Notre Dame vs Northwestern - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The lower acceptance rate belongs to Northwestern: 7.7% against 11.3% (Notre Dame).
Real money goes to international students at Northwestern ($74,103 on average), while Notre Dame stops at $62,803.
The higher median salary ten years after enrolment belongs to Notre Dame: $100K against $89K.
The higher mid-range SAT belongs to Northwestern: 1540 against 1510, a gap of 30 points.
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
Northwestern is the more selective of the two (7.69% vs 11.3% acceptance). Northwestern ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#301-400 vs #33). Notre Dame graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($100K vs $89K). Notre Dame has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,607 vs $70,589 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 graduate earnings, higher retention, lower tuition.
Choose Northwestern for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, a higher graduation rate.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Northwestern is more selective (7.69% vs 11.3% acceptance); Northwestern has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 1510).
Notre Dame graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($100K vs $89K); Northwestern has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95.1% vs 95%).
Notre Dame has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,607 vs $70,589); Northwestern offers a larger average aid package ($68,110 vs $67,855).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Notre Dame | Northwestern |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #301-400 | #33 |
| Rank · THE | - | #31 |
| Acceptance rate | 11.3% | 7.69% |
| Yield rate | 61.7% | 55.3% |
| Median SAT | 1510 | 1540 |
| Avg. GPA | - | - |
| Number of applications | 29,942 | 49,474 |
| International students | 7.5% | 11.8% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $100K | $89K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $68K | $61K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $141K | $139K |
| Graduation rate | 95% | 95.1% |
| Retention rate | 99% | 98% |
| Median debt | $19,000 | $15,000 |
| Tuition · year | $67,607 | $70,589 |
| Avg. aid package | $67,855 | $68,110 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $30,400 | $32,540 |
| Application fee | $85 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 13,042 | 23,431 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Notre Dame or Northwestern?
It's harder to get into Northwestern. Notre Dame accepts 11.3% of applicants, while Northwestern accepts 7.69%.
Do Notre Dame or Northwestern graduates earn more?
Notre Dame graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $100K vs $89K.
How much is tuition at Notre Dame vs Northwestern?
Sticker-price tuition is $67,607 per year at Notre Dame and $70,589 per year at Northwestern.
What SAT score do you need for Notre Dame or Northwestern?
The median admitted SAT score is 1510 at Notre Dame and 1540 at Northwestern; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Notre Dame or Northwestern?
Northwestern ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #301-400 for Notre Dame vs #33 for Northwestern.
Which university offers more financial aid - Notre Dame or Northwestern?
The average aid package is $67,855 at Notre Dame and $68,110 at Northwestern.
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