Admission

About

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions saw around 36,000 applications for admission to Notre Dame’s first-year class this past year. The Committee on Admissions decides which applicants will be among the 2,150 students included in the class. The strongest applicants demonstrate academic preparedness and potential, extracurricular and community engagement, and a commitment to engage with Notre Dame's community and mission.

Academic Preparation

The University requires the completion of the following high school courses in order to be considered for admission. Students are required to take a minimum of 16 units during their high school career. A unit is equivalent to the credit for a year of satisfactory work in an accredited secondary school. This distribution will differ slightly based on the student’s intended area of study, but must include the following:

  • 4 units of English

  • 3-4 units of Mathematics (STEM, Architecture, and Business major intents need 4 units, which should include Calculus*)

  • 3-4 units of History / Social Science

  • 3-4 units of a World Language**

  • 3-4 units of Science (STEM and Architecture major intents should take Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.)

*If Calculus is not offered at your high school, IB: Analysis and Approaches (SL or HL) or Pre-Calculus are good alternatives. The University does not recommend substituting Statistics for Calculus for those interested in a STEM, Business, or Economics major.

**A minimum of 2 units are required. If only 2 units are earned, they must be in the same language. While any world language may be studied in high school, please refer to this website for the language options that are available at the University.

Although a minimum of 16 academic units are required for admission, the most competitive applicants will have four units in each major academic area and at the most rigorous level their high school offers. We do include algebra and/or foreign language courses completed during eighth grade in our count of admissions requirements. For the most up-to-date requirements, please view our evaluation criteria.

Application Process

First-year students are admitted to the University of Notre Dame for the fall semester of each academic year. A student who wishes to be considered must have the following items on file:

  1. a completed application with accompanying writing supplement
  2. an official high school transcript
  3. two letters of evaluation, one of which must come from a teacher of a core subject area

While SAT or ACT have historically been required, the University has been test-optional for more than five years, and will continue to be so for the 2026–27 application cycle. This policy allows applicants to choose whether or not they wish to submit their test scores as part of their application. 

Application

The application is a student’s opportunity to tell the Office of Undergraduate Admissions about themself. Applicants are encouraged to include any information about their personal and academic circumstances that may give the Committee on Admissions a more comprehensive view of their attributes.

The University of Notre Dame offers three secure online application options for first-year applicants. Prospective applicants may register for an account to access the online application and writing supplement beginning August 1.

Letters of Evaluation

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions requires two letters of evaluation. We do not encourage additional letters of recommendation. A teacher letter from a core subject area teacher (math, science, English, social science, or foreign language) is required. Typically, the school counselor completes a counselor evaluation and letter, which helps us gauge your performance in your high school environment, as well as personal qualities and involvement. If the counselor is not able to write the second letter, another member of the school community can complete the second letter of evaluation instead.

Testing

Notre Dame is test-optional for all applicants through the 2026-27 school year, meaning ACT and/or SAT scores are not required. This policy applies to both first-year and transfer students. That said, significant quantitative evidence is typically demonstrated by our strongest applicants.

The University of Notre Dame considers a number of academic factors that demonstrate quantitative evidence. While the SAT and ACT are not required, you can submit other scores like AP or predicted IB exam results to demonstrate your academic strengths. You can self-report your test scores on your application or via your applicant status portal. If you are unable to, or prefer not to submit test scores, you will still be given full consideration in the admissions review process.

The College Board code for the University of Notre Dame is 1841, and the ACT code for Notre Dame is 1252. 

If you have taken other standardized tests (AP, IB, TOEFL), please include the results with your application. We will use these scores as supplementary information.

Decision and Notification Plans

Students seeking admission to Notre Dame’s entering class must choose to have their applications reviewed under one of two deadlines.

Restrictive Early Action: November 1

Notre Dame has a Restrictive Early Action program.

  • A student applying Restrictive Early Action to Notre Dame may apply to other Early Action programs.
  • A student applying Restrictive Early Action may not apply to any college or university that has a binding Early Decision program.
  • Students do not indicate a first-choice preference by applying early.

Students who apply in the Restrictive Early Action process receive an admissions decision before Christmas. Three decisions are possible:

  • Admission to the University
  • Not selected for admission to the University
  • Deferral of decision until Regular Decision

Students admitted to Notre Dame have until the May 1 deadline to decide whether they would like to confirm their attendance at the University. If a student is not selected for admissions in Restrictive Early Action, then the process ends and he/she cannot apply later during the Regular Decision process. If a student is deferred, the Admissions Committee has decided to review the application further in the Regular Decision process.

Because the Admissions Committee is unable to extend all of its offers of admission in the Restrictive Early Action process, it is highly conservative when making these admission decisions. Further clarification of Restrictive Early Action standards for this year can be gained by contacting the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at admissions@nd.edu or visiting admissions.nd.edu.

Regular Decision: January 4

The Regular Decision process at Notre Dame is also non-binding. Three decisions are possible following the Regular Decision process:

  • Admission to the University
  • Not selected for admission to the University
  • Waitlist

Students will receive one of these decisions by mid-to-late March and, if admitted, are required to submit their enrollment confirmation and deposit by May 1. Students who are not selected for admission to the University may choose to attend another four-year institution for one or two years and then apply to Notre Dame as a transfer student.

