Brandeis vs Notre Dame - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The lower acceptance rate belongs to Notre Dame: 11.3% against 40.5% (Brandeis).
The more international environment is at Brandeis (19.3% international students) than Notre Dame (7.5%).
Ten years on, graduates of Notre Dame earn noticeably more: $100K against $77K.
Candidates with higher SAT scores go to Notre Dame: a midpoint of 1510 against 1460, a difference of 50 points.
These numbers describe the cohorts already enrolled, not your chances; treat them as a starting point rather than a forecast.
Every sentence above comes from a field we hold in canonical. Where the data is missing, or the gap is small enough to be noise, the sentence simply does not appear.
EXPERT TAKE
Notre Dame is the more selective of the two (11.3% vs 40.47% acceptance). Notre Dame graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($100K vs $77K). Notre Dame has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,607 vs $70,957 per year).
Both universities have complete, comparable data in canonical - the choice should come down to fit (campus culture, major, aid package) alongside the differences visible in the numbers below.
Choose Brandeis for: lower graduate debt.
Choose Notre Dame for: higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings, a higher graduation rate.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Notre Dame is more selective (11.3% vs 40.47% acceptance); Notre Dame has a higher median SAT (1510 vs 1460).
Notre Dame graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($100K vs $77K); Notre Dame has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95% vs 86%).
Notre Dame has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,607 vs $70,957); Notre Dame offers a larger average aid package ($67,855 vs $57,507).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Brandeis | Notre Dame |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #301-400 | #301-400 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 40.47% | 11.3% |
| Yield rate | 17.5% | 61.7% |
| Median SAT | 1460 | 1510 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.90 | - |
| Number of applications | 10,462 | 29,942 |
| International students | 19.3% | 7.5% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $77K | $100K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $52K | $68K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $117K | $141K |
| Graduation rate | 86% | 95% |
| Retention rate | 87% | 99% |
| Median debt | $25,648 | $19,000 |
| Tuition · year | $70,957 | $67,607 |
| Avg. aid package | $57,507 | $67,855 |
| % of need met | 94.5% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $27,004 | $30,400 |
| Application fee | $80 | $85 |
| Enrollment | 5,205 | 13,042 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Brandeis or Notre Dame?
It's harder to get into Notre Dame. Brandeis accepts 40.47% of applicants, while Notre Dame accepts 11.3%.
Do Brandeis or Notre Dame graduates earn more?
Notre Dame graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $100K vs $77K.
How much is tuition at Brandeis vs Notre Dame?
Sticker-price tuition is $70,957 per year at Brandeis and $67,607 per year at Notre Dame.
What SAT score do you need for Brandeis or Notre Dame?
The median admitted SAT score is 1460 at Brandeis and 1510 at Notre Dame; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university offers more financial aid - Brandeis or Notre Dame?
The average aid package is $57,507 at Brandeis and $67,855 at Notre Dame.
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