Notre Dame Common Data Set (Admissions Stats)
Notre Dame’s 2023–24 Common Data Set reports 28,711 first-year applicants and 3,324 admits, for an admit rate of about 11.6%. Of admitted students, 2,069 enrolled, a yield of about 62.3%. Reported enrolled students’ middle 50% score ranges were 1460–1540 SAT and 33–35 ACT. These figures describe one past cohort, not admission cutoffs.
To use these numbers well, start by checking which students and year the data describe. Then separate counts, rates, and score ranges, and compare like with like. I use that sequence because a figure can look simple while hiding differences in cohort, test reporting, or definition.
The figures below come from the University of Notre Dame’s 2023–24 Common Data Set, which reports on first-time, first-year students entering in fall 2023. If you are applying for a later year, confirm current requirements, deadlines, and testing rules on Notre Dame’s official admissions pages.
Notre Dame admissions profile: cohort and selectivity
The Common Data Set (CDS) is a set of standard college statistics. Notre Dame’s 2023–24 edition describes first-year students entering in fall 2023, not applicants for a future cycle. Its counts help you understand the size and selectivity of that past applicant pool, but they cannot predict an individual decision.
| Measure | Reported figure | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| First-year applicants | 28,711 | Students who applied in the reported cycle |
| First-year students admitted | 3,324 | Applicants offered admission |
| Admit rate | About 11.6% | Admitted students divided by applicants |
| Admitted students who enrolled | 2,069 | Students who joined the entering class |
| Yield | About 62.3% | Enrolled students divided by admitted students |
The admit rate is a calculation: 3,324 divided by 28,711, then multiplied by 100. Yield is also calculated: 2,069 divided by 3,324, then multiplied by 100. Both rates are rounded, so small differences may appear if you recalculate from rounded percentages.
Yield is not the chance that an applicant will be admitted. It describes the share of admitted students who enrolled. CDS enrollment counts may exclude students who defer, so read the edition’s notes before comparing yield across schools or years.
A helpful distinction is that “applicants,” “admitted,” and “enrolled” are separate groups. A statistic about enrolled students does not describe every applicant, and an admit rate does not show how Notre Dame assessed any one application.
How to read Notre Dame’s test-score ranges
A middle 50% range describes the middle half of reported scores in a group. It is not a minimum, maximum, or required score. Notre Dame’s CDS gives ranges for enrolled students with reported test scores, so use them as context rather than as a rule for admission.
| Test | Middle 50% range reported |
|---|---|
| SAT | 1460–1540 |
| ACT | 33–35 |
In plain terms, about half of the reported scores fell within the listed range, while the rest were below or above it. The range does not mean every enrolled student submitted a score. Check the CDS testing section for the number of students who reported scores and how the figures are presented.
Do not treat a score inside the range as a promise of admission. Nor does a score below it, by itself, prove that admission is impossible. The range describes a past enrolled group; it does not show the full context of each student’s record.
Testing policies can change. For your application year, use Notre Dame’s current official admissions guidance to confirm whether scores are required, optional, or subject to another policy. Do not assume that a past CDS or an old application page reflects current rules.
What the CDS does and does not tell you
The CDS is useful for comparing defined measures across colleges. It is less useful when readers treat a reported number as a full account of admissions decisions. This distinction matters most when you use past results to assess your own readiness or compare Notre Dame with another institution.
The CDS does not establish a universal GPA cutoff. It also does not reduce academic review to one score. Notre Dame says applicants are considered in the context of their academic work; review the current admissions materials for how the university describes that process.
Use the figures to frame questions, not to create a formula for admission. Ask whether your courses show strong preparation in the subjects available to you, whether your performance is sustained, and whether your activities reflect meaningful commitment. The data provided here cannot measure those details for an individual applicant.
Comparisons also require matching years and definitions. One college may report one entering cohort, while another page shows a different year or uses a different group. If a figure appears to conflict with another source, check the publication date, cohort, measure, and footnotes before deciding that the sources disagree.
When I review an admissions statistic, I first write down its numerator, denominator, and cohort. That simple check prevents common errors. For example, comparing admitted students with enrolled students as if they were the same group can make a school’s score profile or selectivity seem different than it is.