Waiting List

Some applicants will be notified that they have been placed on a waiting list and will receive a final decision by mid-summer. Applicants who are placed on the waiting list should make plans to attend another institution as the number of applicants who will gain admission from the waiting list in a given year is unpredictable. Students admitted from the waiting list typically have around one week to submit a $500 deposit, confirming their intention to enroll in the first-year class. 

The Selection Process

Notre Dame seeks to enroll intelligent, inquisitive, energetic, compassionate, and mission-aligned students who will hopefully utilize their education to be a powerful force for good in the world. In selecting the class, the Committee on Admissions evaluates thoroughly each applicant’s personal and academic credentials. 

Academic Preparedness

In evaluating a student’s academic achievement, the Committee on Admissions considers a student’s curriculum, classroom performance, concentration of talent in the high school, test scores and/or other quantitative evidence (if submitted), teacher recommendation, and essays. Most students admitted to Notre Dame have taken the most demanding courses available and demonstrate a high degree of academic preparation. Beyond SAT and ACT scores, quantitative evidence could include things like Advanced Placement scores, or predicted International Baccalaureate results. 

Personal Qualities

At Notre Dame, we look beyond just numbers to see the person behind the application. We want to know what unique talents, skills, and qualities each student will bring to our campus community. Every piece of an application—from the list of activities to a student's essays and recommendations—helps the Committee on Admissions get to know each applicant. This is a space for students to share their genuine personal and intellectual interests with us.

Mendoza College of Business

Applicants who indicate an intent to major in business will be informed, at the time of admission, whether they are pre-approved to do so. If they are not pre-approved, students will be advised that they will be free to enroll in any other college or school, but that the chances of being approved to major in business after the first year will be limited. If a student who is pre-approved to major in business later decides not to do so, they will be free to major in any other college or school at Notre Dame for which they have the appropriate curricular background.

Students with Disabilities

Applicants with disabilities remain part of the regular application pool and are considered for admission based on the same criteria as all students. After a student has been admitted and enrolled, they are encouraged to register with Sara Bea Accessibility Services. 
 
Sara Bea Accessibility Services is responsible for engaging with students with both visible and invisible disabilities to provide reasonable accommodations and ensure every student has equal access to the University’s facilities and programs. Importantly, accommodations do not lower course standards or alter essential degree requirements but instead give students the opportunity to demonstrate their academic abilities. Some examples of accommodations include alternative formats of textbooks, modifications in the way students take exams, accessible rooms in our residence halls, or assistance in building their class schedule. 
 
Even if a student ultimately chooses not to pursue accommodations at this time, they are encouraged to register with Sara Bea through their intake forms and provide any necessary documentation. For more information, contact Sara Bea Accessibility Services at 574-631-7833 or sarabeacenter@nd.edu.

International Students

Notre Dame welcomes students from around the world. International students enhance the cultural and intellectual atmosphere of our community.

Additionally, as English proficiency is critical to a student’s academic success at the University, students who are not educated in an English-speaking school must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), IELTS, DET, or PTE Academic. We will wave the English proficiency exam if:

  • An applicant scores 650 or above on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section of the SAT, and/or
  • An applicant scores 26 or above on the English or Reading Sections of the ACT.

Please refer to admissions.nd.edu for up-to-date information related to our international admissions process.

Transfer Admission

Some students are admitted to Notre Dame with advanced standing as transfer students. Students wishing to apply for admission as a transfer student must have obtained the equivalent of at least 24 semester hours of transferable credit, and maintained a cumulative “B” average in all courses. (The competition is such that the average GPA for admitted students is significantly higher.) The Committee gives strong preference to applicants whose curriculum aligns with Notre Dame’s Core Curriculum and who have satisfied course prerequisites for particular majors, as outlined on the admissions website. Asynchronous online courses, distance-learning courses, USAFI courses, and credits earned through the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) are not transferable.

To be eligible for an undergraduate degree, students must complete a minimum of 50% of the degree credit hours at the University (not less than 60 credit hours) and a minimum of 75% of the degree credit hours (not less than 90 credit hours) must be earned after high school graduation through college and university courses. Please consult the Academic Code for details.

Transfer applicants must provide the Office of Admissions with (1) a completed application form, (2) an official transcript from each college attended along with course syllabi, (3) a final high school transcript, (4) optional: an official SAT or ACT score, (5) a mid-term grade report, and (6) a college student record form.

On-campus housing for transfer students cannot be guaranteed. Off-campus housing close to the University is available; transfer students are offered campus accommodations from a waiting list if rooms become available.

The transfer application deadline for the fall semester is March 15. The Transfer Admissions Committee will notify applicants of its decision between late May and mid-June. The deadline for the spring semester is October 1. The committee will notify applicants of its decision between December 1 and January 5. 

Students interested in applying for transfer will find the application at https://admissions.nd.edu/apply/resources-for-transfer-applicants/apply/.

In addition to the standard transfer process, Notre Dame also offers Engineering Dual-Degree Programs with specific partner institutions. Students in these programs spend three or four years at the partner institution, then apply to complete their engineering studies at Notre Dame in their fourth and/or fifth year. Students earn two degrees at the end of five years—a bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degree from the partner institution and a bachelor of science in engineering degree from Notre Dame. Student requirements for eligibility in the program are determined by a Memorandum of Understanding between Notre Dame and individual partner institutions. Additional details of the program, including a current list of partner institutions, can be found on Notre Dame’s Admission website at https://admissions. nd.edu/apply/resources-for/transfer-applicants/ dual-degree-programs-with-partner-schools/.