Navigating Notre Dame Admissions: Understanding GPA and Other Requirements

Gaining admission to the University of Notre Dame is a dream for many students. As a selective institution, understanding the admissions requirements, especially the GPA expectations, is crucial. This article provides a detailed overview of what it takes to be a competitive applicant at Notre Dame.

Understanding Notre Dame's Selectivity

The University of Notre Dame is highly selective. The acceptance rate at Notre Dame is 11.3%, which means that only a small fraction of applicants are admitted each year. Meeting their GPA requirements and SAT/ACT requirements is very important to getting past their first round of filters and proving your academic preparation. If you don't meet their expectations, your chance of getting in is nearly zero.

The Importance of GPA

The GPA requirement that really matters is the GPA you need for a real chance of getting in. The average GPA at Notre Dame is 4.13. This high average GPA signifies that Notre Dame requires you to be at the top of your class, and You'll need nearly straight A's in all your classes to compete with other applicants.

If you're currently a junior or senior, your GPA is hard to change in time for college applications. If your GPA is at or below the school average of 4.13, you'll need a higher SAT or ACT score to compensate.

Standardized Testing: SAT and ACT

Each school has different requirements for standardized testing. Notre Dame hasn't explicitly named a policy on SAT/ACT requirements, but because it's published average SAT or ACT scores (we'll cover this next), it's likely test flexible. Typically, these schools say, "if you feel your SAT or ACT score represents you well as a student, submit them.

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Despite this policy, the truth is that most students still take the SAT or ACT, and most applicants to Notre Dame will submit their scores. If you don't submit scores, you'll have one fewer dimension to show that you're worthy of being admitted, compared to other students.

SAT Requirements

Many schools say they have no SAT score cutoff, but the truth is that there is a hidden SAT requirement. The 25th percentile SAT score is 1470, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1540. In other words, a 1470 places you below average, while a 1540 will move you up to above average.

Notre Dame uses "superscoring." This means that you can choose which SAT tests you want to send to the school. Notre Dame will take your highest section score from all your test dates, then combine them to form your Superscore.

Because you can choose which tests to send in, and Notre Dame forms your Superscore, you can take the SAT as many times as you want, then submit only the tests that give you the highest Superscore. Therefore, if your SAT superscore is currently below a 1540, we strongly recommend that you consider prepping for the SAT and retaking it. Even better, because of the Superscore, you can focus all your energy on a single section at a time. If your Reading score is lower than your other sections, prep only for the Reading section, then take the SAT. Then focus on Math for the next test, and so on.

ACT Requirements

The average ACT score at Notre Dame is 34. The 25th percentile ACT score is 33, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 35. Even though Notre Dame likely says they have no minimum ACT requirement, if you apply with a 33 or below, you'll have a very hard time getting in, unless you have something else very impressive in your application. To try to aim for the school's ACT requirement of 35 and above, you should try to take the ACT as many times as you can.

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By and large, most colleges do not superscore the ACT. (Superscore means that the school takes your best section scores from all the test dates you submit, and then combines them into the best possible composite score). We weren't able to find the school's exact ACT policy, which most likely means that it does not Superscore.

Test-Optional Policy

The University of Notre Dame is test-optional through the 2026-2027 academic year. We employ a comprehensive review process, meaning no single factor-including a test score, if submitted-is the sole basis for admission. Because our goal is to understand the fullest picture of your academic preparation, we encourage first-year and transfer student applicants to undergraduate degree-seeking programs to submit scores (e.g., SAT, ACT, AP Exams, IB Exams, or AICE Exams), if available. The decision of whether or not to have your test scores considered is entirely yours. Admission Officers are not able to advise on whether students should submit a particular test score. We want applicants to have every opportunity to showcase their strengths and academic preparedness.

As an applicant, you may self-report your SAT and/or ACT scores via your application or applicant status portal. Once an admitted student confirms their enrollment at Notre Dame, they will be required to submit official score reports from SAT and ACT if they took the exams. If you choose to submit multiple scores with your application, we will superscore the tests for evaluation. This means that we will consider the highest composite score and highest scores on each section, and highest evidence-based reading and writing and math scores for the SAT, regardless of test date. Note that we do not require the writing portion of the ACT or the SAT. Proof of English proficiency will continue to be required for international students.

Holistic Review Process

Notre Dame employs a comprehensive review process, meaning no single factor-including a test score, if submitted-is the sole basis for admission.

Academic Preparation

The University requires the completion of the following high school courses in order to be considered for admission. A unit is equivalent to the credit for a year of satisfactory work in an accredited secondary school. Students are required to take 16 units during their high school career. **Students with an intended major within the College of Science or the College of Engineering must take a unit of Chemistry. Although we require at least 16 academic units for admission, our most competitive applicants will have four units in each major academic area and in 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.

Additional Recommendation

In addition to our standard application requirements, we encourage applicants to submit an additional recommendation or two if teacher and school counselor evaluations are coming from a parent.

High School Type

When reading an application, we do not put any preference on the type of school a student attends. Rather, we look at the strength of the school. Many schools use different GPA scales and computation methods, so it’s difficult to give standardized information regarding Grade Point Averages. Instead, we rely more heavily on class rank when determining how competitive a student is within his/her school.

Interviews

Interviews are not part of our evaluation process. Most students find it beneficial to visit Notre Dame to experience the academics, community, tradition, and spiritual nature of our campus. You may also register for one of our virtual experiences. On campus or virtually, you and your family can tour campus and attend an Information Session given by an admissions counselor.

Application Requirements

Every school requires an application with the bare essentials - high school transcript and GPA, application form, and other core information. Many schools, as explained above, also require SAT and ACT scores, as well as letters of recommendation, application essays, and interviews.

