When Do Notre Dame Decisions Come Out? Class of 2031 Notification Dates

Notre Dame releases admissions decisions on a schedule tied to the application route you chose. If you applied Restrictive Early Action (REA), your decision arrives in mid-December. Regular Decision (RD) applicants hear back between mid- and late March. Waitlisted and transfer applicants follow separate timelines that extend into the summer.

This guide covers every Notre Dame decision release date for the 2026–2027 admissions cycle, the possible outcomes in each round, and what to do once you hear back.

• When Does Notre Dame Release Decisions?
• When Do Notre Dame Waitlist Decisions Come Out?
• When Do Notre Dame Transfer Decisions Come Out?
• What to Do After Receiving Your Notre Dame Decision
• Waiting on Notre Dame’s Decision? Get Expert Guidance
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

When Does Notre Dame Release Decisions?

Notre Dame notifies first-year applicants on two separate timelines:

Source: Notre Dame Office of Undergraduate Admissions

The exact dates shift by a few days each year, but the windows have stayed consistent. For the Class of 2030, Notre Dame released REA decisions on December 16, 2025, and RD results on March 18, 2026. The year before, those dates fell on December 13 and March 14.

All decisions are posted to the Applicant Status Portal at 6:42 PM ET, which is a nod to the university’s 1842 founding year.

When do Notre Dame Early Action decisions come out?

Notre Dame’s REA decisions come out in mid-December, typically between December 13 and 17. Admitted students have until May 1 to respond.

Three outcomes are possible:

• An admit means you have a spot in the incoming class, with no obligation to accept until May 1.
• A deferral moves your application into the RD pool for a second review, with a final decision arriving in March alongside all RD applicants.
• A denial ends the process for that cycle. You cannot reapply through RD.

When do Notre Dame Regular Decision results come out?

Notre Dame’s RD results come out between mid- and late March. Admitted students have until May 1 to confirm enrollment.

The outcomes in this round differ from REA:

• An admit gives you until May 1 to confirm.
• A denial closes your application.
• Instead of a deferral, the third outcome is placement on the waiting list, which carries its own timeline covered in the next section.

Haven’t applied yet? See every Notre Dame application deadline

If you are still putting your application together, start with the deadlines. Our guide to Notre Dame application deadlines covers every date for REA, RD, transfer, and financial aid.

When Do Notre Dame Waitlist Decisions Come Out?

Notre Dame waitlist decisions come out on a rolling basis from mid-May through mid-summer. The admissions office tracks how many admitted students confirm enrollment by the May 1 deadline, then extends offers as spots open up.

If you are placed on the waitlist, you will need to confirm your interest through the Applicant Status Portal. Students who do not opt in are removed from consideration, and those who receive an offer typically have only a few days to respond.

When Do Notre Dame Transfer Decisions Come Out?

Notre Dame accepts transfer students for both fall and spring enrollment, each on its own timeline:

Source: Notre Dame Transfer Application Instructions

Notre Dame does not offer transfer deferrals. If you are admitted, you are expected to enroll for the term you applied to.

What to Do After Receiving Your Notre Dame Decision

What comes next depends on which of the four possible outcomes you receive:

If you are waitlisted and later receive an offer from Notre Dame, you can accept it and withdraw from the school where you already deposited. You will lose that deposit, which is usually non-refundable. Since waitlist offers are unpredictable, committing fully to your backup school in the meantime is the safer move.

If Notre Dame remains a goal after a denial, you can apply as a transfer student after completing at least one full year at another four-year institution.

Waiting on Notre Dame’s Decision? Get Expert Guidance

Whether you are still finishing your application, waiting on a decision, or figuring out how to respond to one, each stage of the process has its own pressure points. The right guidance at the right time can make a huge difference.

AdmissionSight’s Standard College Counseling program pairs you with an advisor who helps you through every stage of the admissions process, from building your initial application to navigating decisions once they arrive.

For students who only need help with a specific next step, Ad Hoc Consulting offers single-session support. You might use it to draft a letter of continued interest, figure out how to present a mid-year update, or compare financial aid packages across your acceptances.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What time of day do Notre Dame decisions come out?

Notre Dame posts admissions decisions to the Applicant Status Portal at 6:42 PM Eastern Time. The timestamp references the university’s 1842 founding year and has been consistent across recent REA and RD releases.

2. When does Notre Dame release Early Action decisions?

Notre Dame releases REA decisions in mid-December, typically between December 13 and 17. For the Class of 2030, the release date was December 16, 2025.

3. When does Notre Dame release Regular Decision results?

Notre Dame releases RD results between mid- and late March. For the Class of 2030, the release date was March 18, 2026.

4. Can I appeal if Notre Dame rejects my application?

Notre Dame does not have a formal appeals process for undergraduate admissions decisions. If you are denied in the REA round, your application is closed for that cycle and you cannot reapply through RD. After a denial in either round, you can apply as a transfer student once you have completed at least one full year at another four-year institution.

5. How does Notre Dame notify applicants of their decision?

Notre Dame posts decisions to the Applicant Status Portal at 6:42 PM ET on the release date. You will receive an email letting you know your decision is available, but you need to log in to the portal to view the result.

Takeaways

• Notre Dame releases REA decisions in mid-December and RD results between mid- and late March. Both are posted to the Applicant Status Portal at 6:42 PM ET.
• Waitlist decisions roll out from mid-May through mid-summer.
• Transfer decisions arrive on a rolling basis in late fall for spring applicants and by mid-summer for fall applicants.
• If you are preparing an application, responding to a deferral, or weighing offers, working with a college admissions expert can help you put your strongest case forward at every stage.