How to use these statistics in an application plan
These data can help you judge the level of selectivity and place your own preparation in context. They cannot tell you the outcome in advance. A sound plan pairs the past cohort’s figures with current admissions rules, your academic record, and a realistic review of cost.
- Check the edition. Confirm that you are reading Notre Dame’s 2023–24 CDS and that you understand its fall 2023 entering cohort. For comparisons, use the same or clearly identified years.
- Review academic preparation. Choose the strongest appropriate courses available to you and aim for solid performance across core subjects. Do not infer a GPA threshold from the score ranges or admission rate.
- Confirm current application rules. Check Notre Dame’s official admissions pages for the intended entry year. Verify deadlines, application rounds, testing policy, and required materials rather than relying on a prior cycle.
- Plan the full application. Follow current instructions for essays, recommendations, transcripts, and any required test results. A past CDS does not replace the application checklist.
- Assess cost separately from admission odds. Use Notre Dame’s official net price and financial aid resources to estimate what attendance may cost. Review aid eligibility, required forms, deadlines, and renewal terms in current materials. The admit rate and yield do not indicate what a student will pay.
The practical takeaway is to treat the CDS as a baseline for understanding the past cycle, not a forecast for your own application. Make decisions using current rules and your full academic and financial picture.
Applicant scenarios: applying the figures without overreading them
These examples are hypothetical ways to use the reported statistics. They are not real applicant records, admissions outcomes, or predictions. Each shows how a student can draw a useful conclusion without turning a group-level figure into a personal guarantee.
| Situation | What the CDS can support | What it cannot support |
|---|---|---|
| An applicant’s SAT is within 1460–1540 | The score falls within the reported middle half for enrolled students who reported scores. | That the applicant will be admitted. |
| An applicant’s ACT is below 33 | The score is below the reported middle 50% range. | That the applicant is automatically disqualified. |
| A family sees an 11.6% admit rate | The reported applicant pool was highly selective. | The family’s individual odds, without a valid model and relevant applicant data. |
| A student compares two colleges’ yields | Yield can show how often admitted students enrolled in a particular cohort. | Which college is a better fit or more affordable. |
These distinctions are especially useful when a search result presents one percentage without its year or denominator. Before acting on it, return to the CDS table and its notes. Then check the university’s current admissions and financial aid pages for decisions you need to make now.
Frequently asked questions
What is Notre Dame’s admit rate in the 2023–24 CDS?
Notre Dame reported 28,711 applicants and 3,324 admitted students. That equals an approximate admit rate of 11.6%.
What year of applicants does this CDS cover?
The 2023–24 CDS reports statistics for first-time, first-year students entering in fall 2023. It is historical data, not a report on a future applicant cycle.
How many admitted students enrolled?
The CDS reports 2,069 enrolled among 3,324 admitted students. That produces an approximate yield of 62.3%.
What SAT range does Notre Dame report?
The reported middle 50% SAT range is 1460–1540 for enrolled students with reported scores. It is a descriptive range, not a required score.
What ACT range does Notre Dame report?
The reported middle 50% ACT range is 33–35 for enrolled students with reported scores. The range does not guarantee admission or rule out applicants with lower scores.
Does Notre Dame have a GPA cutoff?
The CDS figures cited here do not establish a universal GPA cutoff. Review current admissions guidance and consider academic performance in the context of available courses and the full application.
Does a score within the middle 50% mean I will be admitted?
No. The range describes scores in a past enrolled group. It is not an admission guarantee or a complete account of how applications are reviewed.
Does a score below the range mean I cannot be admitted?
No. The range alone cannot establish that an applicant is disqualified. Check the testing policy for your entry year and consider the full application context.
Why might another website show different Notre Dame statistics?
It may use another year, cohort, or definition, or it may round figures differently. Check the official CDS edition, table notes, and calculation before comparing numbers.
Where should I check deadlines and testing rules?
Use Notre Dame’s official undergraduate admissions pages for the entry year you plan to apply. Policies and deadlines can change, so do not rely on figures or instructions from an older cycle.
What should I use to estimate affordability?
Use Notre Dame’s current official net price and financial aid resources, then review your aid offer and its renewal conditions. An admit rate does not estimate your personal cost.
(This article was written by one of our staff writers, Kevin Marlowe. Visit our Meet the Team page.)