In order to evaluate your application we require: the Common Application or Coalition Application, which include the Notre Dame writing supplement, the application fee, your essay, one teacher’s evaluation, your full transcript, and, if you choose, a standardized test score (either SAT or ACT).

Fee Waiver

Eligibility for the application Fee Waiver is based on financial need. Qualified applicants may use this payment method to satisfy the application fee requirement. Your school counselor will receive notice of your intent to use the Fee Waiver, and will then need to verify that you meet the eligibility criteria outlined by the Common Application or Coalition Application. Once eligibility is confirmed, the Common Application or Coalition Application process will bypass the payment step. You can find information about how to apply for financial aid here.

Application type

Our Restrictive Early Action application process is non-binding, and admitted students have until May 1 to indicate their decision to attend. Every college and university uses Restrictive Early Action in a different way. The easiest way to understand how Notre Dame uses it is to describe what it is not. It is not the avenue students should take merely because Notre Dame is their first choice. In deciding whether or not to apply Early, ask yourself: can I submit my best application in October of my senior year? If so, then Restrictive Early Action is probably the correct route for you. However, if you believe that an extra semester could be beneficial for whatever reason (to raise your grades a little, to add on to your resume) then you should consider applying during Regular Decision. Learn more about when to apply.

Need-blind admissions

Notre Dame has a need-blind admissions policy for all students, domestic and international, meaning that a student’s ability to pay is not considered in the evaluation of his or her application.

Application Platform

The Common Application, Coalition Application, and QuestBridge application are online-only and are not available in paper form. After your application is submitted electronically, letters of recommendation and transcripts can still be sent to complete your application.

Supplementary Materials

You may send the Office of Undergraduate Admissions supplementary material to be reviewed by a particular department at Notre Dame. We encourage this only for students interested in studying art, music, or architecture. Use the SlideRoom application available through the Common Application or Coalition Application for your submissions. All applicants must submit the Common Application or Coalition Application before uploading media through the SlideRoom application. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions engages faculty to assist in the review of these submissions.

Please send only one letter of evaluation from a teacher you’ve had in a core academic discipline during high school. Ask the classroom teacher who is most familiar with your work ethic, classroom performance, and character.

Transfer Student Requirements

To be eligible for transfer to Notre Dame, students must have completed at least one full academic year in a degree-seeking program at another college or university after graduating from high school. Students who are concurrently enrolled in both high school and college programs should follow our first-year admission process. All transfer students must apply to a specific college and major at Notre Dame.

Key Requirements for Transfer Students

A competitive college GPA.
At least 24 transferable credits and a minimum of one year of college enrollment at an accredited institution.

Additional Opportunities for Applicants

Colleges are welcome to record an optional Glimpse video, and international college applicants can access a similar opportunity through InitialView. These 60-90 second videos are a valuable way for us to gain a deeper understanding of your personality and perspective beyond your written application.

Factors in Decision-Making

The consideration of a student’s past academic performance along with the availability of space within their desired major are crucial factors in our decision-making process. The number of open spots in specific programs can vary annually. Some of our sought-after majors such as Neuroscience and Behavior, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, Business Analytics, and Finance have very limited availability in a given year.

Course Recommendations for Transfer Applicants

To learn more about what classes you need to take for your intended major in order to present a strong application, please view our required courses. When deciding what additional classes to take, we recommend aligning your course selection with Notre Dame’s Core Curriculum. The Core is organized around 11 Ways of Knowing and establishes a strong foundation in the liberal arts for all Notre Dame students. Regardless of intended major, interested transfer applicants should prioritize taking: a writing-intensive course such as writing and rhetoric or English composition, and courses in the quantitative reasoning and science and technology categories. We encourage you to browse our frequently asked questions.

Graduate School Admission

Admission requirements and deadlines vary from program to program. These requirements include a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent, as well as an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or greater on a 4.0 scale.

Required Documents for Graduate Students

Application Fee: to be submitted via credit card, check, or money order using the payment system associated with the Online Application Form. The Graduate School may grant application fee waivers for a variety of reasons.
Transcripts: An unofficial transcript for each post-secondary institution must be uploaded and submitted through the Online Application Form. Transcripts in any language other than English must be translated into English by a certified translator and/or agency.
TOEFL or IELTS: applicants whose native language or language of college instruction is not English must arrange for the submission of official scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) to demonstrate language proficiency. Applicants from Mainland China who are unable to take the standard TOEFL iBT test due to testing suspensions may submit TOEFL ITP Plus for China Solution scores. This solution combines the existing paper-delivered TOEFL ITP Level 1 test with a short, unscored video interview provided by Vericant. The scores reported must result from a test taken within the last two years. Please consult your prospective program for additional requirements and be sure to submit each additional item.

Strategies for Improving Your Chances

Because this school is extremely selective, getting a high SAT/ACT score and GPA is vital to having a chance at getting in. If you don't pass their SAT and GPA requirements, they'll likely reject you without much consideration.

Aim High: To have the best shot of getting in, you should aim for the 75th percentile, with a 1540 SAT or a 35 ACT. You should also have a 4.13 GPA or higher.
Impress Beyond Academics: You'll also need to impress them with the rest of your application.
Consider a Prep Program: At PrepScholar, we've created the leading online SAT/ACT prep program. PrepScholar customizes your prep to your strengths and weaknesses. We guide you through your program step-by-step so that you're never confused about what you should be studying. Our team is made of national SAT/ACT experts. PrepScholar's founders are Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers. We've gotten tremendous results with thousands of students across the country.

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