Is University of Notre Dame public or private?

Asked by: Tyler Bashirian  |  Last update: January 19, 2026
Score: 5/5 (2 votes)

The University of Notre Dame du Lac (known simply as Notre Dame; /ˌnoʊtərˈdeɪm/ NOH-tər-DAYM; ND) is a private Catholic research university in Notre Dame, Indiana, United States.

Is Notre Dame as good as an Ivy League school?

Original answer: In the 2020 US News and World Report Best National University ranking, Notre Dame is ranked 15, the same a Vanderbilt. Brown is 14 and Cornell is 17. So Notre Dame is a lower tier Ivy. It is sometimes compared to Georgetown University, the oldest Catholic university in the US.

What GPA do you need to get into Notre Dame?

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 4.11 GPA or higher. If your GPA is lower than this, you need to compensate with a higher SAT/ACT score.

What is the difference between Notre Dame College and Notre Dame university?

Notre Dame College has around 1,700 students and offers degrees in a range of areas such as business, nursing, education, and arts and sciences. On the other hand, the University of Notre Dame is a well-known, larger private research university located in Notre Dame, Indiana.

Why is Notre Dame ranked so high academically?

A few measures of scholarly excellence — national fellowships in the humanities, funding levels for individual faculty in science and engineering fields, publications in highly regarded journals in some disciplines — place Notre Dame among the country's most distinguished universities.

WHY I CHOSE NOTRE DAME || application process, choosing a major, visiting campus...

26 related questions found

What major is Notre Dame known for?

What majors and academic programs is the University of Notre Dame known for? The most popular majors at the University of Notre Dame are econometrics and quantitative economics; finance; political science and government; accounting; and computer and information sciences, among others.

What is the new Ivy League?

What Are the New Ivies? In 2006, Newsweek coined the phrase “New Ivies.” These schools rank high in academics and faculty, even if they don't reach the endowment size or elite status of the Ivies. Newsweek's list includes both public and private schools, such as Carnegie Mellon, UNC-Chapel Hill, Emory, and Notre Dame.

Is a degree from Notre Dame respected?

Reputation and Rankings

What fewer people may realize is that the University of Notre Dame is a top-tier research university steeped in academic traditions and consistently ranked among the top 20 universities in the US.

Why is Notre Dame College closing?

Founded in 1922, Notre Dame, a small Catholic college, recently celebrated its centennial. A news release on the closure cited declining enrollment, demographic challenges, rising costs and significant debt.

Why is it so hard to get into Notre Dame?

While Notre Dame ranks #1 for highest SAT and ACT scores, it also ranks #2 among Indiana colleges with the highest average GPA among freshmen; in order to be considered for admission into Notre Dame, you'll need to graduate in the top five percent of your class.

What type of students does Notre Dame look for?

Well-rounded senior class leaders. Dedicated artists. Our most competitive applicants are more than just students—they are creative intellectuals, passionate people with multiple interests. Above all else, they are involved—in the classroom, in the community, and in the relentless pursuit of truth.

What is the GPA for Harvard?

GPA requirements for Harvard

At Harvard, the standard GPA is 4.18. (While some schools publish an unweighted GPA, most utilize a weighted GPA out of 4.0.) Harvard needs you to be at the top of your class with a GPA of 4.18.

What is Notre Dame school famous for?

Notre Dame is noted for its football team, which contributed to its rise to prominence on the national stage in the early 20th century. Notre Dame teams in other sports, chiefly in the Atlantic Coast Conference, have won 17 national championships.

Do you have to be Catholic to go to Notre Dame?

We are a Catholic institution, but all faiths practiced within our community are welcomed and supported. Notre Dame has one of the largest campus ministry organizations in the country and our Campus Ministry serves all faiths through Masses, faith sharing groups, and retreats.

What is the prettiest Ivy League college?

Which Ivy League school has the prettiest campus? Princeton University and Cornell University are two schools with the most beautiful Ivy League campuses.

Is going to Notre Dame worth it?

Notre Dame is crazy expensive, but if you can pay for it without going in to too much debt, you won't regret it. The education you will receive is excellent, the alumni network will be an advocate for you on the job market for the rest of your life, and the people you will meet at ND are simply amazing.

Does Notre Dame give full ride scholarships?

Each year, ten admitted students will be named Stamps Notre Dame Scholars and receive a full tuition and fees merit scholarship for up to four years of undergraduate study.

Is Notre Dame considered an elite school?

The Other Elites

Many of these other elite colleges are well known, such as Stanford, Notre Dame, Duke, and Vanderbilt. But you may never have heard of some of the others, like Davidson College in North Carolina, Macalester College in Minnesota, or Washington University in Missouri.

Why is the University of Notre Dame so popular?

As a top national research institution, Notre Dame offers a world-class academic experience with opportunities for student research, creative pursuits, and projects that go beyond the classroom.

Are kids happy at Notre Dame?

Notre Dame is a highly competative school with some of the happiest students I've have ever met. Every student who attends this school loves it which is shown in the high alumnae involvement. Students of the past and present care about this middle sized (10,000 student) school and are always looking to make it better.

Is Notre Dame hard to get into?

A private research university known for its Catholic affiliation, rigorous education, and football team, Notre Dame brings in over 20,000 applications each year. With an acceptance rate around 15%, it's also one of the most difficult to earn admission to.

What are the 8 little Ivies?

A 2016 article by Bloomberg Businessweek lists the members of the Little Ivies as:
  • Amherst College.
  • Bates College.
  • Bowdoin College.
  • Bucknell University.
  • Colby College.
  • Colgate University.
  • Connecticut College.
  • Hamilton College.

Why is Stanford not an ivy?

However, top institutions like MIT and Stanford, which outperform several Ivy League schools in global rankings, are not part of the League due to geographic and historical reasons. Both universities excel in academic reputation, faculty-student ratio, employer reputation, and employment outcomes.