Notre Dame vs Brandeis - 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 Notre Dame for: higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings, a higher graduation rate.
Choose Brandeis for: lower graduate debt.
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 | Notre Dame | Brandeis |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #301-400 | #301-400 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 11.3% | 40.47% |
| Yield rate | 61.7% | 17.5% |
| Median SAT | 1510 | 1460 |
| Avg. GPA | - | 3.90 |
| Number of applications | 29,942 | 10,462 |
| International students | 7.5% | 19.3% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $100K | $77K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $68K | $52K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $141K | $117K |
| Graduation rate | 95% | 86% |
| Retention rate | 99% | 87% |
| Median debt | $19,000 | $25,648 |
| Tuition · year | $67,607 | $70,957 |
| Avg. aid package | $67,855 | $57,507 |
| % of need met | 100% | 94.5% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $30,400 | $27,004 |
| Application fee | $85 | $80 |
| Enrollment | 13,042 | 5,205 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Notre Dame or Brandeis?
It's harder to get into Notre Dame. Notre Dame accepts 11.3% of applicants, while Brandeis accepts 40.47%.
Do Notre Dame or Brandeis graduates earn more?
Notre Dame graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $100K vs $77K.
How much is tuition at Notre Dame vs Brandeis?
Sticker-price tuition is $67,607 per year at Notre Dame and $70,957 per year at Brandeis.
What SAT score do you need for Notre Dame or Brandeis?
The median admitted SAT score is 1510 at Notre Dame and 1460 at Brandeis; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university offers more financial aid - Notre Dame or Brandeis?
The average aid package is $67,855 at Notre Dame and $57,507 at Brandeis.
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