What Is Notre Dame’s Acceptance Rate for the Class of 2030?
Notre Dame admitted 9% of 36,102 applicants for the Class of 2030 (entering fall 2026), holding steady at the record low set for the Class of 2029 (The Observer, March 2026). Applications increased by 701 year over year, setting a new institutional record. Notre Dame’s acceptance rate has been cut by more than half since 2016, when it stood at approximately 19%. For how Notre Dame compares to other top schools, see our Top 25 admissions statistics comparison.
| Class | Applications | Admitted (est.) | Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class of 2030 | 36,102 | ~3,249 | 9% |
| Class of 2029 | 35,401 | 3,186 | 9.38% |
| Class of 2028 | 29,942 | 3,374 | 11.27% |
| Class of 2027 | ~26,500 | ~3,300 | ~12.5% |
| Class of 2024 | ~21,000 | ~3,990 | 19% |
Source: Notre Dame Admissions, The Observer, Notre Dame CDS, 2020-2026.
What Is Notre Dame’s Restrictive Early Action Acceptance Rate?
For the Class of 2030, Notre Dame received a record 13,711 REA applications (up 6% from 12,917) and admitted 1,617 students, producing an REA acceptance rate of approximately 12% (Notre Dame Admissions, December 2025). An additional 2,608 applicants (19%) were deferred for Regular Decision consideration. Notre Dame’s REA program is non-binding but restrictive: applicants cannot apply early to any other private university. For early round strategy, see our Early Decision vs Regular Decision guide.
| Class | REA Rate | RD Rate (est.) | Overall Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class of 2030 | ~12% | ~7.3% | 9% |
| Class of 2029 | 12.92% | ~7.3% | 9.38% |
| Class of 2028 | 14.6% | ~9.5% | 11.27% |
Source: Notre Dame Admissions, Notre Dame CDS, 2022-2026. RD estimates derived from overall minus REA data.
How Does the Pathways Program Change Notre Dame Admissions?
Starting with the Class of 2030, families earning up to $150,000 pay zero tuition through the Pathways to Notre Dame program. Families earning up to $200,000 receive at least half tuition coverage. Most families under $60,000 receive full coverage for tuition, fees, housing, and food (Notre Dame Admissions, March 2026). Notre Dame also maintains need-blind admissions and no-loan financial aid offers. This mirrors similar initiatives at Johns Hopkins (free under $200K) and Tufts (free under $150K). Expect application volumes to surge for the Class of 2031. For financial aid strategy, see our financial aid guide.
What Does Notre Dame Look for in Applicants?
Notre Dame’s Catholic mission is central to admissions. The university seeks students who demonstrate “leadership, enthusiasm for Notre Dame’s Catholic mission, and commitment to serving others” (Notre Dame Admissions, March 2026). Academic preparation, character, and community engagement are weighted heavily. Notre Dame is test-optional through at least the 2026-2027 cycle. For essay strategy, see our Common App essay guide.
How Does Notre Dame Compare to Peer Schools?
Notre Dame’s 9% acceptance rate is now lower than Boston College (12.7%), Georgetown (13%), and Tufts (10%). See our Ivy League acceptance rates for the full comparison.
| School | Class of 2030 Rate | Applications |
|---|---|---|
| Johns Hopkins | ~5% | ~50,000 |
| Duke | ~5% | ~55,000 |
| Northwestern | ~7% | ~53,000 |
| Notre Dame | 9% | 36,102 |
| Tufts | 10% | 36,000 |
| Georgetown | 13% | ~26,900 |
Source: Institutional announcements, CDS data, 2024-2026.
What Are Your Chances on the Notre Dame Waitlist?
Notre Dame’s waitlist acceptance rate has averaged 13.19% over the past 25 years of available data, but varies wildly from 0% to 48% depending on yield. For the Class of 2029, only 54 students were admitted from 1,475 who accepted their waitlist spot, a 2.47% rate (Notre Dame CDS, 2024-2025). If you have been waitlisted, write a strong Letter of Continued Interest. For waitlist data at all top schools, see our waitlist rates comparison.
