Notre Dame vs Kansas - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Kansas accepts most of the applications it receives (93.5%), while Notre Dame turns away the overwhelming majority (11.3%).
Real money goes to international students at Notre Dame ($62,803 on average), while Kansas stops at $11,164.
The one that looks dearer ends up cheaper: Notre Dame lists $87,295 against $47,138 (Kansas), but after average aid what remains is $19,440 against $27,438.
Ten years on, graduates of Notre Dame earn noticeably more: $100K against $62K.
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
Notre Dame is the more selective of the two (11.3% vs 93.48% acceptance). Notre Dame graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($100K vs $62K). Kansas has lower sticker-price tuition ($30,432 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 selectivity, higher graduate earnings, a higher graduation rate.
Choose Kansas for: lower tuition, 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 93.48% acceptance); Notre Dame has a higher median SAT (1510 vs 1190).
Notre Dame graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($100K vs $62K); Notre Dame has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95% vs 68.8%).
Kansas has lower sticker-price tuition ($30,432 vs $67,607); Notre Dame offers a larger average aid package ($67,855 vs $19,700).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Notre Dame | Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #301-400 | #301-400 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 11.3% | 93.48% |
| Yield rate | 61.7% | 25.5% |
| Median SAT | 1510 | 1190 |
| Avg. GPA | - | 3.68 |
| Number of applications | 29,942 | 22,363 |
| International students | 7.5% | 3.1% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $100K | $62K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $68K | $40K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $141K | $88K |
| Graduation rate | 95% | 68.8% |
| Retention rate | 99% | 86% |
| Median debt | $19,000 | $21,000 |
| Tuition · year | $67,607 | $30,432 |
| Avg. aid package | $67,855 | $19,700 |
| % of need met | 100% | 78.6% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $30,400 | $27,212 |
| Application fee | $85 | $40 |
| Enrollment | 13,042 | 29,792 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Notre Dame or Kansas?
It's harder to get into Notre Dame. Notre Dame accepts 11.3% of applicants, while Kansas accepts 93.48%.
Do Notre Dame or Kansas graduates earn more?
Notre Dame graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $100K vs $62K.
How much is tuition at Notre Dame vs Kansas?
Sticker-price tuition is $67,607 per year at Notre Dame and $30,432 per year at Kansas.
What SAT score do you need for Notre Dame or Kansas?
The median admitted SAT score is 1510 at Notre Dame and 1190 at Kansas; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university offers more financial aid - Notre Dame or Kansas?
The average aid package is $67,855 at Notre Dame and $19,700 at Kansas.
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