Notre Dame vs Harvard - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
A place is harder to win where the bar sits higher: Harvard admits 3.6%, Notre Dame admits 11.3%.
The share of international students differs sharply: 15.7% (Harvard) against 7.5% (Notre Dame).
Real money goes to international students at Harvard ($81,046 on average), while Notre Dame stops at $62,803.
The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Harvard starts at $87,926 against $87,295 and ends at $13,539 against $19,440 (Notre Dame).
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
Harvard is the more selective of the two (3.65% vs 11.3% acceptance). Harvard ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#301-400 vs #1). Median earnings 10 years after enrollment are effectively tied ($100K vs $102K). Harvard has lower sticker-price tuition ($64,796 vs $67,607 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 retention.
Choose Harvard for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Harvard is more selective (3.65% vs 11.3% acceptance); Harvard has a higher median SAT (1553 vs 1510).
Harvard graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $100K); Harvard has a higher 6-year graduation rate (97.6% vs 95%).
Harvard has lower sticker-price tuition ($64,796 vs $67,607); Harvard offers a larger average aid package ($74,387 vs $67,855).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Notre Dame | Harvard |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #301-400 | #1 |
| Rank · THE | - | #3 |
| Acceptance rate | 11.3% | 3.65% |
| Yield rate | 61.7% | 83.6% |
| Median SAT | 1510 | 1553 |
| Avg. GPA | - | 4.21 |
| Number of applications | 29,942 | 54,008 |
| International students | 7.5% | 15.7% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $100K | $102K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $68K | $65K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $141K | $200K |
| Graduation rate | 95% | 97.6% |
| Retention rate | 99% | 98% |
| Median debt | $19,000 | $14,000 |
| Tuition · year | $67,607 | $64,796 |
| Avg. aid package | $67,855 | $74,387 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $30,400 | $22,262 |
| Application fee | $85 | $85 |
| Enrollment | 13,042 | 21,189 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Notre Dame or Harvard?
It's harder to get into Harvard. Notre Dame accepts 11.3% of applicants, while Harvard accepts 3.65%.
Do Notre Dame or Harvard graduates earn more?
Earnings are practically equal - 10 years after enrollment, the median is $100K at Notre Dame and $102K at Harvard.
How much is tuition at Notre Dame vs Harvard?
Sticker-price tuition is $67,607 per year at Notre Dame and $64,796 per year at Harvard.
What SAT score do you need for Notre Dame or Harvard?
The median admitted SAT score is 1510 at Notre Dame and 1553 at Harvard; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Notre Dame or Harvard?
Harvard ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #301-400 for Notre Dame vs #1 for Harvard.
Which university offers more financial aid - Notre Dame or Harvard?
The average aid package is $67,855 at Notre Dame and $74,387 at Harvard.
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