Northeastern vs Notre Dame - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The lower acceptance rate belongs to Northeastern: 5.2% against 11.3% (Notre Dame).
The more international environment is at Northeastern (13.1% international students) than Notre Dame (7.5%).
For an applicant from outside the US the difference is financial: Notre Dame awards international students $62,803 on average, Northeastern awards $24,539.
These admissions operate at different scales: Northeastern reads 98,425 applications a year, its rival 29,942.
The indicators describe a university as a whole, and your own course can sit a long way from that average.
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
Northeastern is the more selective of the two (5.2% vs 11.3% acceptance). Northeastern ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#201-300 vs #301-400). Notre Dame graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($100K vs $93K). Notre Dame has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,607 vs $69,289 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 Northeastern for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity.
Choose Notre Dame for: higher graduate earnings, a higher graduation rate, higher retention.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Northeastern is more selective (5.2% vs 11.3% acceptance); Notre Dame has a higher median SAT (1510 vs 1490).
Notre Dame graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($100K vs $93K); Notre Dame has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95% vs 90.5%).
Notre Dame has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,607 vs $69,289); Notre Dame offers a larger average aid package ($67,855 vs $46,555).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Northeastern | Notre Dame |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #201-300 | #301-400 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 5.2% | 11.3% |
| Yield rate | 53.8% | 61.7% |
| Median SAT | 1490 | 1510 |
| Avg. GPA | - | - |
| Number of applications | 98,425 | 29,942 |
| International students | 13.1% | 7.5% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $93K | $100K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $62K | $68K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $135K | $141K |
| Graduation rate | 90.5% | 95% |
| Retention rate | 96.9% | 99% |
| Median debt | $24,250 | $19,000 |
| Tuition · year | $69,289 | $67,607 |
| Avg. aid package | $46,555 | $67,855 |
| % of need met | 86.7% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $32,461 | $30,400 |
| Application fee | $75 | $85 |
| Enrollment | 39,774 | 13,042 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Northeastern or Notre Dame?
It's harder to get into Northeastern. Northeastern accepts 5.2% of applicants, while Notre Dame accepts 11.3%.
Do Northeastern or Notre Dame graduates earn more?
Notre Dame graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $100K vs $93K.
How much is tuition at Northeastern vs Notre Dame?
Sticker-price tuition is $69,289 per year at Northeastern and $67,607 per year at Notre Dame.
What SAT score do you need for Northeastern or Notre Dame?
The median admitted SAT score is 1490 at Northeastern and 1510 at Notre Dame; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Northeastern or Notre Dame?
Northeastern ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #201-300 for Northeastern vs #301-400 for Notre Dame.
Which university offers more financial aid - Northeastern or Notre Dame?
The average aid package is $46,555 at Northeastern and $67,855 at Notre Dame.
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