University of Notre Dame Admissions Guide

Overview

University of Notre Dame's first-year admissions process is evaluated separately from its transfer process, with its own applicant pool, review committee, and timeline. Most highly selective schools admit first-year applicants at a meaningfully different rate than transfers, so the numbers above should not be assumed to mirror the transfer figures below.

Applicants generally apply through Early Decision, Early Action, or Regular Decision depending on the school's specific offerings, and should weigh the tradeoffs of each round carefully, since binding Early Decision plans and non-binding Early Action or Restrictive Early Action plans have different implications for financial aid and other applications.

What Notre Dame Looks For

• A rigorous high school course load, including the most advanced classes available (AP, IB, honors, or dual enrollment)
• Strong, consistent grades throughout high school, particularly in junior and senior year
• Meaningful extracurricular involvement, leadership, or personal responsibilities that show depth rather than a long list of shallow activities
• Thoughtful, authentic essays that reveal genuine voice and self-reflection
• Strong letters of recommendation from teachers and counselors who know the applicant well

Requirements & Deadlines

• Common Application, Coalition Application, or the school's own first-year application, submitted by the relevant deadline above
• Official high school transcript and school profile
• Letters of recommendation from a counselor and one or more teachers
• Standardized testing policy varies by school and by year — confirm current SAT/ACT requirements before applying
• Decisions released according to the applicant's chosen round (Early Decision/Action vs. Regular Decision)

First-year acceptance rates and deadlines shift from cycle to cycle and can differ meaningfully from the transfer figures below. Confirm current numbers, deadlines, and testing policy on University of Notre Dame's official admissions website before applying.

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Overview

Notre Dame's transfer acceptance rate has generally run two to three times higher than its freshman admit rate, though it has narrowed somewhat in recent cycles — landing around 25–28% for the most recent fall cycles, down from a high of over 43% in 2020.

Notre Dame offers both fall and spring transfer options, with fall carrying by far the larger intake (200-300 admits most years). Decisions for fall applicants are released within a four-to-five-week window between late May and mid-June, while spring decisions come out between early December and early January.

What Notre Dame Looks For

• At least 24 transferable credits, though the most competitive applicants have completed 15–18 credit hours per semester
• A strong, consistent college GPA — recent admitted-student averages have run 3.75 or higher
• Appropriate coursework for the applicant's intended major, including required courses completed with a B or better
• Incoming sophomore standing for most majors, though the College of Arts and Letters accepts a small number of first-semester juniors
• Thoughtful short-answer responses that speak to initiative, resilience, and contribution to community

Requirements & Deadlines

• Common Application, Coalition Application, or QuestBridge Application, due March 15 for fall entry or October 1 for spring entry
• Official transcripts from every college attended, plus a final high school transcript
• Course syllabi for all courses listed on the college transcript
• SAT or ACT scores optional through the 2026–27 cycle
• A personal statement on the applicant's interest in Notre Dame and how transferring supports their goals

Notre Dame's transfer acceptance rate has shifted meaningfully across recent cycles. Applicants should confirm current rates and deadlines on Notre Dame's official admissions site before applying.