University of Notre Dame
NOTRE DAME, IN
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
CHAPEL HILL, NC
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Notre dame vs North carolina — US university comparison

University of Notre Dame
NOTRE DAME
Notre Dame, IN
World rank · ARWU#301-400
Acceptance11.3%
Median SAT1520
Graduation rate95%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$100K
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
NORTH CAROLINA
Chapel Hill, NC
World rank · ARWU#35
Acceptance15.3%
Median SAT1439
Graduation rate91.2%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$72K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

University of Notre Dame University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
#301-400 World rank · ARWU #35
— Rank · THE #70
11.3% Acceptance rate 15.3%
1520 Median SAT 1439
95% Graduation rate 91.2%
13,042 Enrollment 32,680

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

11.3% Acceptance rate 15.3%
61.7% Yield rate 45.5%
1520 Median SAT 1439
— Avg. GPA 4.50
29,942 Number of applications 66,535
13% Int'l students 9%
$100K Median earnings · 10 yrs $72K
$98K Avg. earnings · 10 yrs $69K
$141K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $112K
95% Graduation rate 91.2%
99% Retention rate 96.6%
$19,000 Median debt $14,000
$65,025 Tuition · year $41,203
$67,855 Avg. aid package $20,705
100% % of need met 100%
$30,400 Avg. graduate debt $20,382
$85 Application fee $85
— Avg. int'l aid —
At a glance
Notre dame leads in 7 of 11 measured metrics
Aid$67,855 vs $20,705
Tuition$65,025 vs $41,203
Grad. debt$30,400 vs $20,382

EXPERT TAKE

Notre dame is the more selective of the two (11.3% vs 15.3% acceptance). North carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#301-400 vs #35). Notre dame graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($100K vs $72K). North carolina has lower sticker-price tuition ($41,203 vs $65,025 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 North carolina for: a higher world ranking, lower tuition, lower graduate debt.

College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Notre dame is more selective (11.3% vs 15.3% acceptance); Notre dame has a higher median SAT (1520 vs 1439).

Graduate outcomes

Notre dame graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($100K vs $72K); Notre dame has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95% vs 91.2%).

Cost and aid

North carolina has lower sticker-price tuition ($41,203 vs $65,025); Notre dame offers a larger average aid package ($67,855 vs $20,705).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

$35k$76k$117k$158k$11k$34k$57k$80kNotre dameNorth carolina TUITION · YEAR → MEDIAN EARNINGS · 10 YRS →
Each dot is a comparable US university; Notre dame and North carolina highlighted. Up and to the left = better value ratio.

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Notre dame North carolina
World rank · ARWU#301-400#35
Rank · THE—#70
Acceptance rate11.3%15.3%
Yield rate61.7%45.5%
Median SAT15201439
Avg. GPA—4.50
Number of applications29,94266,535
International students13%9%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$100K$72K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs$98K$69K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$141K$112K
Graduation rate95%91.2%
Retention rate99%96.6%
Median debt$19,000$14,000
Tuition · year$65,025$41,203
Avg. aid package$67,855$20,705
% of need met100%100%
Avg. graduate debt$30,400$20,382
Application fee$85$85
Enrollment13,04232,680

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Notre dame or North carolina?

It's harder to get into Notre dame. Notre dame accepts 11.3% of applicants, while North carolina accepts 15.3%.

Do Notre dame or North carolina graduates earn more?

Notre dame graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $100K vs $72K.

How much is tuition at Notre dame vs North carolina?

Sticker-price tuition is $65,025 per year at Notre dame and $41,203 per year at North carolina.

What SAT score do you need for Notre dame or North carolina?

The median admitted SAT score is 1520 at Notre dame and 1439 at North carolina; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher — Notre dame or North carolina?

North carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #301-400 for Notre dame vs #35 for North carolina.

Which university offers more financial aid — Notre dame or North carolina?

The average aid package is $67,855 at Notre dame and $20,705 at North carolina.

Compare Notre dame with
Harvard Stanford Massachusetts institute of technology Princeton Yale Cornell Penn Johns hopkins Washington university Northwestern
Highest-ranked in ARWU. Click "↻ Change university" in the cards above to choose from all 47 universities (+35).
All metrics come 100% from College Council Atlas (canonical) — admissions, SAT, GPA, graduate outcomes, financial aid and costs from IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25; rankings from ARWU 2024 and THE 2025. Zero manual fields. "—" = not yet in canonical.