,·Private Catholic Research University·Est. 1842
“God, Country, Notre Dame — faith, service, and academic excellence at America's most iconic Catholic university.”
The University of Notre Dame, founded in 1842 by Father Edward Sorin and the Congregation of Holy Cross near South Bend, Indiana, stands as the most prominent Catholic research university in the United States. More than just a religious institution, Notre Dame is a comprehensive research university consistently ranked among the top 20 national universities by US News & World Report, with particular strength in business, law, engineering, and the liberal arts. The university's campus — centred on the iconic Golden Dome of the Main Building and the Basilica of the Sacred Heart — is regularly cited as one of the most beautiful in the country, with a 1,265-acre landscape that blends Gothic architecture with state-of-the-art research facilities and a vibrant residential community. The Fighting Irish athletic tradition, especially Division I football, gives Notre Dame a cultural reach and alumni loyalty that few universities can match. Academically, Notre Dame is organised into six undergraduate colleges and schools: the College of Arts and Letters (the oldest and largest), the Mendoza College of Business (consistently ranked #1 among undergraduate business programs), the College of Engineering, the College of Science, the School of Architecture, and the Keough School of Global Affairs. The university offers more than 74 distinct undergraduate degrees across 58 majors, and its residential model — 82% of undergraduates live on campus in 33 residence halls — creates an unusually close-knit community where intellectual life, spiritual formation, and social bonds develop together. Notre Dame's global ambitions are reflected in its growing international community, its need-blind admissions policy for all applicants (domestic and international alike), and its commitment to meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need for every admitted student. The Pathways to Notre Dame initiative promises loan-free aid packages and extended grant coverage for families earning up to $200,000 annually. With an acceptance rate that has fallen to approximately 9% (record low for the Class of 2029), Notre Dame has become one of the most selective universities in the United States, drawing applicants who seek a rare combination of rigorous academics, a values-driven community, a world-class alumni network, and an unparalleled collegiate experience rooted in Catholic intellectual tradition.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
National Universities
US News 2025
Undergraduate Business (Mendoza)
Bloomberg Businessweek 2024-25
Law School
US News 2025
Test Optional — You can submit scores if they help your case, but they're not required.
Official SourceRestrictive Early Action (REA)
Non-binding but restrictive — may not apply to other binding ED programs simultaneously. Notification by mid-December. CSS Profile financial aid deadline November 15.
Regular Decision
Non-binding. Notification late March. Enrollment deposit $500 by May 1. CSS Profile financial aid deadline February 1. TOEFL/IELTS/DET/PTE required by application deadline.
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Tuition & Fees (All Students)
$69,794
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
Notre Dame's oldest and largest college, offering a core curriculum spanning theology, philosophy, literature, economics, political science, history, fine arts, and social sciences. Emphasises the 'great books' tradition and integrates Notre Dame's Catholic intellectual heritage.
Consistently ranked the top undergraduate business program in the United States. Combines rigorous academic preparation with ethical leadership and social responsibility. Departments: Accountancy, Finance, IT/Analytics, Management, Marketing.
Combines deep technical inquiry with creativity and a strong undergraduate focus. Five departments serve approximately 2,000 undergraduates across aerospace, chemical, civil, computer, electrical, and mechanical engineering.
Prepares scientific leaders across biology, chemistry, biochemistry, mathematics, physics, and preprofessional studies. Especially noted for its Pre-Health track with one of the highest medical school acceptance rates in the country.
Internationally recognised for its New Urbanism and traditional architecture curriculum. Offers accredited five-year B.Arch with a required year of study at Notre Dame's Rome Studies Programme.
Notre Dame's newest school, focused on integral human development and addressing complex development, policy, and humanitarian challenges. Primarily graduate but offers undergraduate minor in global affairs.
4 years
One of the most sought-after undergraduate business degrees in the country. Combines rigorous quantitative training with ethical framework. Wall Street recruiting pipelines rival Ivy League schools, with top investment banks recruiting directly on campus.
4 years
Strong program spanning algorithms, AI/ML, systems, and software engineering. STEM-designated, giving international graduates 24-month STEM OPT eligibility. Strong placement at Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Apple.
5 years
Accredited 5-year B.Arch including a required year at Notre Dame's Rome Studies Programme — one of the longest-running and most immersive study-abroad architecture experiences in the world. Internationally recognised for New Urbanism curriculum.
4 years
Notre Dame's Pre-Health advising is among the strongest in the US. Medical school acceptance rates significantly above national average. World-class research facilities and Office of Preprofessional Studies support students targeting MD, DO, DDS, PharmD, or DVM.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $86,125
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
