Notre Dame SAT & ACT Score Requirements: What You Need to Get In (2026)

The University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana is one of the most selective Catholic universities in the country, with a Class of 2030 admit rate of 9.0 percent and a long tradition of binding loyalty between students, alumni, and the school. Admitted students score in the 1460 to 1540 range on the SAT and 33 to 35 on the ACT, applying through Restrictive Early Action or Regular Decision. If you are aiming for the Fighting Irish, this guide walks you through the score ranges, REA strategy, the new Pathways to Notre Dame financial aid program, and where the application bar actually lands.

Notre Dame SAT Score Requirements

The middle 50 percent SAT range for admitted Notre Dame students is 1460 to 1540, with an average composite around 1500. A 1460 puts you at the 25th percentile and a 1540 lands in the top quartile. Notre Dame super-scores the SAT, considering your highest section scores across all administrations.

Notre Dame is test-optional through at least the 2026 to 2027 cycle. The students who choose to submit scores cluster in this range. If your composite is below 1440, applying without a score is usually the better play. If it is 1460 or higher, submit.

Our SAT Math practice and SAT Reading and Writing practice drills focus on the question types that move scores into the 1500 range, and our SAT score calculator shows exactly how many additional questions you need to clear that bar.

Notre Dame ACT Score Requirements

The middle 50 percent ACT range for admitted students is 33 to 35, with an average around 34. Notre Dame super-scores the ACT as well, combining your highest section scores across multiple test dates.

If you have not committed to one test yet, our SAT vs ACT comparison walks through the key differences. Most students score noticeably better on one test than the other, and a real practice test of each is worth more than weeks of additional prep on the wrong one.

Test-Optional, but Submit If You Have a Strong Score

Notre Dame extended its test-optional policy through the 2026 to 2027 cycle while many peer schools went back to test-required. Practical translation:

• If you can submit a score in or above the 25th percentile (1460 SAT or 33 ACT), submit. The admit pool data shows that submitters cluster at or above this line.
• Below 1440 SAT or 32 ACT, withholding is usually the better strategic call. The rest of your file does the work.
• Notre Dame also accepts AP, IB, or AICE exam scores as supplemental academic evidence, which can partially substitute for SAT or ACT scores.
• Notre Dame super-scores both tests, so multiple sittings can only help if you submit.

Notre Dame Application Deadlines

Notre Dame uses Restrictive Early Action and Regular Decision. There is no binding Early Decision option.

How Restrictive Early Action Works

REA at Notre Dame is non-binding, meaning if admitted you have until May 1 to commit. But the "restrictive" part is real:

• You may not apply to any other college's binding Early Decision I program.
• You may apply to other non-binding Early Action programs (with the same restriction).
• You may apply to ED II programs at other schools, since their deadlines fall after Notre Dame's mid-December decision release.
• You may apply to public university EA and rolling admission programs.

The REA admit rate has run noticeably higher than RD: the Class of 2030 saw an 11.79 percent REA admit rate (1,617 out of 13,711 applicants) versus around 7 to 8 percent for RD. Some of the gap is self-selection, since the REA pool is concentrated, prepared applicants. The genuine bump from applying REA when you are a strong candidate is real but smaller than the headline rate suggests.

The New Application Video

Starting with the 2025 to 2026 cycle, Notre Dame added a video portion to its application. Applicants record a short video as part of the file. Like Rice's Glimpse video, it is not a polished performance and the admissions office is looking for personality and authenticity, not production value. Be prepared but do not over-rehearse.

Pathways to Notre Dame: New Financial Aid Program for 2026 to 2027

Beginning the 2026 to 2027 academic year (Fall 2026 entry), Notre Dame is launching the Pathways to Notre Dame program, a major expansion of need-based aid:

The program assumes typical assets for the income level. Families with significantly higher assets than is typical for their income may qualify for less, but Notre Dame still meets 100 percent of demonstrated financial need with grants and scholarships only, no loans required.

