University of Notre Dame
NOTRE DAME, IN
University of Rochester
ROCHESTER, NY
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Notre dame vs Rochester — 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 Rochester
ROCHESTER
Rochester, NY
World rank · ARWU#151-200
Acceptance40.1%
Median SAT1488
Graduation rate85.4%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$79K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

University of Notre Dame University of Rochester
#301-400 World rank · ARWU #151-200
— Rank · THE #127
11.3% Acceptance rate 40.1%
1520 Median SAT 1488
95% Graduation rate 85.4%
13,042 Enrollment 11,946

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

11.3% Acceptance rate 40.1%
61.7% Yield rate 15.4%
1520 Median SAT 1488
— Avg. GPA 3.70
29,942 Number of applications 21,384
13% Int'l students 37%
$100K Median earnings · 10 yrs $79K
$98K Avg. earnings · 10 yrs $74K
$141K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $117K
95% Graduation rate 85.4%
99% Retention rate 90.7%
$19,000 Median debt $21,000
$65,025 Tuition · year $67,080
$67,855 Avg. aid package $60,879
100% % of need met 96.1%
$30,400 Avg. graduate debt $32,304
$85 Application fee $50
— Avg. int'l aid —
At a glance
Notre dame leads in 11 of 11 measured metrics
Yield61.7% vs 15.4%
Acceptance11.3% vs 40.1%
Earnings$100K vs $79K

EXPERT TAKE

Notre dame is the more selective of the two (11.3% vs 40.1% acceptance). Rochester ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#301-400 vs #151-200). Notre dame graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($100K vs $79K). Notre dame has lower sticker-price tuition ($65,025 vs $67,080 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 Rochester for: a higher world ranking.

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

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Notre dame is more selective (11.3% vs 40.1% acceptance); Notre dame has a higher median SAT (1520 vs 1488).

Graduate outcomes

Notre dame graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($100K vs $79K); Notre dame has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95% vs 85.4%).

Cost and aid

Notre dame has lower sticker-price tuition ($65,025 vs $67,080); Notre dame offers a larger average aid package ($67,855 vs $60,879).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Notre dame Rochester
World rank · ARWU#301-400#151-200
Rank · THE—#127
Acceptance rate11.3%40.1%
Yield rate61.7%15.4%
Median SAT15201488
Avg. GPA—3.70
Number of applications29,94221,384
International students13%37%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$100K$79K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs$98K$74K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$141K$117K
Graduation rate95%85.4%
Retention rate99%90.7%
Median debt$19,000$21,000
Tuition · year$65,025$67,080
Avg. aid package$67,855$60,879
% of need met100%96.1%
Avg. graduate debt$30,400$32,304
Application fee$85$50
Enrollment13,04211,946

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Notre dame or Rochester?

It's harder to get into Notre dame. Notre dame accepts 11.3% of applicants, while Rochester accepts 40.1%.

Do Notre dame or Rochester graduates earn more?

Notre dame graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $100K vs $79K.

How much is tuition at Notre dame vs Rochester?

Sticker-price tuition is $65,025 per year at Notre dame and $67,080 per year at Rochester.

What SAT score do you need for Notre dame or Rochester?

The median admitted SAT score is 1520 at Notre dame and 1488 at Rochester; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher — Notre dame or Rochester?

Rochester ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #301-400 for Notre dame vs #151-200 for Rochester.

Which university offers more financial aid — Notre dame or Rochester?

The average aid package is $67,855 at Notre dame and $60,879 at Rochester.

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.