be “very important.”

Letters of recommendation.

Two from teachers, one from the homeroom teacher.

Deadlines.

Restrictive Early Action – up to 1 leaf fall (acceptance rate 12.9%). Regular Decision – up to 1 day (acceptance rate 6.7%).

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Admission Requirements for International Students

Additionally

For international applicants — transcripts with translation, TOEFL 100+ iBT or IELTS 7.0+, standard Common App package.

The key change in 2024: the Pathways to Notre Dame program has made Notre Dame the first leading university in the USA with a religious mission to adopt need‑blind admission for all students around the world. The family’s financial situation does not influence the admission decision for any applicant — neither American nor international.

The Class of 2029 became historically the most economically diverse international class in Notre Dame’s history — a direct consequence of the new financial policy.

Scholarships and Grants

Pathways to Notre Dame is an official financial aid program (September 2024):

  • Need-blind for everyone, including international students
  • 100% of need — no loans, only grants
  • Up to $60,000 in income — full coverage of all expenses
  • Up to $150,000 — tuition is completely free
  • Up to $200,000 — at least 50% of tuition in grants
  • Hesburgh-Yusko Scholars Program — up to $100,000 total over 4 years + academic privileges. Separate competition.

Notre Dame International Merit Scholarship — a competitive program for outstanding international applicants.

All financial packages are valid for four years, with a guarantee of continuation subject to meeting academic requirements.

Post-graduation prospects

The median salary of graduates after six years is $86,210 (US News). The graduation rate over 4 years is 89%.

The Notre Dame alumni network — with more than 151,000 people worldwide — is one of the most cohesive in the US. Alumni actively support each other regardless of geography or specialty.

Among the leading employers are: Deloitte, Goldman Sachs, McKinsey, Johnson & Johnson, Procter & Gamble. 80% of pre‑med students enroll in medical schools.

Scientific achievements

Notre Dame attracts more than $200 million in external research funding annually. It consistently ranks #1 in the US for NEH (National Endowment for the Humanities) fellowships. Theology and religious studies are ranked #1 worldwide (QS Subject Rankings).

27 Rhodes Scholars — #2 in the US. More than 500 Fulbright scholars since 1946.

Key centers: Notre Dame Energy, Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies, Kellogg Institute for International Studies, ND Center for Civic Innovation.

Interesting facts

Religion

Notre Dame is the first leading private university in the United States with a religious mission to introduce need‑blind admission for all international students (September 2024).

Rating

#2 in the USA in terms of the number of Rhodes Scholars — the best result among the top 25 universities outside the Ivy League.

A Semester in Rome

A mandatory semester in Rome for architecture students — a unique program in the top 20 in the USA.

Stadium

Notre Dame Stadium — with a capacity of 77,000 — is one of the largest student sports facilities in the United States.

Story

The Pathways to Notre Dame program (2024) has created the most economically diverse international class in the university’s history.

Library

The Hesburgh Library is one of the largest university libraries in the world; the “Touchdown Jesus” mosaic on its wall has become a symbol of Notre Dame.

How SelfStartGlobal Helps You Get Into the University of Notre Dame

Getting into Notre Dame requires an understanding of the university’s specifics: Catholic mission alignment in essays, REA vs RD strategy, and an emphasis on volunteer experience. At SelfStartGlobal, we help:

  • Develop a REA or Regular Decision strategy
  • Write compelling essays, including a response about the Catholic mission
  • Build a narrative around volunteer and leadership experience
  • Submit an application for Pathways to Notre Dame
  • Provide support until an offer is received

Our students have already received scholarships worth more than $35 million.

Want to enroll at the University of Notre Dame? Come to a free consultation.

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