Cost of Attendance

For the 2026 to 2027 academic year, Notre Dame's estimated cost of attendance is around $91,986, broken down as:

• Tuition: $69,280
• Mandatory fees: $514
• Housing and food: $18,992
• Books, personal expenses, transportation: about $3,200

The sticker price is meaningful only if your family income exceeds $200,000. Below that, the Pathways to Notre Dame program substantially reduces what you actually pay.

What Else Matters Beyond the Score

At a 9 percent admit rate with a heavily concentrated test score distribution, the score is necessary but not sufficient. The application elements that move the needle:

• Course rigor. Admitted students typically take the most demanding course load their high school offers, including multiple AP, IB, or honors courses through senior year.
• The Notre Dame supplements. The university uses a series of short essay prompts that ask you to engage with Catholic intellectual tradition, community service, and the Notre Dame community specifically. Generic answers are filtered out fast.
• Demonstrated values alignment. Notre Dame is unapologetically Catholic. You do not have to be Catholic to attend, but the application reads better if your essays show you understand and value the school's mission of faith, service, and intellectual community.
• Recommendations. Two teacher recommendations and one counselor letter. Specific, substantive letters matter more here than they do at large state universities.

For a wider view of similarly selective private schools, see our guides on Vanderbilt SAT and ACT requirements, Northwestern SAT and ACT requirements, and Rice SAT and ACT requirements. The score thresholds and selectivity overlap.

If Your Score Is Below the 25th Percentile

If your composite is below 1460 SAT or 33 ACT, applying test-optional and letting your transcript, essays, and recommendations carry the file is usually the right move. Notre Dame's holistic review is genuine, and a sub-1460 score does not help your case; it just confirms a number that the admissions office would otherwise not see.

If you have time before applying, sitting one more test under timed conditions and doing focused prep on your weakest section is almost always worth it. Most Notre Dame admits did not hit their best score on the first attempt.

Frequently Asked Questions About Notre Dame SAT and ACT Requirements

What is the average SAT score at Notre Dame?

The average SAT composite at Notre Dame is around 1500, with the middle 50 percent of admitted students scoring between 1460 and 1540.

What is the average ACT score at Notre Dame?

The middle 50 percent of admitted students scored between 33 and 35 on the ACT, with an average around 34.

Does Notre Dame require the SAT or ACT?

No. Notre Dame is test-optional through at least the 2026 to 2027 cycle. Students who do not submit scores receive full consideration in the admission review. If your composite is below 1440 SAT or 32 ACT, applying without scores is usually the better choice.

What is Notre Dame's acceptance rate?

The Class of 2030 had a 9.0 percent overall acceptance rate, the lowest in the school's 183-year history. The Restrictive Early Action rate was 11.79 percent and the Regular Decision rate was around 7 to 8 percent.

Should I apply Restrictive Early Action to Notre Dame?

Apply REA if Notre Dame is one of your top choices and you are not planning to apply Early Decision elsewhere. REA is non-binding (you have until May 1 to commit if admitted) but restrictive: you cannot apply ED I to any other school. The admit rate is meaningfully higher than Regular Decision, partly because of self-selection but partly a real bump for prepared applicants.

Does Notre Dame super-score the SAT and ACT?

Yes. Notre Dame super-scores both tests, considering your highest section scores across multiple administrations.

What is the Pathways to Notre Dame program?

Starting in the 2026 to 2027 academic year, Notre Dame covers full tuition for families earning under $150,000 and at least half tuition for families earning $150,000 to $200,000. Families earning under $60,000 receive a full ride covering tuition, fees, housing, and food. The program assumes typical assets for the income level.

Does Notre Dame offer merit scholarships?

Notre Dame is primarily a need-based aid school. There are a limited number of merit scholarships through specific honors programs (Hesburgh-Yusko Scholars, Stamps Scholars), but these are highly selective and usually require a separate application or nomination. The bulk of Notre Dame's aid is need-based and meets 100 percent of demonstrated need with no loans.

What GPA do I need for Notre Dame?

Notre Dame does not publish an official cutoff, but admitted students typically have unweighted GPAs in the 3.9 to 4.0 range, in the most rigorous course load their school offers.

When are Notre Dame's application deadlines?

Restrictive Early Action is November 1 with decisions in mid-December. Regular Decision is January 2 with decisions released in late March.