University of Notre Dame Accepts 11.1% of Students to the Class of 2028

This year, 29,943 students applied to Notre Dame's Class of 2028, an increase of 3% compared to last year. Notre Dame’s overall acceptance rate for the Class of 2028 also signals an increasingly competitive admissions trend. The current acceptance rate for Notre Dame is now 11.1%, down from 11.9% last year.

Notre Dame University's Class of 2028 Acceptance Rates

Notre Dame reported that it received a record 29,943 applications for its class of 2028, a 3% increase from last year’s pool. Only 3,324 of these applicants received offers of admission, yielding an 11.1% overall acceptance rate.

This year's overall acceptance rate indicates a slightly more competitive admissions process compared to last year's overall admission rate of 11.9%.

While some of the most competitive schools are experiencing even lower admissions rates, Notre Dame is also growing more competitive each year, not less.

The trend highlights how challenging it can be for students planning to apply to Notre Dame in the near future.

Below is a breakdown of the key figures for the Class of 2028 at Notre Dame:

Class of 2028 Regular Decision Acceptance Rate

The Regular Decision (RD) application numbers for Notre Dame's Class of 2028 reveal a very selective admissions process.

In total, Notre Dame received 18,445 RD applications this year, an increase of about 7% from last year, trending upward from 17,188 to 18,445. Even though more students applied as RD applicants this year, fewer students were admitted this year (1,600) compared to last year (1,698).

For Notre Dame's Class of 2028 RD round, the result is a very selective acceptance rate of 8.6%, implying that Notre Dame is recruiting a pool of highly accomplished students with impressive profiles.

Class of 2028 Restrictive Early Action Acceptance Rate

Notre Dame's Restrictive Early Action (REA) round for the Class of 2028 also depicts a highly selective admissions landscape, with an acceptance rate of 15%.

As Notre Dame saw a slight increase in Restrictive Early Action applications (rising from 11,163 to 11,498), the number of REA students admitted also increased slightly from 1,701 to 1,724, resulting in a near identical REA acceptance rate this year and last — 15% for the Class of 2028, compared to 15.24% for the Class of 2027.

Applying Early: A Potential Advantage

While Notre Dame's Restrictive Early Action acceptance rate remains very selective, this year's REA rate of 15% still offers a considerable advantage compared to the Regular Decision rate of only 11.1%.

Applying early signals your strong interest in the school and allows you to compete against a smaller applicant pool.

But also remember, a strong application is still the most critical factor for admission, making it crucial that your REA application to Notre Dame is exceptional and fully completed before you commit to applying early.

Notre Dame Admissions Statistics & Key Trends

The University of Notre Dame has seen an increasingly competitive admissions landscape over the past decade. Let's take a look at some of the important trends and what they mean for prospective applicants.

Key Trends

• Increased Competition: Over the past five years, Notre Dame has seen a staggering 35% increase in overall applicants and steadily declining admissions rates. The trend line suggests prospective students need to expect Notre Dame will remain highly selective for the near future if not longer.
• Accelerating Competition: Although the number of overall applicants hovered around 22,000 for the Class of 2023, '24, and '25, the number of overall applications received reached nearly 30,000 this year.
• Shrinking Acceptance Rates: Over the past decade the overall acceptance rate at Notre Dame diminished by half, dropping from 20% to 11%. The REA acceptance rate likewise sped downward, from nearly 30% a decade ago to 15% today.
• Rising International Interest: Officials at Notre Dame noted that the REA round for the Class of 2028 included the largest number of international applicants in Notre Dame's history.

These trends align with the broader landscape of college admissions at top universities and colleges today. Notre Dame's reputation for excellence, it's high regard for intellectual curiosity, and its public service ethos make it an exceptional institution able to attract a diverse pool of top students.

What Kind of Student Gets into Notre Dame?

It's clear that admission to the University of Notre Dame is highly competitive, so students applying to the school will typically present a record of rigorous academic achievements and a profile with some outstanding extracurriculars.

One thing we do know from Notre Dame's official reporting is that students who got into the Class of 2028 had "impressive accomplishments and personal qualities" and came from all 50 states, the seven US territories, and 137 different countries.

How Crimson Can Help You Stand Out

Notre Dame's acceptance rates are lower now than ever, highlighting how challenging it has become to gain entry into top universities. In this highly competitive landscape, seeking guidance from experienced college admissions advisors can offer a significant advantage. Advisors offer personalized support informed by experience and insight, taking chance and guesswork out of the application process and helping you:

• Craft a Compelling Narrative: They work with you to identify your unique strengths, passions, and experiences. This helps shape a cohesive application that showcases your potential to contribute to the Notre Dame community.
• Navigate Strategic Choices: Advisors can provide insights on application timing (early vs. regular), test score submission, and highlight areas where you can further boost your profile.
• Excel in Every Aspect: From essay coaching to interview preparation, advisors ensure each application component is polished and demonstrates your preparedness for Notre Dame's exceptionally rich academic and research environment.

Proven Success in a Competitive Landscape

Crimson Education has a track record of helping students achieve their admissions goals. This year alone, over 200 Crimson students were accepted to top US universities in the early round. Here's a breakdown of our early-round numbers:

• 87 offers to the Ivy League.
• 163 offers to the US Top 20, including offers to Stanford, MIT, Caltech, Duke, Johns Hopkins, Northwestern, University of Chicago, Rice, Vanderbilt, and University of Notre Dame.
• 15% of Ivy League and 27% of top 20 early round applicants received offers to their dream schools.
• 670+ offers to the US Top 50, including offers to NYU, University of Michigan, Georgetown, Carnegie Mellon, Emory, University of Virginia, and Washington University in St. Louis.
• 1000+ offers to each student’s first choice school.