University of Notre Dame (Notre Dame) Acceptance Rate, GPA, and Admission Requirements

University of Notre Dame Acceptance Rate

University of Notre Dame is one of the leading universities in the USA. It is extremely competitive to gain admission to. The acceptance rate of University of Notre Dame is 12.4%. This means that only 12 out of every 100 applicants get admitted.

Admissions Guidelines

• Elite Standards: Admitted students typically rank in the top 2–5% of their high school class.
• Curriculum Rigor: AP, IB, or Honors courses are essential to validate academic readiness.
• Character & Impact: Beyond grades, leadership, research, and unique 'spikes' in extracurriculars drive decisions.

Selectivity at a Glance

Extremely Competitive

Selectivity scale: Extremely Competitive — 12.4% acceptance rate

Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)

At this level of selectivity, meeting average GPA and test scores is considered the 'baseline.' Because Notre Dame values intellectual curiosity, your supplemental essays and personal recommendations are critical in distinguishing your application from thousands of other high-achieving candidates.

Recommended Academic Profile

Candidate GPA Range

Admission Category

Strategic Requirement

3.91 – 4.00

Target Match

Maintain Rigor & High Testing

3.71 – 3.90

Competitive Reach

Focus on Score Compensation

Below 3.46

Secondary Reach

Requires Contextual Support

Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.

Notre Dame GPA Requirement

The average GPA of the admitted students at Notre Dame is 3.91. This indicates extreme selectivity in admissions.

To have strong chances, you must aim for straight A's in all courses.

If your GPA is between 3.61 and 3.91, then you need a high SAT or ACT score to compensate.

Check Your Admission Chances at Notre Dame

University of Notre Dame (Notre Dame) Test Requirements

In this competitive environment, standardized scores are no longer elective; they serve as a critical standardized benchmark to validate high school GPA and course rigor. Applicants should aim for scores within or above the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class to remain viable in the Holistic Review process. At institutions that remain test-optional, submitting a high-percentile score is still the primary strategy for securing merit-based scholarships and distinguishing one's profile in a high-volume applicant pool.

Can I Get Into Notre Dame Without SAT or ACT?

University of Notre Dame Average SAT Score: 1510

The average SAT score of the admitted students at University of Notre Dame is 1510 on the 1600 SAT scale.

SAT Competitiveness

SAT 1510 — Extremely Competitive

This score makes it Extremely Competitive for SAT test scores. You need to do extremely well to score 1510 on the SAT.

If your score is below 1440, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at Notre Dame. Retaking the test multiple times is completely normal — most competitive applicants take the SAT two or three times to achieve their best score. There is no official limit on attempts.

SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections

It means that if you have scored less than 1440 then you are below most of the admitted students at Notre Dame and your chances of admission are very few. But if you have scored 1540 or more, your chances of admission are higher. 25th percentile means that only 25% of the admitted students have fewer scores than this score. 75th percentile marks the score of the upper 25% of the students.

View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1500

Can I get into University of Notre Dame (Notre Dame) with a 1550 SAT?

With a 1550 SAT Score, your chances of admission at University of Notre Dame (Notre Dame) are good but the admission staff at Notre Dame tests your all-around personality and your academics. Your GPA, Class performance, SAT/ACT/Test scores, and AP or IB Courses can help your application stand out. Co-curricular and extra-curricular activities and interpersonal communication skills are very important. Additionally, if you cannot perform well in one area, you have a chance to showcase your strengths and abilities in other areas, improving other areas will help you secure admission. You need to show better performance in all areas. An equally high GPA, taking IB or AP Courses and your role in leadership activities will increase your chances of admission. However, if you equally compete well in all other areas, your chances of admission are high.

University of Notre Dame (Notre Dame) ACT Requirements

The average ACT Score at Notre Dame is 34.

ACT Competitiveness

ACT 34 — Extremely Competitive

This score makes University of Notre Dame Extremely Competitive for ACT scores. You need to do extremely well to score 34 on the ACT.

ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections

Can I get into University of Notre Dame with a 35 ACT?

A 35 ACT places you at the 75th percentile of admitted students at University of Notre Dame — meaning you score higher than 75% of students who were accepted. This is a strong position, but the ACT is just one dimension of your application. Admissions officers at University of Notre Dame use the ACT as a benchmark to validate your academic readiness, not as a standalone admission ticket.

Unlike the SAT, the ACT measures four distinct subject areas — English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science — each scored on a 1–36 scale. If one of your section scores is significantly lower than the others, admissions staff will notice the imbalance. For example, a weak ACT Science score at a STEM-focused institution carries more weight than the same weakness at a liberal arts college. It is worth reviewing your section-level scores and addressing any outliers before applying.

One important advantage the ACT has over the SAT is that University of Notre Dame — like most US universities — accepts Superscoring for the ACT, meaning they take your highest section scores across multiple test attempts and combine them into a new composite. If you have taken the ACT more than once, confirm whether University of Notre Dame uses Superscoring, as this could meaningfully improve your effective composite beyond what any single sitting shows.

Beyond your score, what ultimately determines admission at this level is the strength of your overall profile. Your unweighted GPA, course rigor (AP, IB, or dual enrollment), extracurricular depth, letters of recommendation, and personal essays all carry significant weight. A 35 ACT gets your application through the first filter — but your essays and activities are what move it forward from there.

View a list of all colleges with an average ACT score of 34

Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Notre Dame

Notre Dame Profile

Is a Notre Dame Degree Worth It?

Compare Similar Colleges

Less Competitive Schools

These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than University of Notre Dame. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.

School	Location	SAT	ACT
Northeastern University Oakland	Oakland, CA	1472	32
Occidental College	Los Angeles, CA	1461	33
Scripps College	Claremont, CA	1480	33
Georgetown University	Washington, DC	1494	33
Grinnell College	Grinnell, IA	1486	33
Colby College	Waterville, ME	1500	33
University of Maryland-College Park	College Park, MD	1463	34
Amherst College	Amherst, MA	1494	33
Boston University	Boston, MA	1473	33
Brandeis University	Waltham, MA	1473	33

Equally Competitive Schools

These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as University of Notre Dame. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.

School	Location	SAT	ACT
Claremont McKenna College	Claremont, CA	1514	34
Pomona College	Claremont, CA	1520	34
University of Southern California	Los Angeles, CA	1501	34
Wesleyan University	Middletown, CT	1513	34
Emory University	Atlanta, GA	1507	33

More Competitive Schools

These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than University of Notre Dame. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.

School	Location	SAT	ACT
University of Chicago	Chicago, IL	1554	35
Johns Hopkins University	Baltimore, MD	1553	35
Harvard University	Cambridge, MA	1553	35
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	Cambridge, MA	1553	35
Columbia University in the City of New York	New York, NY	1547	35

Degree Programs at Notre Dame

Bachelor Degree Programs

Full list of all degree programs offered by University of Notre Dame →

Frequently Asked Questions About Notre Dame Admissions