Gaining admission into the University of Notre Dame represents a great chance for students interested in academic success, faith, and a wonderful campus life. With an acceptance rate of only 12%, Notre Dame is very selective: applicants must put forward a competitive academic profile matched by outstanding extra-curricular successes. The university approaches admissions holistically, considering SAT Exam and ACT scores, GPA, leadership roles, community service, and personal essays. Students can especially strengthen their applications by submitting SAT scores between 1410-1550 or ACT Exam scores ranging between 32-35, even though Notre Dame is test-optional. Maintaining a high GPA is also crucial, as most admitted students have a GPA of 3.75 or higher. 

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Did You Know These Facts About Notre Dame?

🔹 Faith & Education – As a Catholic university, Notre Dame integrates faith and academics, fostering a strong sense of ethics and social responsibility.
🔹 Golden Dome Legacy – The famous Golden Dome on campus is one of the most recognized college landmarks in the U.S.
🔹 Fighting Irish Spirit – Notre Dame's athletic teams, known as the Fighting Irish, have a storied history in college football and other sports.
🔹 Strong Alumni Network – With influential alumni in politics, business, and entertainment, Notre Dame’s network is one of the most powerful in the country.
🔹 Top-Ranked Business & Engineering Schools – Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business and College of Engineering consistently rank among the best in the nation.

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University of Notre Dame Admission Requirements

Notre Dame seeks those students who best demonstrate academic excellence, leadership potential, and commitment to service. Competitive applicants would have high GPAs and excellent SAT/ACT scores, though the university will also look to personal achievements, extracurricular involvement, and community service.

Also, Get to Know What is a Good SAT Score for Ivy League Schools.

If you’re aiming for Notre Dame, having strong SAT scores, ACT scores, and a high GPA will definitely put you in the running. But academics alone won’t guarantee admission—it’s a competitive pool! Notre Dame looks at the whole picture, so make sure your application highlights leadership, extracurriculars, and passion for your chosen field. They want well-rounded students, not just top test-takers!

University of Notre Dame SAT Score Requirements

Notre Dame takes SAT scores seriously in the admissions process, even though submitting them is optional. A high SAT score can strengthen your application and help you stand out in the competitive pool, especially if other parts of your profile need a boost!

Average University of Notre Dame SAT Scores for Admitted Students

Notre Dame attracts high-achieving students, and the Average University of Notre Dame SAT Scores reflect its competitive admissions. Most admitted students score between 1410 and 1550, with top performers hitting 1500+. A good SAT score, along with a well-rounded application, can boost your chances!

Notre Dame SAT Score Distribution

Scoring high on the SAT can give your Notre Dame application a competitive edge. Most admitted students fall within the 1410–1550 range, so aiming for the upper end can strengthen your chances of getting in!

💡 Tip: Students aiming for Notre Dame should strive for an SAT score above 1500 to be competitive. Those with lower scores can strengthen their application through extracurricular activities, leadership roles, and strong personal essays.

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University of Notre Dame Schools That Consider SAT Scores

Notre Dame takes a holistic approach to admissions, but strong SAT scores can boost your chances, especially for competitive programs. While the university is test-optional, many of its schools still consider SAT scores as part of their review process.

• College of Arts and Letters
• College of Science
• College of Engineering
• Mendoza College of Business
• School of Architecture

Know the SAT Syllabus for SAT Sections here!

University of Notre Dame ACT Score Requirements

Landing an ACT score between 32 and 35 gives you a solid shot at getting into Notre Dame. The school doesn’t have a strict cutoff, but scoring in this range puts you in the mix with top applicants!

Average Notre Dame ACT Scores for Admitted Students

Scoring high on the ACT can give your Notre Dame application a serious boost! Most admitted students have top-tier scores, typically ranging from 32 to 35. While a good ACT score helps, Notre Dame also values leadership, extracurriculars, and personal achievements. Aim high and showcase your strengths!

Notre Dame follows an ACT superscoring policy, meaning students can submit their best section scores from multiple test attempts to achieve a higher composite score.

📌 Tip: Aiming for a 34+ ACT score increases your chances of admission, especially for competitive programs like business, engineering, or pre-med.

Read ACT English Tips to Boost Your ACT English Scores!

University of Notre Dame GPA Requirement

If your goal is to get into Notre Dame, your GPA is huge. The university tends to look for students who have high performance in academics. For the most part, admitted applicants have impressively good academic records. While there isn't a strict cutoff, it's ideal to keep it as close to 4.0 as you can. So, aim for top grades, but don’t forget to highlight what makes you stand out!

University of Notre Dame Average GPA for Admitted Students

Getting into Notre Dame is no easy feat—it takes dedication, strong academics, and a well-rounded profile. The University of Notre Dame Average GPA for admitted students is around 3.9, reflecting the university’s competitive admissions process. While a strong GPA (3.75–4.0+) boosts your chances, Notre Dame also values extracurriculars, leadership, and personal achievements. 

Since Notre Dame is highly selective, students with lower GPAs should showcase exceptional strengths in other areas, such as leadership, research, community service, and extracurricular activities.

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University of Notre Dame Acceptance Rate

With a 12% acceptance rate, Notre Dame is highly selective. Applicants need to demonstrate exceptional academic performance, leadership, and extracurricular involvement to stand out.

Find out Which Test SAT or ACT Is Better For You.

University of Notre Dame Scholarships

The University of Notre Dame offers a wide variety of merit-based and need-based scholarships to support students based on both academic excellence, leadership, financial need, and unique talents, contributing to making education accessible for all qualified applicants.

Popular Notre Dame Scholarships:

✔ Notre Dame Merit Scholarship
✔ Hesburgh-Yusko Scholars Program (for leadership and service)
✔ QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship
✔ Notre Dame Global Scholars Program (for international students)
✔ Notre Dame Athletic Scholarships

💡 Tip: Apply for scholarships early and showcase your academic excellence, leadership, and community service!

Read about the SAT Eligibility!

University of Notre Dame Superscoring Policy

Notre Dame follows a superscoring policy for the SAT and ACT, meaning they consider the highest section scores across multiple test attempts. This allows students to submit their best possible composite scores, boosting their chances of admission.

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Conclusion

Getting into Notre Dame requires academic excellence, strong SAT/ACT scores, leadership, and extracurricular achievements. While high test scores and GPAs improve your chances, the university values a holistic application that showcases your character, service, and passions.

Colleges That Uses SAT Scores

Many prestigious colleges and universities in the U.S. require SAT scores as part of their admissions process. Below is a list of some of the top colleges and universities that use SAT scores for their admissions.

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