Notre Dame Acceptance Rate: Class of 2030 Admissions Statistics

The University of Notre Dame reported an overall acceptance rate of 9.38% for the Class of 2029, admitting 3,320 out of 35,401 applicants.

For the Class of 2030, Notre Dame reviewed 13,711 Restrictive Early Action (REA) applications and admitted 1,617 students, resulting in an REA acceptance rate of about 12%. Regular Decision (RD) results are expected in late March 2026.

In this blog, we’ll review Notre Dame’s latest available overall, early, regular, waitlist, and transfer acceptance rates and examine how they’ve evolved through the years.

• Notre Dame Acceptance Rates
• Notre Dame Early Action Acceptance Rate
• Notre Dame Regular Decision Acceptance Rate
• Notre Dame Transfer Acceptance Rate
• Notre Dame Waitlist Acceptance Rate
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

Notre Dame Acceptance Rates

Notre Dame’s overall acceptance rate for the Class of 2029 dropped to 9.38%, down from 11.27% for the Class of 2028. This decline was driven largely by a sharp increase in applications from 29,942 to 35,401, while the number of admitted students fell slightly from 3,374 to 3,186.

Over the past decade, Notre Dame’s admissions process has become significantly more selective. Here’s the complete picture:

Note: All data has been compiled from Notre Dame’s Common Data Set.

Notre Dame has experienced substantial growth in applications over the past decade, increasing from 19,564 applicants for the Class of 2021 to 35,401 for the Class of 2029. Meanwhile, the number of admitted students has gradually declined from 3,702 admits for the Class of 2021 to 3,186 for the Class of 2029.

As applications have risen while admission offers have tightened, Notre Dame’s acceptance rate has steadily decreased. The highest acceptance rate during this period was 18.99% for the Class of 2024, while the lowest was 9.38% for the Class of 2029.

Notre Dame Early Action Acceptance Rate

The most recent REA data comes from the Class of 2030, when Notre Dame received 13,711 early applications and admitted 1,617 students, for an acceptance rate of about 12%. By comparison, the Class of 2029 recorded a 12.92% REA acceptance rate.

Notre Dame Early Action acceptance rate trends

Notre Dame’s REA acceptance rates have declined sharply over the past decade, dropping from roughly 24% to about 12%. Here’s a breakdown:

Note: All data has been sourced from Notre Dame’s official REA admissions announcements.

Notre Dame’s REA applicant pool rose from 6,020 applicants for the Class of 2021 to 13,711 for the Class of 2030. Despite the increasing number of applicants, the number of admitted students has remained fairly consistent, typically between 1,500 and 1,700 admits each year.

As early applications have expanded while available spots have stayed relatively stable, the REA acceptance rate has declined. The highest REA acceptance rate during this period was 24.80% for the Class of 2022, while the lowest was 11.10% for the Class of 2028.

Despite this decline, REA acceptance rates remain significantly higher than those in the RD round.

Notre Dame Regular Decision Acceptance Rate

The most recent RD data comes from the Class of 2029, when 22,484 students applied through RD and 1,651 were admitted, resulting in a 7.34% acceptance rate. This marks a decline from the 8.95% RD acceptance rate for the Class of 2028.

Notre Dame Regular Decision acceptance rate trends

Notre Dame’s RD acceptance rates have become increasingly selective over time. Here’s how they have changed in recent years:

Note: RD figures are estimates derived by subtracting REA data from overall totals in Notre Dame’s official admissions announcements and Common Data Set.

Notre Dame’s RD acceptance rate has declined as applications rose from about 13,000 to 22,000 while offers of admission decreased from roughly 2,200 to 1,600.

For the Class of 2021, the RD acceptance rate stood at 16.48%, then declined as applicant numbers increased in later cycles. By the Class of 2025, the rate had dropped to 11.89%, and competition intensified in subsequent years, with the Class of 2029 reaching a record-low RD acceptance rate of 7.34%.

Notre Dame Transfer Acceptance Rate

The most recent available Notre Dame transfer data comes from Fall 2025, with an acceptance rate of 17%. Here’s the breakdown:

Note: Fall 2025 transfer data is from Notre Dame’s Common Data Set for 2025-2026, the same reporting year that includes Class of 2029 first-year admissions data.

Notre Dame’s transfer admissions are selective but more accessible than its first-year process. For Fall 2025, the university had a 17% transfer acceptance rate. This is significantly higher than the university’s overall acceptance rate of 9.38% for the Class of 2029.

Notre Dame Waitlist Acceptance Rate

The most recent waitlist data comes from the Class of 2029, when Notre Dame admitted 54 students from the waitlist. Here’s the breakdown:

Note: Waitlist statistics are from Notre Dame’s latest Common Data Set.

Notre Dame’s waitlist offers limited chances of admission. For the Class of 2029, 1,475 applicants confirmed a place on the waitlist, and 54 were eventually admitted, producing a 2.47% waitlist acceptance rate, lower than the overall 9.38% acceptance rate that year.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Notre Dame’s current acceptance rate?

The most recent confirmed overall acceptance rate for Notre Dame is 9.38% for the Class of 2029. In that cycle, the university received 35,401 applications and admitted 3,320 students.

2. Is it easier to get into Notre Dame through Early Action or Regular Decision?

Historically, REA applicants have higher admission rates than RD applicants. For the Class of 2029, Notre Dame’s REA acceptance rate was 12.92%, compared with 7.34% in the RD round. While applying early can offer a statistical advantage, the REA pool typically includes many highly qualified and well-prepared candidates.

3. How hard is it to transfer to Notre Dame?

Transfer admission to Notre Dame is competitive but more accessible than first-year admission. For Fall 2025, the university admitted 262 of 1,541 transfer applicants, resulting in a 17% transfer acceptance rate. Because transfer spots are limited and depend on available openings, admission can vary from year to year.

4. What are my chances of getting off Notre Dame’s waitlist?

Waitlist admission at Notre Dame is extremely limited and varies each year. For the Class of 2029, 2,186 applicants were waitlisted, and 1,475 chose to remain on the list. Of those students, 54 were eventually admitted, producing a 2.47% waitlist acceptance rate.

5. Why is Notre Dame’s acceptance rate so low?

Notre Dame’s acceptance rate is driven by the growing gap between rising application numbers and a relatively stable class size. With more than 35,000 applicants competing for just over 3,000 admission offers, the university’s strong academic reputation and national appeal continue to make admissions increasingly competitive.

Takeaways

• Notre Dame’s acceptance rate has become increasingly selective over the past decade, declining from 18.92% for the Class of 2021 to 9.38% for the Class of 2029.
• Applying through REA provides a noticeable statistical advantage. For the Class of 2029, Notre Dame’s REA acceptance rate was 12.92%, compared with 7.34% in the RD round. Still, the early pool often includes many of the university’s strongest applicants.
• Other admission pathways are less predictable. For Fall 2025, Notre Dame reported a 17% transfer acceptance rate, while the Class of 2029 waitlist acceptance rate was just 2.47%.
• Given this level of competition, presenting a thoughtful and well-prepared application is essential. Careful planning with a college admissions expert can help you highlight your academic strengths, demonstrate meaningful involvement, and stand out in Notre Dame’s highly selective admissions process.