Notre Dame vs Stanford - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The lower acceptance rate belongs to Stanford: 3.8% against 11.3% (Notre Dame).
The larger international cohort belongs to Stanford: 13.1% of students against 7.5% (Notre Dame).
Real money goes to international students at Stanford ($85,424 on average), while Notre Dame stops at $62,803.
The higher median salary ten years after enrolment belongs to Stanford: $124K against $100K.
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
Stanford is the more selective of the two (3.8% vs 11.3% acceptance). Stanford ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#301-400 vs #2). Stanford graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($124K vs $100K). Notre Dame has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,607 vs $68,574 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: a higher graduation rate, higher retention, lower tuition.
Choose Stanford 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
Stanford is more selective (3.8% vs 11.3% acceptance); Stanford has a higher median SAT (1550 vs 1510).
Stanford graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($124K vs $100K); Notre Dame has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95% vs 91.9%).
Notre Dame has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,607 vs $68,574); Stanford offers a larger average aid package ($77,279 vs $67,855).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Notre Dame | Stanford |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #301-400 | #2 |
| Rank · THE | - | #6 |
| Acceptance rate | 11.3% | 3.8% |
| Yield rate | 61.7% | 79.9% |
| Median SAT | 1510 | 1550 |
| Avg. GPA | - | 3.94 |
| Number of applications | 29,942 | 60,646 |
| International students | 7.5% | 13.1% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $100K | $124K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $68K | $73K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $141K | $220K |
| Graduation rate | 95% | 91.9% |
| Retention rate | 99% | 97.5% |
| Median debt | $19,000 | $12,000 |
| Tuition · year | $67,607 | $68,574 |
| Avg. aid package | $67,855 | $77,279 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $30,400 | $28,507 |
| Application fee | $85 | $100 |
| Enrollment | 13,042 | 18,121 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Notre Dame or Stanford?
It's harder to get into Stanford. Notre Dame accepts 11.3% of applicants, while Stanford accepts 3.8%.
Do Notre Dame or Stanford graduates earn more?
Stanford graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $124K vs $100K.
How much is tuition at Notre Dame vs Stanford?
Sticker-price tuition is $67,607 per year at Notre Dame and $68,574 per year at Stanford.
What SAT score do you need for Notre Dame or Stanford?
The median admitted SAT score is 1510 at Notre Dame and 1550 at Stanford; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Notre Dame or Stanford?
Stanford ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #301-400 for Notre Dame vs #2 for Stanford.
Which university offers more financial aid - Notre Dame or Stanford?
The average aid package is $67,855 at Notre Dame and $77,279 at Stanford.
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