Final Thoughts: Notre Dame Admissions in 2026
Notre Dame’s 9% acceptance rate for the second consecutive year confirms its place among the 15 most selective universities in the country. The Pathways financial aid expansion will attract more applicants, likely pushing the rate below 8% for the Class of 2031. At Oriel Admissions, our team of former admissions officers from Harvard, Princeton, and Columbia has helped students earn acceptances to Notre Dame and other top universities. Schedule a consultation to discuss how we can help.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. At 12%, Notre Dame rejects the vast majority of applicants, including many with perfect credentials. A ‘match’ school is one where your child’s profile places them at or above the 75th percentile AND the acceptance rate exceeds 25%. Notre Dame meets neither criterion for most competitive applicants. The 12% rate is a reach by any standard. The gap between Notre Dame (12%) and Harvard (3.5%) is meaningful statistically, but both schools reject far more qualified applicants than they accept. Classify Notre Dame as a reach on your school list.
Both. The raw REA rate is genuinely higher than RD, and the pool is somewhat self-selected (REA applicants tend to be more committed to Notre Dame). Even controlling for applicant quality, the REA advantage is real because Notre Dame values the commitment signal of applying early. The non-binding nature of REA means you can compare financial aid offers, making it a low-risk, high-reward strategy if Notre Dame is a top choice. Apply REA unless you have a stronger ED target at another school.
Georgetown is the stronger choice for politics and policy by a significant margin. Georgetown’s DC location provides direct access to government agencies, congressional offices, think tanks, and international organizations. The Walsh School of Foreign Service is among the most prestigious IR programs globally. Notre Dame’s political science and global affairs programs (Keough School) are strong but lack Georgetown’s geographic and institutional proximity to the policymaking world. If your child specifically wants a career in government, diplomacy, or policy, Georgetown’s location advantage is decisive.
Notre Dame’s student body is predominantly Catholic (approximately 80%), white (approximately 65%), and from affluent backgrounds. This creates a less diverse environment than most Ivy League or top-20 schools. Secular families should consider whether their child will feel comfortable in a community where Catholic traditions (Mass, service events, residential hall chapels) are woven into daily life. Some non-Catholic students thrive in this values-driven environment; others feel culturally isolated. A campus visit during the academic year provides the best sense of whether the community resonates.
Mendoza is a strong undergraduate business program (top-10 in most rankings) but not at the Wharton or Ross tier for Wall Street recruiting. Mendoza places exceptionally well into consulting (Deloitte, EY, PwC, Accenture) and corporate finance, with a particularly strong alumni network in Chicago and Midwest corporate America. For bulge bracket investment banking, Wharton and Ross provide more direct pipelines. Mendoza’s strength is in its ethical business framework and tight-knit alumni community. For students targeting corporate strategy, consulting, or entrepreneurship, Mendoza is excellent. For pure Wall Street IB, Wharton and Ross are superior.
Both factors contribute. Notre Dame invested in undergraduate facilities, expanded financial aid, and strengthened programs like the Keough School of Global Affairs, which genuinely improved the academic offering. Simultaneously, the Common App and increased marketing expanded the applicant pool. The incoming class quality has improved alongside the rate decline – middle 50% SAT scores and average GPAs have risen meaningfully. Whether the rate or the quality came first is debatable, but for current applicants, both are real. Treat the 12% rate at face value when building your school list.
Notre Dame’s waitlist acceptance rate has averaged 13.19% over 25 years of data, but ranges from 0% to 48% depending on yield. For the Class of 2029, only 54 students were admitted from 1,475 who accepted their spot, a 2.47% rate. Writing a strong Letter of Continued Interest is essential.
The Mendoza College of Business is widely considered the most competitive undergraduate school within Notre Dame. The College of Engineering and the College of Science (particularly for pre-med students) also attract very strong applicant pools. Notre Dame does not publish school-specific acceptance rates, but Mendoza admits are among the most academically accomplished students in each class.
